Wunvshan Scenic Area is located 8 kilometers north of Huanren Town, Huanren Manchu Autonomous County, Benxi City, Liaoning Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and a World Cultural Heritage site. The scenic area centers on the early Goguryeo royal city ruins, integrating historical culture and natural landscapes, and functions as an important site for archaeological research, historical education, and eco-tourism. The Wunvshan mountain is rectangular in shape, with the main peak at an altitude of 824 meters, 1,500 meters long from north to south, 300-500 meters wide from east to west, and a total area of approximately 68.6 hectares. Remains from the Goguryeo period, such as city walls, palaces, and water storage tanks, still exist on the mountain. The remaining city wall is about 1,000 meters long, with a maximum height of 6 meters, demonstrating the architectural wisdom of the ancient Goguryeo people. The vegetation coverage rate of the scenic area exceeds 90%, with rich natural landscapes such as mountains, forests, canyons, and streams, presenting different scenery in all seasons. It is an important destination for understanding Goguryeo history and appreciating the mountain scenery of eastern Liaoning.
History and Culture
The history of Wunvshan can be traced back to 37 BC, when Jumong, the founder of Goguryeo, established the first capital of the Goguryeo regime here, historically known as "Heshenggu City". As the early political, military, and cultural center of Goguryeo, Wunvshan, with its perilous terrain, became an impregnable strategic stronghold. Its royal city ruins witnessed the important stage of the Goguryeo people's evolution from a tribal alliance to a national form.
In 3 AD, the capital of Goguryeo was moved to Ji'an, but Wunvshan remained a military fortress. Since then, this mountain city has been used in the Liao, Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, leaving historical traces of different periods. Since the 1950s, archaeologists have unearthed a large number of Goguryeo-era cultural relics such as pottery, ironware, and jadeware on the mountain, providing precious physical materials for the study of Goguryeo culture. In 2004, the Wunvshan Mountain City Ruins were inscribed on the World Cultural Heritage List due to their unique historical value, becoming an important witness to the Goguryeo civilization.
Main Attractions
Mountain City Ruins
The Mountain City Ruins are the core attraction of Wunvshan, with existing remains distributed on the top and hillside of the mountain. Among them, the city walls from the Goguryeo period are the most representative remains, built with local blue-gray rocks, winding along the mountain terrain, with some sections still maintaining a height of 6 meters and a width of 3 meters. The site also contains the foundation of a palace building, covering an area of about 1,000 square meters, with remaining column bases showing the scale and layout of the building. In addition, the manually excavated water storage tank (commonly known as "Tianchi") has a diameter of about 10 meters and a depth of 3 meters, built with stone masonry techniques, and can still hold water to this day, reflecting the water conservancy wisdom of ancient ancestors. Visitors can intuitively understand the structure and function of the Goguryeo royal city through the signs and restored models next to the ruins.
Dianjiangtai (Command Platform)
Dianjiangtai is located on the west side of the main peak of Wunvshan. It is a huge natural rock platform with an area of about 50 square meters and an altitude of 810 meters. It is said to be the place where the Goguryeo king reviewed the army and issued orders. Standing here, one can overlook the Huanren Reservoir and the surrounding river valley plains below, with a broad view and a strategic location. Protective railings are set at the edge of the platform, allowing visitors to enjoy the distant landscape of mountains and waters and feel the momentum of the ancient military fortress. Due to years of wind and rain erosion, the rock surface has formed unique textures, which complement the surrounding pine trees, making it a popular spot for taking photos.
Taiji Pavilion
Taiji Pavilion is built on a gentle slope of the mountain. It gets its name because the Huanren Basin where Huanren County is located is in the shape of Taiji (the Eight Trigrams), and this landform can be clearly seen from the pavilion. The pavilion is an antique quadrangular pyramid-roofed building with an area of about 20 square meters, equipped with stone tables and stools for visitors to rest. Located at an altitude of about 600 meters, it is an excellent place to watch the sunrise and sea of clouds. In the early morning, clouds and mist linger in the mountains, forming an ink painting with the distant reservoir. The scenery is particularly spectacular in spring and autumn. A stone stele introducing the geographical features of Huanren stands beside the pavilion, helping visitors understand the unique natural environment of the local area.
