Honghaitan (Red Beach) Scenic Corridor is located in Zhaoquanhe Town, Dawa District, Panjin City, Liaoning Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction, relying on the best-preserved and largest wetland resources in the world, and featuring the world-renowned red beach and the world's largest reed marsh. It is an eco-tourism scenic area that perfectly combines natural environment and cultural landscapes. The total length of the scenic area is about 18 kilometers, with a total area of more than 20 square kilometers, of which the core landscape area is about 10 square kilometers. The red beach here is formed by a unique herbaceous plant called Suaeda salsa. Every autumn, Suaeda salsa turns a bright red, spreading over the tidal flats along the Bohai Bay, forming a red ocean. It, together with the blue sea water and green reed marshes, constitutes a unique natural landscape. The scenic area is equipped with multiple viewing platforms, viewing bridges, parking lots and other facilities, with complete supporting facilities. It is an eco-tourism resort integrating leisure and sightseeing, scientific research, and popular science education, attracting a large number of tourists every year.
Historical Culture
The Panjin wetland area where Honghaitan is located has historically been an important fishing and hunting place at the mouth of the Liaohe River. There have been traces of human activities as early as the Neolithic Age. The local ancestors made a living by fishing, hunting, and boiling salt, and formed a unique wetland culture during their long-term production and life.
During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this place was an important coastal defense fortress in the Liaodong Bay, with some military defense sites left, witnessing the border defense history of that time. At the same time, with the influx of immigrants, agriculture and fishery gradually developed, forming a production method centered on the utilization of wetland resources, such as rice field breeding and reed weaving. These traditional techniques are still handed down locally.
Since the 1980s, the local area has begun to attach importance to wetland ecological protection, and the unique landscape of Honghaitan has gradually become known to the outside world. In 2013, Honghaitan Scenic Corridor was officially opened to the public. After years of construction and improvement, it has become an important window to display wetland ecological culture. Elements such as "rice culture" and "fishing and wild goose culture" in the scenic area are presented through exhibition halls, sculptures and other forms, allowing tourists to understand the history of the harmonious coexistence between local people and nature while enjoying the natural landscape.
Main Attractions
Love Declaration Corridor
Love Declaration Corridor is one of the iconic viewing platforms of Honghaitan. It is located in the middle section of the scenic area, with a total length of about 100 meters. It is built with a wooden structure and winds over the red beach. This is an excellent place to enjoy the panoramic view of Honghaitan, with a wide view, where you can take in the red tidal flats, green reeds and distant oil field pumping units (nodding donkeys) at a glance. There are heart-shaped hollow sculptures on both sides of the viewing platform. Many tourists hang love locks here to express their good feelings, hence the name "Love Declaration Corridor". In autumn, Suaeda salsa is the most intensely red, forming a delightful contrast with the blue sky and white clouds, making it a popular photo spot.
Rice Dream Space
Rice Dream Space features rice field art, covering an area of about 2000 mu. It is a representative scenic spot combining humanity and nature in the scenic area. Here, by planting different varieties of rice, huge patterns such as "Dragon Soaring in Prosperity" and "Red-crowned Crane" are outlined in the fields, which are very spectacular when viewed from a height. The scenic area has a 30-meter-high viewing tower, from which you can enjoy the complete rice field paintings. In addition, there are rice field plank roads and farming culture exhibition areas. Tourists can experience activities such as catching crabs and picking in the rice fields to feel the charm of rice culture. The best time to enjoy the rice field paintings is from summer to autumn every year, and the patterns are changed in different seasons.
Honghaitan Wetland Science Museum
Honghaitan Wetland Science Museum is located near the entrance of the scenic area, with a construction area of about 3000 square meters. It is a professional exhibition hall integrating wetland ecological display, popular science education and scientific research. Through multimedia demonstrations, physical specimens, scene simulations and other methods, the museum systematically introduces the composition of the wetland ecosystem, the formation principle of Honghaitan, the growth characteristics of Suaeda salsa and the biodiversity of the Liaohe Estuary wetland. The museum displays specimens of rare birds such as red-crowned cranes and black-billed gulls, as well as hundreds of wetland plant specimens, helping tourists to deeply understand the importance of wetland ecological protection. There is also an interactive experience area in the museum, suitable for parent-child tourists.
