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When it comes to autumn, it's difficult to find a single location in China that truly embodies its autumn colors. In the northeast, autumn is fleeting, paving the way for winter's arrival. In the northwest, winds from the Ural Mountains paint the mountains and fields yellow overnight. In the southwest, autumn rains wet the golden ginkgo trees, and valleys and streams melt into the autumn colors. In the east, however, autumn colors vary, and Wuyuan's autumn is meant to be seen.
Wuyuan Huangling Autumn Drying
Mention Wuyuan, and many people's first reaction is to see mountains covered in brilliant yellow rapeseed blossoms and the black-tiled, whitewashed Hui-style buildings. And that's true: the Hui-style houses dotted with rapeseed blossoms are Wuyuan's most iconic sight in spring.
Rapeseed flowers in Jiangling, Wuyuan in spring
But many people don't know that Wuyuan is even more breathtakingly beautiful in autumn. Warm colors abound throughout the countryside: golden firewood stacks beneath towering red maple trees, fiery red chili peppers drying on the roofs of white-walled, black-tiled houses, and scattered red and yellow leaves floating in the deep, emerald green pools of the mountains.
Autumn in Wuyuan
In autumn, Wuyuan is a land of boundless beauty, captivated by the vibrant colors of maple trees. Fiery red maple forests, juxtaposed against morning mist, smoke from cooking fires, and ancient dwellings, create a breathtaking landscape painting. The sight of crimson maple leaves naturally brings to mind the Tang Dynasty poet Du Mu's celebrated poem "A Mountain Journey": "Up far above the cold mountain, the stone path slants, where white clouds rise, dwellings are seen. I stop my car and sit to enjoy the maple forest in the evening, the frosted leaves redder than February flowers." In this universally recognized verse, the vibrant sunset glow and vibrant maple leaves interplay with each other, a beauty that surpasses the vitality of spring, its melodious charm captivating and captivating. Faced with such a magnificent, tranquil, and unique landscape, where better to admire and photograph it than in Wuyuan?
Wuyuan's autumn photography can be divided into two main phases. The first is from early September to early October, and it's best to visit before the autumn harvest. The golden waves of rice paddies provide a perfect backdrop for capturing the fragrance of rice blossoms and the autumn charm of autumn. At this time, the colors of the crops drying in Huangling are at their freshest.
The second is the red leaf photography season that I will focus on today. The leaves in Wuyuan begin to turn yellow and red around the Frost Descent (October 23-24) every year, and enter the color period around November 10. The best viewing period is from the 10th to the 30th, and there are opportunities to take great photos until early or even mid-December.
At this time of year, Wuyuan's forests are bathed in autumn, and the deeper the fall, the more vibrant the colors. Scattered across the hills and fields, and at the entrances and alleys of villages, the ancient maples glow a fiery crimson, like a raging prairie fire, illuminating the black-tiled, white-walled Huizhou villages with even greater clarity and brilliance. Houses are built along streams and nestled against the hillsides, with whitewashed walls and black tiles, streets and alleys flowing, bluestone pavements, and cascading waterfalls. Green mountains, clear waters, blue skies, houses, small bridges, and flowing water—everywhere you look is a scene of beauty. At this time of year, the autumn leaves drying in Huangling and the maple leaf display in Shicheng draw crowds of tourists.
Huangling – Bringing Autumn to the World
The ancient village of Huangling, thanks to its unique "Autumn Drying" spectacle, has earned it the title of "Most Beautiful Chinese Symbol." In Huangling, each season offers its own distinct drying season, extending in an orderly fashion. This bountiful harvest is known as "Autumn Drying," a tradition best described as "Autumn Drying." As the sun rises over the mountains, the colorful harvest of fruits, displayed on the weathered adobe walls of the Hui-style dwellings, on the drying racks, and within the round drying plaques, creates a unique "Autumn Drying" folk spectacle. In courtyards, front yards, and on farmhouse rooftops, a variety of fruits are drying one after another. Drying mats form a vibrant palette, showcasing the harvest's most impressive display before harvesting.
Thousands of acres of terraced fields are stacked layer upon layer, and the waves of rice are so pleasing to the eyes. Halfway up the mountain, there is a patch of Hui-style buildings scattered in an orderly manner. Above the black tiles are the fruits of the autumn harvest, which are hung on drying plaques. The peppers are red, the tea leaves are green, and the grains are golden. Various autumn crops are dotted with the ink-and-wash Hui-style buildings. This was originally the habit of the primitive villagers for autumn harvest, but it has inadvertently become the most beautiful picture in the hands of artists and the lenses of photographers.
Every summer and autumn, long wooden racks support round drying boards in front of and behind the house. In spring, tea and bracken are dried; in autumn, red peppers and rice are dried. A wall is built around the front door on the second floor, connecting it to the horizontal wooden racks built outside the house, used to dry agricultural and sideline products, saving space and making them easy to store.
