Day 1 All over the country → → Shenyang ★ Gathering day
All day
Today is a full-day meeting day. You can take the high-speed rail or flight to Shenyang, then make your way to the meeting hotel. Check in at the front desk by providing "China - Travel Note + Name." Early arrivals can explore this historic Northeastern city, home to the Shenyang Imperial Palace, a renowned imperial palace complex of the Qing Dynasty. It's one of only two remaining palace complexes in China and served as the imperial palace of the early Qing Dynasty. Those interested in Chinese war history can visit the September 18th Incident Museum, dedicated to remembering national humiliation and promoting the revitalization of China. In the evening, enjoy Northeastern delicacies like barbecue, chicken racks, stretched noodles, sweet and sour pork, and fried skewers. There's something for everyone.
Day 2 Shenyang → Red Beach → Pai Shi Village
·morning
After breakfast, we'll depart for Panjin Red Beach and explore the Red Beach National Scenic Corridor. Located at the mouth of the Liaohe River, it boasts one of the world's most well-preserved natural red beaches. Featuring the world's rare and renowned red beach, the vast coastal mudflats combine natural beauty with cultural heritage, presenting a magnificent and beautiful scene.
·afternoon
We departed at the right time, arriving at Paishi Village in Wafangdian in the afternoon. In the afternoon, we explored the Paishi landscape, taking advantage of the changing light. Wafangdian Paishi is a classic example of sea erosion, with its layers resembling walls and resembling scrolls of Buddhist scriptures, earning it the nickname "Buddhist Scripture Rock." The cliffs, ochre-colored and steep, rise from the seashore as if sculpted by a knife or an axe. Long periods of erosion have shaped these unique sea cliffs. Some sections of the cliff face even have sea caves running through them, creating a captivating atmosphere under the golden sunset, perfect for slow shutter speed photography. Besides photographing the rock faces, we can also capture the Paishi Reef, which extends deep into the sea. We can also descend to the beach and follow the tides to find towering reef pillars as a foreground for sunset photography.
Day 3 Paishi Village → Xihuzui General Rock → Dalian
·morning
In the morning, we will go to Pai Shi to climb up and photograph the sunrise over the Pai Shi coastline. After that, we will return to the hotel for breakfast and then take a bus to Dalian. After checking into the hotel, we will arrange for rest on our own to avoid the strong sunlight at noon.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we set off at the right time to visit General Rock at Xihuzui to take slow shutter speed photos of the sunset on the reef beach. General Rock is a reef that has amazed the photography circle, not only because of the uncanny and ingenious workmanship of these two reefs, but more importantly, it has a unique geographical location and orientation: in the evening, if there is a strong northwest wind, the rolling waves on the sea surface hit the reefs, and the ever-changing clouds in the sea and sky before and after sunset, even if you are an entry-level photography enthusiast, you can still take moving pictures. It is an ideal place for slow shutter speed scenery shooting.
The photography leader will explain slow shutter speed photography techniques and practice them on-site, capturing the reefs, pebbles, and beach textures until sunset. During the golden hour of sunset, the leader will also lead everyone in light painting photography, capturing stunning images with General Rock as the foreground.
After enjoying the photo shoot, we returned to the hotel to rest. Dalian is the charming capital of Northeast China and a beautiful coastal city. In the evening, you can meet up with friends to explore Dalian’s special food.
Day 4 Dalian → Xijianshan → Dandong Yalu River Broken Bridge → Kuandian
·morning
Get up early and head to the Xijianshan Observation Deck to capture the sunrise. Not only does it offer a panoramic view of the Xinghai Bay Bridge, but you can also watch the sun rise over the sea. The softer morning light creates more dramatic colors, and the reflections off the water bring out even richer details. As the morning glow deepens, its pink hue gradually shifts to orange and then to bright red, transforming the sea and sky into a vibrant crimson. A dazzling, radiant sun slowly rises, tinting the sea with a hue of crimson, creating a truly spectacular sight.
·morning
After enjoying the photo ops, we departed, passing through Dandong, a major city on the Sino-North Korean border. We admired and photographed the famous Broken Bridge over the Yalu River, standing at the bridgehead and recalling the heroic PLA soldiers who crossed the Yalu River during the Korean War. We walked along the broken bridge to the center of the river, offering a panoramic view of the North Korean city across the river!
·afternoon
As the vehicle moved forward, the autumn colors on both sides of the road gradually became richer. In the evening, we arrived at the hotel in Kuandian City to rest and prepare for tomorrow's shooting.
Day 5 Kuandian → Tianqiaogou → China Maple Leaf Avenue → Benxi Small Market
·morning
After breakfast, we set off for the lesser-known Tianqiaogou Scenic Area. Although it is not as famous as Guanmen Mountain, Yanghugou, etc., the autumn colors here are just as colorful, and there are fewer tourists. We left after taking enough photos.
·afternoon
In the afternoon, we'll travel through Liaodong's most breathtaking autumn scenery: the China Maple Leaf Avenue (also known as the Benhuan Highway). Wild maple trees line the road, and the winding route offers a unique view of the vibrant autumn colors from every angle.
After enjoying the photoshoot, we went to the hotel to rest. The mutton soup in Benxi market is famous throughout the country, so tourists can come and visit and eat there!
Day 6 Benxi Xiaoshi → Laobiangou → Benxi Xiaoshi
All day
After breakfast, we set off for Laobiangou, a hidden gem of autumn scenery in Liaodong. Compared to the more famous Guanmen Mountain, this spot boasts fewer visitors. The maple forests here are ablaze with color, their leaves shimmering in vibrant shades of green, gold, fiery red, and rosy clouds. Walking through the mountain valleys feels like stepping into a kingdom of color. China-TravelNote allocated ample time for creative photography, and after enjoying the photos, we returned to the hotel to rest.
Day 7 Benxi Small Town → Guanmen Mountain Red Leaf Valley → Shenyang City ★ Disbandment Day
All day
After breakfast, we set off early for Guanmenshan National Geopark, a mecca for autumn viewing in Liaodong. This area is renowned for its maple leaves, with over 120 species of maple trees, clustered one after another, resembling a sunset glow or flames, painting the entire mountainside a vibrant crimson. China-TravelNote allocated ample time for creative work here.
After enjoying the photoshoot, we will depart and be transferred to [Shenyang Taoxian Airport]. We will arrive at the airport at 15:30. Please book flights after 17:30.
