Best places to see autumn leaves in China

From bright yellow to flaming red, China’s autumn colors will give you a new perspective on the outdoors.

Autumn’s on its way to save you from the heat wave. Despite the chilly air, it is a spectacular season to go outside and witness a kaleidoscope of colors. Check out our picks for some of the best autumn spots.

1. Ejina Banner 内蒙古额济纳旗

Ejina Banner [Image Credit: photostock.china.com.cn/Yang Yidong]

Ejina Oasis, in the heart of Ejina Banner, Inner Mongolia, is home to a national reserve of Euphrates poplars that turn gold every October, painting the sky above the Eji River fiery hues.

Entry: 240 yuan/person

Opening hours: all day

2. Hemu Village 新疆禾木村

Hemu Village [Image Credit: photostock.china.com.cn/Jiang Wanlian]

The road to Hemu Village, at the foot of the Altai Mountains in Xinjiang, is an adventure in its own right. Kansas National Nature Reserve, where the village is located, is a three-hour drive from Burqin Town, a remote outpost city in China’s far northwest. If you make the journey,you’ll be rewarded with a glimpse of local Kazakh traditions and world-class hiking inaccessible for most.

Entry: 60 yuan/person

Opening hours: all day

3. Jiuzhaigou 四川九寨沟

Jiuzhaigou[Image Credit: photostock.china.com.cn/Yang Dong]

Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Jiuzhaigou is well worth visiting any time of the year. In autumn, though, it features ocher leaves beside its famous emerald lakes and rainbow-like prayer flags.

Entry: 220 yuan/person (April1^st– Nov.15^th); 80 yuan/person (Nov. 16^th– March31^st)

Opening hours: 07:00 a.m. – 06:00 p.m. (April1^st– Nov.15^th); 08:30 a.m. – 06:00 p.m. (Nov.16^th– March31^st)

4. Three Gorges 长江三峡

Three Gorges [Image Credit: photostock.china.com.cn/Zhou Hui]

Cutting into the Wushan Mountains, the Three Gorges run 120km and make for an unforgettable trip. When autumn comes and trees on the cliffs show their fall colors, take a cruise along the Yangtze River. You can also hike a variety of trails on the mountains.

Entry: free

Opening hours: all day

5. Ba Da Guan 青岛八大关

Ba Da Guan [Image Credit: photostock.china.com.cn/Li Qian]

Ba Da Guan is a block of historic mansions in Qingdao, Shandong, that consists of European-style buildings and tree-lined streets. Oriental planes, ginkgoes and maples lighten the stone buildings built between 1891 and 1914, when Qingdao was a German protectorate.

Entry: free

Opening hours: all day

6. Xiangshan Park 北京香山公园

Xiangshan Park [Image Credit: photostock.china.com.cn/Wu Debing]

On the east side of West Mountain in Beijing, Xiangshan Park becomes enveloped in red leaves that make it Beijing’s most renowned outdoor spot in the fall. A famous Chinese poem by Du Mu proclaimed, “Frosty autumn leaves outshine February flowers in redness (霜叶红于二月花).” Xiangshan is proof.

Entry: 15 yuan/person (April1^st– Nov.15^th); 14 yuan/person (Nov.16^th– March31^st)

Opening hours: 06:00 a.m. -06:30 p.m. (Sept.1^st– Nov.15^th); 06:00 a.m. – 06:00 p.m. (Nov.16^th– March31^st)

7. Diaoyutai Ginkgo Avenue 北京钓鱼台银杏大道

Diaoyutai Ginkgo Avenue [Image Credit: photostock.china.com.cn/Qiao Hua]

Built as a green belt outside the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse, Diaoyutai Ginkgo Avenue is a must-go for those in Beijing in autumn. Head there at sunrise to see the foliage at its very best.