Amidst the white walls and black tiles, among the smoke from cooking and green trees, a palette filled with colorful colors is spread layer by layer between the villages. Adding some foreground will make the shooting effect better.
Tips: Single ticket purchase: 145 yuan/person (Huangling adult ticket + cable car); B ticket: 325 yuan (Wuyuan 12 o'clock combined ticket + Huangling adult ticket + cable car)
Transportation: There are buses that go directly to Huangling from Wuyuan County Station. If you drive from Jiangwan Expressway Exit, there are signposts all the way to Huangling Scenic Area, or you can navigate directly to it.
After buying tickets at the tourist center at the foot of the mountain, you need to take the cable car to the top of the mountain, where there are terraced fields and an ancient village tourist area.
The ancient village tourist area is a place for drying autumn photos, and the terraced field area is mainly used for photographing rapeseed flowers in spring. Not many people go there in autumn.
Wuyuan Moon Bay is located near Jinpan Village, Qiukou Town, in the northeastern part of Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province. It's named for an island in the middle of the river that resembles a crescent moon. Nestled between mountains and water, the waters are as calm as a mirror. From a distance, the lake resembles a crescent moon, a yellow-green moon rests quietly on the surface, a tiny island, and the emerald green waters flow serenely.
There's an observation deck on the hill beside Moon Bay, offering panoramic views of the crescent moon in the water. In the early morning, when the mist rises above the water, taking photos here creates a fairy-like feeling from a distance. From up close, the mountains, water, and rural villages complement each other, creating a beautiful rural landscape.
Tips: Transportation: It is only three kilometers away from Wuyuan County. You can take a taxi or shuttle bus. Please pay attention to safety when driving by yourself because there is no parking lot and you have to park on the roadside.
Tickets: No tickets are required, but a toll of 15-20 is required to go to the nearby observation deck. A boat ride costs 30-50.
Best time to shoot: Early morning, when you can capture the morning mist
Lens suggestion: wide angle, convenient for panoramic shooting
Shicheng: Hui style, red maples, smoke from cooking, morning mist, unique autumn colors
The epitome of Wuyuan's autumn scenery lies in Shicheng. The contrast between the pale residential buildings and the maple forests creates a unique autumn landscape for Wuyuan's countryside. Every late autumn, Shicheng's vibrant colors, with crows lining the ancient trees, make it a prime spot for viewing autumn colors in southern China. This attracts autumn enthusiasts and photographers from all over the country, making it a major annual photography destination and a classic destination for photographers.
The most beautiful sight in Shicheng is sunrise. The warm morning light is softened by the hazy mist, and the fiery maple leaves are even more vibrant. To enjoy the autumn scenery in Shicheng, be sure to wake up early and take advantage of this breathtaking view of the morning light and mist. Climb the stone steps up the mountain and capture the stunning scenery of the mist-covered red maple leaves from your vantage point outside the village.
The most amazing thing about Shicheng is the hundreds of maple trees here. Each tree is over 35 meters tall, far taller than the high and low roofs of the village. Compared with the huge and straight treetops, the pink walls and black tiles are simply like a house built with a toy Rubik's Cube.
In the early morning, a few wisps of smoke drifted away, soon blending into the sea, becoming indistinguishable from the surroundings. The whitewashed houses and crimson maple trees looming in the valley drifted in the vast sea of fog, creating the illusion of a mirage. At dawn, fog enveloped the stone city, and those waiting half asleep mistakenly thought they were still dreaming!
Soon, the sun leaped over the eastern hills, scattering its rays fiercely into the valley. Rays of light formed through the shadows of the trees, slanting down onto the sea of fog, causing it to restlessly rise and swirl. Suddenly, the entire village of Shicheng was shrouded in a golden sea of mist. Within this golden haze, the black eaves and the faint lines of the walls resembled traditional Chinese paintings with their rich white space. He thought nothing of anything else, only of taking in this magnificent scene to its fullest, capturing everything in his eyes, shone with light.
The maple trees in Shicheng are the clarion call of autumn in Wuyuan. The curling smoke from cooking fires and the beautiful rural scenery where the blue sky, green mountains, pink walls, blue bricks and black tiles are in harmony with nature are like a profound landscape painting.
Tips: Tickets: Individual tickets are 60 yuan per person; Passes are 210 yuan (valid for 5 days)
Transportation: There are shuttle buses from Wuyuan County to Shicheng. If you drive, you can navigate to "Shicheng Chengcun".
Shooting time: As the morning fog and red maples in Shicheng are a unique spectacle, it is best to shoot in the early morning.
Lens: Medium wide angle is best. Shicheng is composed of Cheng Village and Dai Village, and the best photography spot is between Dai Village and Cheng Village.
