Plan at a glance
Underground river and park grounds
The main experience at Benxi Water Cave (本溪水洞) is a boat ride through an underground river, with karst formations along the waterway. The grounds also include the Benxi branch of the Geological Museum of China (中国地质博物馆本溪馆), the Silicified Wood Kingdom–Shengdi Garden (硅化木王国—胜地风情园) and Yanshui Park (衍水乐园). A full visit takes about five hours, excluding queues.
Timing and tickets
Choose your date, time slot and ticket type through the park’s ticketing channel, and check whether the sightseeing shuttle, Dry Cave and Yanshui Park are included.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
Boat ride through the Water Cave
If you mainly want to experience the underground river, focus on the main Water Cave. The boat travels along the underground waterway, passing stalactites and varied rock walls. The wait to board and boat operations affect how long the visit takes.
The Water Cave is a karst cave formed by an underground river. Its main features are the cavern, the water and the formations along the route. The scenery unfolds as the boat moves, and visitors interested in the geology can visit the museum afterwards. Temperatures differ noticeably between inside and outside the cave, so a light jacket is useful.
Add the museum and riverside activities
Visitors interested in geological specimens and fossils can visit the museum after the cave. If you want to spend more time exploring beyond the cave, add the Silicified Wood Kingdom–Shengdi Garden to your visit.
Yanshui Park is beside the Taizi River (太子河). Its activities include sightseeing boats, speedboats and pedal boats, which are different from the boat ride inside the cave. If you plan to visit only the cave and museum, choose any further stops based on your ticket and shuttle arrangements. Allow extra time for transfers and activities if you want to try the water rides.
For a separate nearby dining and evening visit, see Xiaoshi Yizhuang Resort.
Build your day
Visit the park in sequence
Take the sightseeing shuttle from the park entrance to the Water Cave, then visit the cave by boat. Continue to the museum, the Silicified Wood Kingdom–Shengdi Garden and finally Yanshui Park. Boarding queues, ticket checks and time at each stop make the full visit longer than the boat ride alone.
If you are visiting only the Water Cave and museum, choose the corresponding ticket product and ask where to catch the shuttle back to the entrance from your last stop. Plan your return around the stops covered by your ticket.
Get there
Driving and navigation
Search for “本溪水洞景区” (“Benxi Water Cave Scenic Area”) in your navigation app. Follow the entrance signs to the parking area; check parking charges and holiday availability on site.
From Benxi Railway Station (本溪站)
Benxi Water Cave is about 28 kilometres from central Benxi. If you are starting from Benxi Railway Station, arrange transport to the scenic area in advance and confirm your return options before departure. For a scheduled bus or coach, confirm that day’s stop, departure time and last service; if no suitable service is available, arrange a transfer.
Know before you go
Inside the cave
The visit involves a boat ride and walking. Follow staff instructions when boarding, disembarking and moving through the cave. Floors may be wet, so wear shoes with good grip; bring a light jacket if you feel the cold easily.
The visit includes getting on and off boats and moving between stops. Before buying a ticket, ask the park about access conditions on the sections you plan to visit if you have limited mobility or difficulty boarding a boat.
Tickets and food nearby
Different ticket types may cover different activities. Check whether the sightseeing shuttle, Dry Cave and other park stops are included in the ticket you choose. Student discounts and free-entry rules are subject to the ticketing page for the day. International visitors using a passport as ID should check which documents are accepted, what payment methods are available and how tickets are verified on arrival.
Xiaoshi lamb soup (小市羊汤) is outside the park; allow time for the drive there and back if you plan to eat there.
Contact the park before your visit
Call the visitor centre at 024-44891162 to ask which stops and transfers are operating that day.