Yixiantian (One-Line Sky)
Yixiantian is a natural wonder of Wunvshan, located in the middle section of the hiking trail. It is a narrow passage formed by two huge rocks facing each other, about 30 meters long, with the narrowest part only allowing one person to pass sideways. The stone walls on both sides are 10-15 meters high, and when looking up, only a line of sky can be seen. The stone steps in the passage are steep, and some sections require holding onto the rock walls to move forward, which is very challenging. Walking through it, one can feel the steepness of the mountain and the uncanny craftsmanship of nature. The stone walls also retain grooves chiseled by ancient climbers, which are presumed to be the passage for the garrison soldiers to go up and down the mountain, having both natural landscape and human historical value.
Food
Huanren Ice Wine
Huanren Ice Wine is the most distinctive beverage around the scenic area. Although not a traditional "food", it is a must-try due to its status as a geographical indication product. Huanren County, where Wunvshan is located, is a famous ice wine producing area in China. It is brewed from mountain grapes naturally frozen at temperatures below -8°C. The wine has a golden color, a mellow and sweet taste, with honey and fruit aromas. It is sold in specialty stores in the scenic area and the county town, with prices ranging from tens to hundreds of yuan depending on quality. Some wineries also offer tasting experiences, allowing visitors to purchase after the tour and experience the unique wine culture of eastern Liaoning.
Manchu Eight Great Bowls
Manchu Eight Great Bowls is a classic dish in Manchu restaurants around Wunvshan, belonging to the local traditional banquet form. This dish consists of eight different dishes, including crispy white meat, braised chicken with mushrooms, Ama Zun meat (braised pork), and stewed vegetables, with a combination of meat and vegetables. It mainly uses braising, steaming, and stewing methods, reflecting the rough and substantial characteristics of Manchu cuisine. At the "Manchu Eight Great Bowls Restaurant" in Huanren County, a set of eight bowls for 8 people costs about 200-300 yuan. The ingredients are mostly sourced from local mountains, forests, and farmland, with authentic flavors, suitable for sharing among many people.
Wild Vegetable Feast
Wunvshan and the surrounding mountainous areas are rich in various wild vegetables, such as Aralia elata buds, dandelions, ferns, and large-leaf celery. Local restaurants make these wild vegetables into different dishes such as cold dishes, stir-fries, and fillings, forming a characteristic wild vegetable feast. Among them, stir-fried Aralia elata buds with eggs have a tender taste, and stir-fried ferns with meat are fragrant and delicious, both retaining the natural flavor of wild vegetables and being rich in vitamins and dietary fiber. A plate of mixed wild vegetables costs about 30-50 yuan, which can be tasted at the farmhouses at the foot of the scenic area, making it an excellent choice to experience the dietary characteristics of the mountainous areas in eastern Liaoning.
Tickets
The ticket price is 105 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "五女山景区" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are adjusted according to the season: the peak season is from April 1st to October 31st, with opening hours from 8:00 to 17:00 (admission stops at 16:00); the off-season is from November 1st to March 31st of the next year, with opening hours from 9:00 to 16:00 (admission stops at 15:00). Affected by the weather, some hiking trails may be closed in winter.
