Benxi is a prefecture-level city located in the east of Liaoning province, People's Republic of China, south-southeast of Shenyang. Its population is 1,709,538 at the 2010 census. It was founded as a metallurgical center in 1915. Benxi Iron and Steel Company is the largest employer in the city, and used to be the fourth-largest steel company in China. The second-largest industry in Benxi is coal mining. Benxi has pollution problems due to steel production and coal mining.During the disaster of Air France flight AF447, Benxi Iron and Steel Company lost 5 employees, including the executive Chen Chiping who was the wife of Liaoning's provincial governor.
