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Sichuan, a blessed land, offers a two-day weekend trip to the western Sichuan plateau, where you'll be rewarded with breathtaking scenery. It's hard to think of a city more diverse and diverse than Chengdu for a weekend getaway. Every October, the colorful forests of western Sichuan bloom in full bloom, attracting visitors from surrounding areas and around the country. The most beautiful colorful forests in western Sichuan are recognized to be in Heishui County, Aba Prefecture, and the most beautiful of these are concentrated along the Bashili Highway near Naizigou Village.
Naizigou is located in Heishui County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The colorful forests of Naizigou are not concentrated solely in Naizigou Village, but also extend along the entire stretch of road from Heishui County to Naizigou Village. The magnificent Naizigou colorful forests stretch for 80 miles, creating a magnificent spectacle. The main tree species are birch, pine, cypress, maple, and various other trees, interspersed with a variety of coniferous, broad-leaved, secondary, and shrub forests, densely covering every slope.
Under a pristine blue sky, trees in shades of purple, pink, orange, golden red, deep yellow, grass green, yellow-green, brown, and brown create a scene of "myriad creatures competing for freedom under a frosty sky." Entering the colorful forest feels like entering a world of oil paint, leaving even the most linguistic and colorist feeling at a loss for words and the pallor of its colors.
In the most beautiful season of autumn in Heishui, one picture can reflect the whole situation. The 80-mile Colorful Forest Highway makes everyone’s shutters unable to stop.
Tips:
The best time to visit Naizigou: mid to late October every year
Admission: Free
Itinerary: Chengdu - Wenchuan - Maoxian (lunch) - Heishui County - Naizigou, a round trip of about 650km. The journey is long, so it is recommended to depart early.
Naizigou is less than 3,000 meters above sea level, so there's no need to worry about altitude sickness. The weather is changeable, with large temperature swings between morning and evening, so it's recommended to bring a thick jacket and sunscreen. The average temperature in October is 10 degrees Celsius, and in November it's 5 degrees Celsius.
During the peak tourist season in Naizigou, it is best to book a room in advance. There are places to stay in Jiazu Village, Yangronghad, Naizigou Reception Village and Heishui County.
When it is cloudy, a beam of sunlight shines through the gap in the clouds and hits the colorful forest, which is so beautiful that it looks like an oil painting.
In addition to the colorful forests, there are many scenic spots dotted among them. The most eye-catching ones are the emerald green lakes. Along this route, Ham Lake, Yamai Lake, and Luolicuo Lake are all lakes where you can take photos of the reflections and colorful forests.
The picture above shows Lake Ham
The picture above shows Lake Yamai
Outside the lake, there are some ginkgo trees scattered on the road. Although they are easily overlooked among the many colorful forests, the ginkgo trees in autumn are actually excellent subjects for photography.
Ginkgo portrait, a traveler I met on the road. (Photo from tourists-Zhong Lin Ge)
Tourist girl San San (Photo from tourists xinxin)
We're not done yet. In addition to the colorful forests, lakes, and ginkgo trees, there's also the ancient Sergu Tibetan Village, a settlement of the Tibetan and Qiang ethnic groups. Tickets to Sergu are 30 yuan, and while I wasn't particularly interested in paid attractions, the tranquility of the village was a pleasant surprise.
From the model girl San San captured the children, I like this one very much, I feel very happy when I see it
This is also a great place for portrait creation.
Map of photography locations along the 80-li Colorful Forest Highway from Heishui County to Nazigou
For photographers on a two-day weekend getaway, Hamu Lake, south of Heishui County, is an excellent choice. While it's less crowded, you can still enjoy the vibrant forests, snow-capped mountains, and lakes. I recommend heading straight to Hamu Lake in the afternoon of the first day, allowing ample time for creative work.
Ham Lake is located a few kilometers southwest of Heishui County, Sichuan Province. It is a barrier lake formed by the sudden collapse of a mountain. The banks are rich in vegetation, and the mountains are beautiful and undulating, creating a fairyland-like tranquility. The lush greenery of summer and the red and orange maple leaves in autumn are the splendor of nature, and the auspicious snow in winter will create the beauty of a fairy tale world.
Shooting tips:
According to the map, you can park your car at the end of the road (although small cars can continue on the dirt road, parking along the way is difficult and not recommended). Then walk along the red dirt road for about 10-20 minutes to reach Point 1. The red circle of Ham Lake in the picture is the location of Ham Lake's dock. You can take pictures of the vast water surface and, when there is no wind, you can also capture the colorful forest reflections. Due to the correct location, you can often capture the Tyndall effect of clouds and mist in the evening here, which is excellent photography material.
Continue to Point 2. En route, you'll get up close to the colorful forest, prayer flags, and lake, perfect for portraits. Sunset in autumn typically falls around 6:30 PM, so after visiting Points 1 and 2, it's almost sunset. At this point, continue to Point 3 to capture the sunset over the snow-capped mountains. When the lighting is just right, the crimson sunset paints the sky and mountains red, complemented by the vibrant forest nearby, creating stunning images.