Wolong Lake
Wolong Lake is a natural lake in the scenic area, covering an area of about 500 mu. The lake surface is wide, surrounded by reed marshes and red beaches. There are many kinds of waterfowls inhabiting the lake, such as wild ducks and egrets, making it a good place for bird watching. The scenic area has built wooden plank roads and viewing platforms along the lake, with a length of about 1.5 kilometers. Tourists can walk along the plank roads to enjoy the lake scenery and wetland landscape. In the early morning, the lake surface is often covered with mist, and the reeds sway in the wind, making the scenery like a fairyland; in the evening, the setting sun shines on the lake, making it shimmering and very charming.
Corridor Bridge of Love Dreams
Corridor Bridge of Love Dreams is a wooden corridor bridge spanning between the red beach and the reed marsh, with a total length of about 500 meters. The bridge surface is winding and tortuous, with multiple rest pavilions. There are different landscapes on both sides of the corridor bridge: one side is the red Suaeda salsa tidal flat, and the other side is the green reed marsh. Walking on the corridor bridge, you can enjoy two completely different wetland landscapes at the same time. In autumn, the red tidal flats and golden reeds set off each other, making the scenery particularly beautiful. There is a large viewing platform at the end of the corridor bridge, which is an excellent place to watch the sunset.
Food
Panjin River Crab
Panjin River Crab is one of the most distinctive local delicacies. Because it grows in the wetland rice fields at the estuary of the Liaohe River, its meat is tender, the crab roe is plump, and the taste is delicious. Every September to October is the season when river crabs mature. Restaurants around the scenic area will launch dishes such as steamed river crabs and spicy river crabs. Steamed river crabs can best reflect their original flavor. Each crab weighs about 100-150 grams, and the price varies according to size, about 50-100 yuan per crab. It is recommended to eat with ginger vinegar sauce, which can not only remove the fishy smell but also enhance the freshness.
Reed Leaf Wrapped Rice
Reed Leaf Wrapped Rice is a traditional food in Panjin wetland. It is made by wrapping glutinous rice, rice or millet with fresh reed leaves, adding fillings such as red dates and bean paste, and steaming. The fragrance of reed leaves is integrated into the rice, with a soft, glutinous and sweet taste. Each serving in the farmhouses in the scenic area is priced at about 15 yuan, with sufficient portions, and it is a must-try food for tourists to experience local characteristics. In addition, there are reed leaf wrapped zongzi, which are more common around the Dragon Boat Festival, with a unique taste.
Wetland Mixed Fish
Wetland Mixed Fish uses various wild small fish from the waters of the Liaohe Estuary wetland, such as crucian carp, snakehead, and willow root fish. After being cleaned, they are braised with local soybean paste, chili and other seasonings. The soup is rich, and the fish meat is tender and flavorful. Each serving in the "Fisherman's Restaurant" around the scenic area is priced at about 68 yuan. It is better to eat with corn cakes dipped in soup, reflecting the dietary characteristics of local fishermen.
Surrounding Food
There are many characteristic restaurants in Panjin urban area, about 20 kilometers away from the scenic area. It is recommended to go to "Old Panjin Restaurant", which focuses on local home-cooked dishes. The signature dishes include sauerkraut and white meat pot (48 yuan/serving) and braised sea hare with sauce (58 yuan/serving), with authentic flavors; "River Fresh Restaurant" mainly serves seafood, such as salted prawns (88 yuan/serving) and stir-fried clams (38 yuan/serving), with fresh ingredients and an average consumption of about 80 yuan per person. In addition, the night market in the urban area has special snacks such as roasted river crabs and fried reed worms, allowing you to experience different flavors.
Tickets
The ticket price is 85 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "红海滩风景廊道" to get the latest news. As of July 15, 2025, this official WeChat public account does not provide online ticket purchasing function.
Opening Hours
The opening hours of the scenic area are adjusted according to the season:
- Peak season (April 1 - October 31): 8:00 - 17:30 (admission stops at 17:00);
- Off-season (November 1 - March 31 of the next year): 9:00 - 16:00 (admission stops at 15:30).
Among them, the best viewing period of Honghaitan is from mid-September to late October, when Suaeda salsa is the most colorful; the viewing period of the rice field paintings in Rice Dream Space is from July to October. Some scenic spots may be closed or have shortened opening hours in the off-season. It is recommended to check the official notice before traveling.
