"Benxi - Steel and steam" Benxi by imaturnip

Benxi is in laoning province about 60km from Shenyang. An industial town, the majority of older housing is in the path of the smoke from the many factories, but world bank assistance is helping modernise or move industy, a long way to go before it can be called a clean environment but effort is being made and newer parts of town are pretty good.It is a busy industrial city you don't want to eat fish from the river which at times is black with coal dust, but I will be fair though and show the new improved bit first.
this is a city with so many friendly people eatting out is our main preocupation. The city itself is quite delapidated, streets are uneven, roads in a poor state of repair, but there is constant improvement - Rome wasnt rebuilt in a day, and probably had more resouces.

the steam engines last sad stand

Steel is a big part of the economy here, and new plant like this is well away from the city There are still a few old steam engines employed to tip the slag away. The gleaming towers of the big cities need steel, your car needs steel, this is the cost

Goose restaurant Benxi

Like in most of China the rural comunity come to town to trade there are many market stalls and not unusual to see a donkey or horse drawn cart. Morning markets are fun with fresh fruits, veges and even tobacco ( no I did not try) This goose restaurant serves a whole plate of goose for less that $3.50 my Wife and her pals lunged into the bones I kept to the more fleshy bits. Washed down with plenty of beer at around 25 cents a pop thats a great meal.

• Pros:Freindly town, wunu mountain vineyard 3hrs away
• Cons:Nothing worthy of touring inside city
• In a nutshell:business city, not a tourist location