Benxi Laobiangou: An Autumn Oil Painting That Needs No Filter

📜 A Hidden Palette in Liaodong Benxi Laobiangou, a secret garden favored by autumn. The maple leaves here are not scattered like elsewhere but cover the sky in brilliant colors, as if nature has spilled a paint bucket. The local Manchu people call this place "Laobiangou" because it was a key outpost of the willow twig border wall during the Qing Dynasty. Now, the smoke of war has long disappeared, leaving only the fiery autumn colors covering the mountains and fields. 🍁 A Visual Feast Every Five Steps 1️⃣ Maple Forest Gallery The moment you step into the scenic area, it feels like entering Monet’s palette. Maple, oak, and other trees put on a costume show, from golden yellow to orange-red to deep crimson, each leaf shimmering under the sunlight. When we visited, it was raining, and we especially recommend visiting on cloudy or rainy days—the moist air doubles the color saturation, truly like admiring a freshly finished oil painting. 2️⃣ Mingquan Waterfall Walking along the 3-kilometer trail, you will encounter the Wulongtan Waterfall hidden in the maple forest. The 15-meter silver ribbon of water hangs between the red maple branches, and when the mist spreads, it creates a magical Tyndall effect. Locals say washing your hands with this spring water brings good luck—but even luckier is capturing the stunning scene of maple leaves and waterfall in one frame. 💡 Practical Tips ▪️ The best time to shoot is between 9-11 AM when sunlight pierces the thin mist, edging the maple leaves with gold ▪️ The trails inside the park are gentle; waterproof hiking shoes can handle occasional muddy sections ▪️ Remember to bring spare batteries and memory cards because you’ll want to press the shutter every five steps When the breeze brushes the ridge and thousands of colorful leaves flutter like butterflies, you suddenly realize: autumn in Laobiangou is not just a landscape but a grand natural art exhibition. Those falling maple leaves are probably postcards autumn sends to the world.