Summer Escape Gem - A Hot Spring Pool Resort Hotel Hidden in the Northeast Mountains

Benxi is absolutely an underrated tourist destination, boasting stunning landscapes paired with highly local-flavored cuisine. The only shortcoming was the lack of quality hotel facilities, and this hotel somewhat makes up for that gap. Located near the Guan Mountain Lake Scenic Area in Benxi Manchu Autonomous County, 🚗 the hotel is about 117 km (roughly 1 hour 50 minutes' drive) from Shenyang Taoxian International Airport, making it ideal for self-driving trips. Surrounded by picturesque mountains and pristine waters, the environment is exceptional. It's also close to [Benxi Water Cave] (Asia's longest underground karst cave, highly worth visiting) and Guanmen Mountain. Nearby ski resorts offer autumn maple leaf viewing 🍁 and winter hot spring soaking plus skiing ⛷️. This time, I stayed in a lakeside hot spring villa—a duplex with parking space at the door. Overall, the off-season price of 💰1k+ offers great value. The villa is spacious with both indoor and outdoor soaking pools. While the villa itself is nice, taking the shuttle to the main building is a bit inconvenient. For stays, I highly recommend choosing a room with a private soaking pool. The soaking and swimming pool areas provide complimentary fruits, drinks, and ice cream 🍦—a fantastic touch. [One] Design: Both indoor and outdoor areas feature a castle-inspired design theme. [Two] Facilities: The outdoor hot spring pools and infinity-edge hot spring swimming pool are outstanding. Staff mentioned the hot spring pool remains open even in winter, which is exceptionally rare in cold regions. 🏠 There are 94 rooms in total, including dozens of villas. Some villas come with both indoor and outdoor soaking pools—a lavish setup. [Three] Cleanliness: Decent. [Four] Environment: Nestled in the mountains with serene, beautiful scenery. A small lake in front of the hotel allows for camping and water play. [Five] Service: Guests are proactively added on WeChat for butler service after check-in. While not a luxury resort, the service is warm despite minor lapses in details. The shuttle service is efficient and prompt. The only downside is the requirement to change shoes and carry a token to access the pool areas, which slightly dampens the vacation vibe. [Six] Dining: Average, with some local specialties. Room service is available. Service and dining are average, but the views are spectacular, and the soaking/pool facilities are top-notch. Overall rating: 86/100—still very much worth a stay. Benxi Guan Mountain Lake Xikang Yunsha Hot Spring