Changxi - Huizhou's hidden gem for enjoying autumn
If Shicheng's autumn scenery is best seen in the morning, Changxi's is even more stunning in the evening. This pristine ancient village in Wuyuan boasts a thousand-year history. Its remote location means it's rarely visited by regular tour groups, and even in Wuyuan, it's difficult to find out the village's exact location from locals. To call it a paradise on earth is no exaggeration.
Most of the village's residences date back to the late Qing Dynasty. Their towering horse-head walls, set against the backdrop of green mountains, blue skies, flowing water, and dark blue brick and black tiles, create a tranquil and tranquil scene of harmony between man and nature. Despite its inaccessible location, the Hui-style architecture remains well-preserved, and the village boasts a quintessential Hui-style architectural style. 
In late autumn, the over 200 centuries-old sweetgum trees lining the village transform into a vibrant crimson. The towering red maples blend seamlessly with the white walls, black tiles, and horse-head walls, creating a unique red maple forest.
Tips: Transportation: There are regular buses to Changxi from Wuyuan County, but the road is difficult to travel. If you drive, you can directly navigate to Wuyuan Changxi Village.
Tickets: Since Changxi is located in a remote area and has never been developed, no tickets are required.
Shooting time: The best time to shoot sunset is in the evening
Lens recommendation: medium to long focal length is best
Chrysanthemum Path - China's Roundest Village
Jujing Village is a classic ancient village nestled between water and mountains, located adjacent to Lingyan Cave National Forest Park and Shicheng, a renowned photography location for its "Maple Scenery." A small river forms a large semicircle, nearly encircling the village. Surrounded by high mountains, the village's panoramic view from the hillside opposite the highway reveals a vast "circle." The higher one ascends, the more pronounced the village's roundness becomes. The rugged road winds its way around the river, while the stone-paved path within the village, in turn, embraces the village. The roads, one after another, form a circle, earning it the nickname "China's most rounded village."
Tips: Transportation: There are direct buses to Jujing from Wuyuan County, and you can also drive directly to Jujing Village.
Tickets: Since Jujing Village is right on the roadside, no tickets are required to enter the village, but if you want to go up to the viewing platform on the mountain at the entrance of the village, a 20 ticket is required.
Shooting time: The best time to shoot is in the evening, when you can capture train tracks and also have a chance to capture sunset clouds.
Lens recommendation: Ultra-wide angle, insufficient light to capture a panoramic view, only stitching
Shooting in the direction of the light, the colors are all bright, lacking three-dimensionality/texture and lacking expressiveness;
Shot with side light, the combination of color and light makes the autumn leaves appear layered, well-arranged, with clear outlines and a strong sense of texture;
Shooting against the light, the combination of color and light, with light as the main factor, makes the veins of the autumn leaves distinct and the texture strong. The overlapping leaves between the tree shadows and the intensity of light and shadow create a strong local shock effect.
Light is a God-given artistic tool for photographers. When capturing vibrant colors like red leaves, its manipulation is crucial for creating unique compositions. Subtle variations in lighting can bring out completely different hues in the leaves. Even in the same location, the leaves can take on a different expression as the angle of light changes over time. In particular, shifts in front and backlighting can dramatically alter the color saturation of the leaves.
In the magnificent autumn, the forests are stained with a vibrant array of golden, yellow, red, and green. The ancient Huizhou villages nestled against the mountains and rivers combine with these colors to create a vibrant ink painting of harmony between nature and man. The white walls, black tiles, and horse-head walls of this quintessential Huizhou architecture require careful attention to technique. Taking both foreground and background into account creates a richer, more three-dimensional image.
When shooting a panorama, you'll see thousands of soldiers and horses all looking at the same bridge, which makes it difficult to create a personalized image. Find your own angle, incorporate your own thoughts, and find your own composition.
The mid-range shot can take into account some colors and details, but the three-dimensional effect is not prominent and the expressiveness is still insufficient.
Taking close-ups can take into account both color and detail, highlighting the local parts and texture. The structure and color of local leaves can show the charm of autumn leaves and have strong expressiveness. As the saying goes, one leaf can tell the coming of autumn. How to express it depends on one's personal thinking level.
Wuyuan's misty weather is a natural treasure, imbuing the charming, quaint mountain villages with a unique charm. Try shooting with a slow shutter speed to capture the ethereal feel of the mist. Exposure in misty weather is a challenge; a grayish image can easily appear dull and depressing. A slight increase in exposure, though not too much, can help the mist appear translucent and crystalline.
In autumn, Wuyuan no longer resembles the vast rapeseed fields depicted in the film "So Young." Instead, it's filled with captivating red maples, classic white walls and black tiles, and a hazy, ethereal mist lingering among the mountains. Every step is a scene, and every village is a painting, reminiscent of a vivid ink-and-wash painting. I hope everyone will capture the most beautiful autumn scenery of Wuyuan during this brief Jiangnan autumn.