(The picture shows the snow-capped mountain sunset taken at point 3)
The "Seven-Colored Jiazu" Tibetan village is located in the middle section of Naizigou, Heishui County, Sichuan Province, along Highway S203. The houses are adorned with vibrant colors. In late autumn, the colorful forests of Naizigou shimmer in vibrant colors, and the Seven-Colored Jiazu Village is a must-see for visitors. Stop here for a tour, food, and lodging. The houses in Jiazu Village are truly unique, each boasting a variety of colors, a rarity in other Tibetan villages. This earns them the nickname "Seven-Colored Jiazu." The buildings and exterior paint look brand new, making for stunning photos.
Shooting tips:
Here you can use the colorful wall as the background, with sharp color contrast and highly saturated colors. It is very joyful to take environmental portraits here.
There are several ginkgo trees in Jiazu Village. It is a very good idea to take ginkgo portraits here, but be sure not to damage the ginkgo trees.
Shooting tips:
Because the trees are quite tall, you can place a stool under the model's feet, but be careful. You can also pick up some fallen ginkgo leaves and scatter them in the air. Using a wide aperture and a fast shutter speed will create a very dynamic photo.
I recommend stopping at Yangrong Hade, which I consider the most beautiful part of the colorful forest on this trip. Yamai Lake and Luolicuo, further down, aren't as beautiful as the Hamu Lake mentioned above, so if you're not particularly keen, Yangrong Hade is the main point and final destination, without having to go to Yamai Lake. The scenic area currently has a free plank road, lined with prayer flags and a large white pagoda. The area is well-equipped with amenities, including a large parking lot and a food stall.
Photography Tips:
Yangrong Hade is a land of vibrant forests, including the largest Japanese larch forest in the Aba region. This vibrant season is at its peak, truly captivating your every fantasy of a vibrant forest. Stepping into the woods, the tall, straight pines, draped in autumnal golden armor, and the sunlight filtering through the dense foliage create a dreamlike scene. A must-see hike up the mountain! A must-see hike up the mountain! A must-see hike up the mountain! The vibrant expanse of forest creates a stunning backdrop, creating stunning photos with ease. Avoid the overhead light of midday; the sidelight of morning and afternoon are ideal for capturing the Tyndall effect of light and shadow between the mountains and forest.
Image from tourists xinxin
Yamai Lake and Luolicuo are very close to each other. Recently, Yamai Lake has been so low in water that it's hard to even call it a lake, more like a stream. There's only a pool of water at its easternmost point, so it's not a good photo spot. Luolicuo, on the other hand, is also difficult to achieve a clean and simple composition due to the development of boat rides, plank roads, and service stations, so I wouldn't recommend it.
The Tibetan Buddhist temple is said to have a platform on the top of the mountain as big as a football field, where you can enjoy the colorful forest. To get up the mountain, you need to take a winding dirt road, which takes about an hour. It is too rushed for a 2-day tour and is not recommended.
The renowned Black Watercolor Forest attracts a flood of visitors, and coupled with the road construction, I've heard friends lamenting a five-hour traffic jam on the way there and a six-hour jam on the way back. So how can you avoid the crowds and still plan a stress-free autumn forest trip? Here's a guide:
Saturday
Chengdu-Maoxian-Sergu Tibetan Village-Ham Lake in Heishui County
As much as possible, depart Chengdu early, no later than 7:20 PM, as the traffic out of the city will be frustrating. After lunch in Maoxian, drive all the way to Heishui County. If you arrive early or are interested, you can stop at Sergu Tibetan Village along the way; after all, you'll have left the traffic behind. If all goes well, you'll arrive in Heishui County around 3-4 PM and head directly to Hamu Lake, enjoying the colorful forests, snow-capped mountains, and the light and shadows of Hamu Lake along the way. After all, after a day's drive, a stroll along the shores of Hamu Lake is quite relaxing. Combined with the Hamu Lake photography guide mentioned above, I believe this will be a perfect day.
At the same time, the advantage of designing Ham Lake on the first day is that, in addition to being comfortable, you can also stay in the nearby Blackwater County, where there are many accommodation options, it is relatively easy to book a room, the price is affordable, and there are also many dining options in the evening.
Sunday
Heishui County Hamu Lake - Yamai Lake - Cashmere Had - Colorful Nail Foot - Chengdu
Most tourists staying in Heishui typically drive all the way to Qicai Jiazu and then Yangrong Hade. After all, the beautiful scenery along the way is irresistible, so they can't help but stop to take photos. However, for a better experience, resist the temptation of the colorful forests along the way and go the opposite way to avoid the crowds. You can drive directly to Yamai Lake, stop briefly, and then return to Yangrong Hade to grab a spot and take as many photos as you can. Wait until the main group of tourists arrives before heading to Qicai Jiazu.
After lunch in Heishui County, we'll continue on to Wenchuan to avoid traffic jams. While an early start might reduce our time in the colorful forests, it will allow us to avoid the large crowds heading toward Heishui and Lixian, allowing us to return to Chengdu as early as possible. Otherwise, a weekend trip to the Heishui Naizigou Colorful Forest would turn into a traffic-stuck trip to the Colorful Forests.
The above is a recommended route for photography enthusiasts, but it is also information worth referring to for non-photography enthusiasts. Cailin is not exclusive to photographers, and participating in leisure tourism is also a good choice.
There are so many beautiful sights worth discovering in western Sichuan. No matter how you travel, remember to use map software to check real-time traffic flow at any time, adapt to circumstances, and enjoy the most beautiful colorful forests while gaining a truly good mood.