Tour Route
A recommended tour route covering the core attractions: take the sightseeing bus from the scenic area entrance (15 yuan per person for a one-way trip) to the hillside parking lot (about 5 minutes), then walk uphill. First, pass through Yixiantian (visit for about 20 minutes) to experience the steep natural landscape; then go to Taiji Pavilion (about 15 minutes on foot) to overlook the Huanren Taiji landform (visit for about 30 minutes); continue uphill to the Mountain City Ruins (about 25 minutes on foot) to visit the city walls, palace foundations, water storage tanks and other remains (visit for about 1.5 hours); finally, climb to Dianjiangtai (about 10 minutes on foot) to overlook the panoramic view and take photos as a souvenir (visit for about 30 minutes). For the downhill, you can choose to return the same way or walk down from the other trail to the parking lot (about 1 hour on foot). The total tour time is about 4-5 hours. If time permits, you can stay for 1 hour at the Goguryeo Cultural Relics Exhibition Hall at the foot of the mountain (free of charge) to gain a deeper understanding of the historical background.
Transportation
- Public transportation: Take the special minibus from Huanren County Bus Station to Wunvshan. There is one bus per hour from 8:00 to 16:00 every day, with a journey of about 20 minutes and a fare of 5 yuan per person. After getting off, walk for 5 minutes to the scenic area entrance.
- Self-driving: Drive 8 kilometers north from Huanren County along Wunvshan Road. The entire road is paved with asphalt, taking about 15 minutes. The parking fee at the scenic area is 10 yuan per time for small cars and 20 yuan per time for large cars.
- Tourist special line: Travel agencies in Benxi urban area and Shenyang City have opened one-day tour special lines to Wunvshan, including round-trip transportation and tickets, with prices ranging from 200 to 250 yuan per person. For details, you can consult local travel agencies.
Must-visit Attractions
- Mountain City Ruins: The core area of the early Goguryeo royal city, with 1,000 meters of remaining walls, palace foundations, and water storage tanks. It demonstrates the architectural technology and capital layout of Goguryeo in 37 BC and is a core part of the World Cultural Heritage.
- Yixiantian: A natural canyon 30 meters long, with the narrowest part only allowing one person to pass through. The stone walls on both sides are 15 meters high, having both steep landscape and historical passage functions, and is a landmark experience during the hike.
- Dianjiangtai: An observation platform at an altitude of 810 meters, which can overlook the Huanren Reservoir and plains. It is said to be the place where the Goguryeo king mustered his troops, with a broad view and is the best location to feel the strategic position of the mountain city.
Tour Suggestions
- It is recommended to spend 1 day for the tour, and choose to visit in April-May or September-October, when the climate is cool, the vegetation is lush or the mountains are covered with colorful leaves, and the scenery is the most beautiful.
- The hiking trail is about 3 kilometers long, with a cumulative climb of about 400 meters. Some sections are steep, so it is recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes and carry trekking poles to assist in climbing.
- There are few catering options in the scenic area. It is recommended to bring simple meals and drinking water from Huanren County, or eat at the farmhouses at the foot of the mountain, with an average consumption of about 30-50 yuan per person.
- When visiting the Mountain City Ruins, it is recommended to rent an electronic interpreter (30 yuan per unit) or hire a guide to gain a deeper understanding of the Goguryeo historical background. A deposit of 200 yuan is required for the interpreter at the visitor center.
- Sun protection measures should be taken in summer, and mosquito repellent should be carried; in winter, attention should be paid to anti-slip when climbing, as some sections may have snow. You can check the weather forecast in advance.
Notes
- Smoking and open fires are strictly prohibited in the scenic area. The mountainous area has dense vegetation, so you must strictly abide by the forest fire prevention regulations, otherwise you will be fined.
- During the climb, you are not allowed to leave the designated trail without permission. Some undeveloped areas are dangerous and may damage cultural relics and sites.
- Take good care of cultural relics and historic sites. Touching or carving on the city walls and remains is prohibited. The scenic area is equipped with monitoring, and violators will be held accountable.
- During thunderstorms, climbing should be suspended, and you should take shelter in indoor places nearby (such as Taiji Pavilion), avoiding staying on the top of the mountain or in open areas.
- Mobile phone signals in the scenic area are weak. It is recommended to travel with companions and keep in contact.