The Benxi Water Caves is a partially submerged cavern system containing a forest of stalactites and stalagmites, located 26km (16miles) east of Benxi, Liaoning Province, People's Republic of China.[1] It was made a national park on January 10, 1994, and is open to the public all year round. It was designated an "AAAAA"-class tourist attraction by CNTA in 2015.
The giant 5-million-year-old cavern complex is lit by colored artificial lighting, and expands over 5800m (19,000feet) with a maximal width of 70m (230feet), maximal ceiling height of 38m (125feet), an area of 36000m2 and a volume of over 400000m2. It has a subterranean river 3000m (10,000feet) long, with an average depth of 1.5m (04.9feet) and maximal depth of 7m (23feet), and a daily discharge of 14000m2. Currently 2800m (9,200feet) of the cave has been developed for tourism, with a dock 300m (1,000feet) into the entrance and a 1000m2 docking bay large enough to park 40 boats. Temperature inside the cave is constant throughout the year, at around 12C, though slightly warmer in summer than winter.
In addition to the water caves, the national park also offers tourist attractions such as trekking to the top of the mountain, Woodstone Kingdom, dinghy rafting on the Taizi River, and the geological museum which hosts many relics and rare specimens collected from the national park area.