Panjin 2-Day Tour | Red Beach and Green Reeds at Liaohekou: Encounter Wonders in a Wetland Paradise

| Red Beach and Green Reeds at Liaohekou: Encounter Wonders in a Wetland Paradise.📍 Itinerary Highlights
- World Wonder: Visual feast of the Red Beach, "China's Most Beautiful Wetland"
- Birdwatcher's Paradise: Spot red-crowned cranes and Saunders's gulls at the Liaohe River Delta Wetland
- Delicious Seafood: Chinese mitten crab (Panjin River crab) and stir-fried pork with cattail shoots
- Rural Relaxation: Experience harvesting at the Rice Culture Museum and traditional reed weaving

🌾 Must-See Attractions
Day 1: Red Beach and Green Reeds - Natural Wonders
1. Red Beach National Scenic Corridor (¥120 including electric cart)
🌅 Best viewing period: Mid-September to mid-October (when *Suaeda salsa* is reddest)
📸 Must-see spots: Corridor of Love and Dreams (heart-shaped boardwalk), Rice Dream Space (rice paddy art)
🚂 Experience: Take the wetland train through 18 km of red beach, and watch fiddler crabs at low tide

2. Liaohe River Delta Wetland (free)
🦩 Birdwatching paradise: Bring binoculars to watch red-crowned cranes dancing and capture stunning autumn photos in the reed beds
🚣 Take a boat trip deep into the wetland (¥80/person) to discover the "Three Treasures of the Red Beach" (*Suaeda salsa*, reeds, and *Suaeda heteroptera*)

3. Hanzhang Lake Resort (free)
🌇 Watch the "fusion of water and fire" at dusk on the lakeshore (oil extraction machines silhouetted against the sunset)

Day 2: Idyllic Scenery - Cultural Exploration
1. Dingxiang Eco-Tourism Resort (¥80)
🌳 Fish for river crabs in the reed sea and crab beach, cycle along the Taiping River Scenic Belt, and pick alkali-tolerant persimmons
🦜 Interact with birds at the Bird Paradise and feed Oriental white storks

2. Panjin Rice Museum (free)
🍚 Learn about the "Hometown of China's Ecological Rice," experience rice husking, and buy crab-field rice souvenirs

3. Beilv Manor Hot Springs (¥168)
🌌 Skiing + hot springs in winter, water park in summer - experience both "ice and fire"

🦀 Food Guide
1. River Crab Feast
🦀 Steamed river crabs: Freshly caught and steamed at Erjiegou Fishing Port (female crabs are best in September, male crabs in October)
🍲 Crab tofu: Old Courtyard Farmhouse Restaurant (the ultimate umami of crab meat and egg custard)

2. Wetland Delicacies
🌿 Stir-fried pork with cattail shoots: Red Beach Restaurant (as seen on "A Bite of China II," available May-June)
🐟 *Suaeda salsa* dumplings: Liaohekou Fisherman's Cuisine (served with shrimp paste dipping sauce)

3. Night Market Delights
🍢 Xinglongtai Pedestrian Street: Small rolls with braised meat, Panjin barbecue (grilled river fish is a must-try)
🍺 Liaohe beer: Pair it with spicy stir-fried razor clams for a taste of Northeastern hospitality

🚗 Transportation Guide
- ✈️ Airport: Panjin has no airport. The nearest is Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (1.5h by high-speed rail)
- 🚄 High-speed rail: Panjin Station/Panjin North Station. Panjin North Station is preferred from Beijing.
- 🚗 Self-drive:
- Red Beach Scenic Area is 50 km from the city center (car rental/chartered car recommended, approx. ¥300/day)
- Binhai Avenue connects major attractions. Note the speed limit in wetland areas.
- 🚌 Public transport:
- City center → Red Beach: Take the shuttle bus from Xinglongtai Jinjiang Square (¥15, 1h)

💡 Travel Tips
1. Best seasons:
- September-October: Reddest beach + fattest crabs
- April-May: Bird migration season (bring a telephoto lens)
2. Photography tips:
- Aerial photography of the Red Beach requires prior registration. Solid-colored clothing looks best in photos.
- The *Suaeda salsa* color is most saturated 1 hour before and after sunrise/sunset.
3. Scam prevention:
- "Low-price guides to the Red Beach" outside the scenic area are often scams.
- Look for the "Kou Crab" anti-counterfeiting mark when buying river crabs. Market price in September is around ¥50-80/jin.
4. In-depth experiences:
- Zhaoquanhe Town Reed Weaving Workshop: Learn to weave reed paintings (¥50 trial class)
- Raoyang Bay Winter Fishing Festival (December-February): First fish auction + ice hot pot

🌾 Panjin, a city built on wetlands
Here, the fiery red beach and the gentle rice waves compose a diverse universe at the mouth of the Liaohe River! 🦩