Top Eight Places to See Fall Foliage in China
Some places of in China are awesome in the fall season due to the brilliant show of colors there. The leaves show their rich and vibrant hues, with colors ranging from bright yellows to flaming reds. China's foliage season lasts from mid-dle October to early November. Listed below are some of the best places to enjoy fall colors. Travel with us to catch a glimpse of fall hues.
1. Fragrant Hill in Beijing
Best time for viewing: mid-October to early November
Fragrant Hill in the suburbs of Beijing is the most popular, and the most accessible, place to enjoy autumn foliage. The hill is covered by smoke trees and maple trees. Each year after a frost, which usually falls in early October, leaves turn color gradually. By mid-October, the mountain is shrouded by a colorful carpet of red, orange and purple. The Fragrant Hill Red Leaves Festival is held each year on the hill in the middle of October. Local families flock there during the festival to enjoy autumn colors.
Recommended tour: Beijing Fragrant Hill Park Tour
2. The Yellow Mountains
The Yellow Mountains put on a fabulous show of colors each autumn. Leaves show their rich and vibrant hues, with colors ranging from orange to brilliant red. The Autumn foliage season begins in October and lasts to early November. Except for the red leaves, there are many other highlights which are worth seeing such as the sunrise, rocks, waterfalls, oddly-shaped pine trees and sea of clouds. The Mountains are renowed as the most beautiful mountain in China.
The Yellow Mountains are close to other tourist destinations like Shanghai, Hangzhou and Nanjing. A visit to the mountains can be combined with tours to these cities. See China Highlights Yellow Mountain tours.
Recommended tour: 4-Day Yellow Mountain Classic Tour
3. Tachuan, Huangshan
Best time for viewing: late October to November
Tachuan is a small village at the foot of the Yellow Mountains. It has been frequented by tourists in recent years for its autumn colors. The area has many old Chinese tallow trees and maple trees, and in autumn, when leaves turn golden and red, it makes a feast for the eyes. Chinese photographers flock there to take photos of the spectacular scenery. What makes Tachuan's autumn scenery stand out is the views of colors interspersed with classic grey houses.
Many travelers combine their trips to the Yellow Mountains with visits to Tachuan. See China Highlights Tachuan tours.
Recommended tour: 4-Day Autumn at Yellow Mountain and Tachuan Village
4. Kanas, Urumqi
Best time for viewing: late September
In south Kanas are birch woodlands, and Kanas River and Hemu River flow into the Irtysh River, both forming a semicircle and flowing around the Altay Mountains to Russia and Mongolia. Forest-clad mountains and limpid streams complete the scene. The peaks of the Altay Mountains is are covered with pure white snow all year round. Few inhabitants live here, and the vegetation is very well preserved.
Every autumn sees an annual performance appearance of a variety of colors: birch leaves turn yellow, maple leaves turn red. When the autumn wind blows, the entire mountain quivers. All you can see is an ocean of golden brown. In this fairytale world, even visitors walk carefully lest they trample the epicormic branch, hurt the grass, and destroy and disturb the tranquility and flawlessness of nature.
Kanas is on the top of China's photography destinations. See China Highlights' Kanas tour to take in the spectacular displays of colors.
Recommended tour: 8-Day Memories of Xinjiang Tour
5. Miyaluo, Chengdu
Features: thousands of miles of gorgeous crimson leaves
Best time for viewing: mid-October to early November
The Miyaluo area is a typical region covered by subalpine coniferous forests in west Sichuan Province in southwestern China. Miyaluo means "a funny dam" in Tibetan.
Located in Aba Tibetan and Qiang ethnic minority Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan Province,on the lower slopes of the snowy mountains, facing the Sichuan Basin, Miyaluo has the largest red-leaf landscape area in China. Miyaluo lies on the tourist route between Chengdu and Jiuzhaigou Valley – Huanglong. It is 263 kilometers (163 miles) from Chengdu.
The total area of the scenic spot is 3,688 square kilometers (1,424 square miles), 180 times larger than the famous Fragrant Hill red leaves scenic area in Beijing. It is currently the largest area open to the public and has the most spectacular scenery for a red leaves scenic spot. The mountains and the water are covered with red leaves. What’s more, when vehicles pass the road comes alive with swirling leaves like bursts of flame. Snow mountains, hot springs, forests, red leaves, and the culture of the Tibetan and Qiang peoples, together create a magical autumn paradise.
Miyaluo is particularly loved by photographers due to its inspiringly beautiful colors in Autumn. The place is remote and hard to access. You need to take an arranged tour if you want to visit. See China Highlights' tour to Miyaluo and the surrounding areas.
Recommended tour: 8-Day Nature Wonders in Western Sichuan (experience Tibetan culture in Sichuan Province)
6. Jiuzhaigou Valley, Chengdu
Best time for viewing: Late October
Features: the most beautiful national park in China.
Autumn in Jiuzhai Valley has the most abundant variety of colors, and it is renowned for displaying all the colors of the world. When autumn comes, bright colors can be found everywhere, as leaves turn yellow from green and from yellow into red. The most wonderful aspect of the area, of course, is the water. Numerous, different sized lakes, ponds, and waterfalls display a dream combination of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. Visitors feast their eyes on the beautiful scenery.
Transportation
The Jiuzhai loop line from Chengdu to Jiuzhai Valley has been built in the shape of a ring, with the entire route covering 913 km (567 mi). Both east and west routes comprise a 400+ km journey, the trunk road line is a cement road, asphalt in the towns, and a single journey may take eight hours.
Starting from Chengdu, tourist buses from Chengdu Xinnanmen Tourism Bus Station go to Jiuzhai Valley. A bus sets out at 8 o’clock every morning. Long-distance buses go directly from Jiuzhai Valley to Huanglong; the day bus starts at 07:30 and there is a night bus that starts in the evening and arrives in the morning.
Jiuzhaigou's breath-taking natural scenery has tempted many travelers to make return trips, If you love impressive nature, you definitely shouldn't miss it. See China Highlights' Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong tour.
Recommended tour: 5-Day Scenic Tour to Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong
7. Qixia Mountain, Nanjing
Features: red maple leaves
Qixia Mountain is located in Qixia town, about 22 kilometers (14 miles) northeast of Nanjing, in East China's Jiangsu Province. In late autumn, Qixia is covered with red leaves. People in Nanjing usually enjoy the scenery with their family members.
Ticket: 20 yuan for an adult (in late October, the ticket price may increase to 30 yuan per person). Every adult that buys a ticket can bring a child shorter than 1.3 meters (4.2 feet) in height for free.
Transportation: at the Nanjing Railway Station, take either the Nanlong or Nanqi bus line.
It is possible to make a day trip from Shanghai to the mountains as it is close to Shanghai. Let China Highlights customize a day trip from Shanghai for you to enjoy the red leaves.
Recommended tour: Nanjing History Tour
8. Yuanyang Terraced Fields
Yuanyang Terraced Fields, in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, is considered one of the best places for photos in China. The terraced paddy fields wind from the mountain bottom up to the top, like, from a distance, great chains or ribbons as they wind their way around the contours of the mountain slopes in parallel, tiered bands. The period from middle September to early October is the best time to visit, as the fields are golden and ready for harvest. See China Highlights photography tour to Yuanyang.
Recommended tour: Yuanyang Terrace Fields Breaking Tour
China Highlights
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Hi Joyce, you can take a tour to all these places to have a true experience. Man who travels far knows more.
Whitney Liao Replied on 2012-12-06