Tour Route
Recommended one-day tour route: Arrive at the entrance of the scenic area at 8:30 am, buy tickets and sightseeing bus tickets, then take the sightseeing bus to the first attraction - Honghaitan Wetland Science Museum (about 15 minutes), visit the exhibition hall to learn about wetland ecological knowledge (about 1 hour); take the sightseeing bus to Corridor Bridge of Love Dreams at 10:00, walk along the corridor bridge to enjoy the red beach and reed marsh landscape (about 1.5 hours); go to Wolong Lake at 11:30, walk on the plank road by the lake to watch birds (about 1 hour); have lunch at the farmhouse near Wolong Lake at 12:30, tasting Panjin river crabs and other characteristic foods (about 1 hour); take the sightseeing bus to Love Declaration Corridor at 13:30, enjoy the panoramic view of Honghaitan and take photos as a souvenir (about 1 hour); go to Rice Dream Space at 14:30, climb the viewing tower to enjoy the rice field paintings and experience field activities (about 1.5 hours); take the sightseeing bus back to the entrance of the scenic area at 16:00, and buy souvenirs such as river crabs and reed paintings at the specialty store on the way; end the trip at 17:00. The whole journey combines taking the sightseeing bus and walking, with a total walking distance of about 3-4 kilometers, which is relatively easy.
Transportation
- Bus: You can take the special tourist bus (No. 30) in Panjin urban area to directly reach Honghaitan Scenic Corridor. The starting point is Panjin Railway Station, the journey is about 1 hour, the fare is 10 yuan, and there is a bus every 30 minutes;
- Self-driving: Starting from Panjin urban area, drive south along Xianghai Avenue for about 30 kilometers, then turn into Zhaoquanhe Street to reach the scenic area, with a total journey of about 40 minutes; the parking fee standard of the scenic area parking lot is 20 yuan per time for small cars and 30 yuan per time for large cars, with sufficient parking spaces;
- Tourist line: There are one-day tour lines from cities such as Shenyang and Dalian to Honghaitan, including round-trip transportation and tickets, with prices ranging from 200 to 260 yuan per person. You can sign up at local travel agencies;
- Taxi: Taking a taxi from Panjin urban area to the scenic area costs about 80-100 yuan, with a journey of about 40 minutes, which is suitable for sharing the cost with multiple people traveling together.
Must-Visit Attractions
- Love Declaration Corridor: A 100-meter-long wooden viewing platform, where you can overlook the red beach, reed marsh and oil field landscapes. The red color is the most intense in autumn, making it a iconic check-in spot;
- Rice Dream Space: A 2000-mu rice field art area, with a 30-meter-high viewing tower to enjoy huge rice field paintings. You can also experience farming activities, suitable for parent-child travel;
- Corridor Bridge of Love Dreams: A 500-meter-long wooden corridor bridge, with red beach and reed marsh on both sides respectively. You can enjoy two kinds of landscapes at the same time, and the scenery is extremely beautiful at sunset;
- Honghaitan Wetland Science Museum: A 3000-square-meter popular science exhibition hall, displaying wetland ecology through various methods, which is an important window to understand the formation of Honghaitan.
Travel Suggestions
- The best travel season is from September to October, when Suaeda salsa is bright red and the rice field paintings are also in the best viewing period; in summer, you can enjoy the green wetlands and waterfowls; in winter, there are few people and it is quiet, allowing you to experience a different wetland style;
- The ultraviolet rays in the scenic area are strong. It is recommended to bring sunscreen, sun hats, sunglasses and other sun protection products; the wind is strong in autumn, so you need to bring a thin coat;
- The catering price in the scenic area is relatively high. You can bring your own snacks and water, or choose to eat in Zhaoquanhe Town outside the scenic area, which is more cost-effective;
- It is recommended to take the scenic area sightseeing bus to save energy. The distance between attractions is relatively long, and walking takes a long time;
- Photography enthusiasts are advised to bring a telephoto lens to take photos of distant birds and the panoramic view of Honghaitan; the light is soft in the early morning and evening, which is the best time for taking photos;
- If you want to taste fresh river crabs, you can go from September to October. There are many river crab farms around the scenic area, where you can buy and process them on the spot.
Matters Needing Attention
- Trampling on Suaeda salsa and picking reeds in the scenic area is prohibited, and violators will be fined. Protecting the wetland ecology is the responsibility of every tourist;
- Do not make loud noises when watching birds, do not feed birds casually, keep a safe distance, and avoid disturbing their normal life;
- Some viewing platforms and plank roads in the scenic area are made of wood, which may be slippery in rainy days or winter. Please pay attention to safety when walking;
- There are many mosquitoes in the wetland in summer, so it is recommended to bring mosquito repellent; there may be autumn winds in autumn, so pay attention to wind protection and keep warm;
- Self-driving tourists are not allowed to drive into non-designated areas, and park in the parking lot as required;
- There is a medical station in the scenic area (located near Honghaitan Wetland Science Museum). If you feel unwell, you can go there for help in time.