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Autumn is harvest season, but it's also the season when flowers wither and everything dies. However, there's one thing that flourishes and is perfect for viewing in autumn: maple leaves. In autumn, due to a decrease in chlorophyll and an increase in carotenoids, maple leaves take on a dazzling orange or vibrant red, bringing a touch of warmth to the chilly autumn air.
Autumn is in full swing, and the maple leaves are crimson. When it comes to autumn maple viewing, many people think of the Maple Leaf Festival in Kawaguchiko, Japan, Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea, Canada, the "Kingdom of Maple Leaves," and White Mountain Park in Boston, USA. The maple leaves seen during outbound travel are truly one of a kind.
In 2021, with the pandemic affecting the world and outbound travel severely restricted, I wanted to see a spectacular autumn maple leaf feast. Is it possible? The answer is yes. China's maple leaf viewing spots are no less spectacular than those in Japan and Canada.
This article will introduce in detail the excellent maple viewing guide in the vast northern part of China, providing a reference for your travel.
On the edge of Horqin, south of the beautiful and fertile Inner Mongolian grasslands and the Greater Khingan Range, there are two magical places - Daiqintala and Wudantala.
The most famous thing here is the "five-pointed maple" unique to Horqin Right Middle Banner. The maple leaves in other places are mostly three-lobed, but the maple leaves in Daiqintala and Wudantala are five-lobed, so they are called "five-pointed maple".
The maple trees are not only highly ornamental but also play a vital ecological role, serving as a habitat and breeding ground for rare birds such as the Oriental White Stork and the Golden Eagle. This is a truly natural scenic spot, where each tree is unique. Every autumn, the scenic area presents a dazzling display of colors, showcasing every imaginable maple leaf hue.
The maple trees begin to turn red in late September and continue to turn red until mid-October, when they reach their peak and all the maple trees turn red.
In fact, the best time to view the maple leaves is during the National Day Golden Week, when they appear in red, orange, yellow and green, truly worthy of being called "God's overturned palette."
Daiqintala is one of the birthplaces of the Mongolian nation, meaning "heroic grassland". It is the seat of Daiqintala Sumu in Keyouzhong Banner, Inner Mongolia.
Daiqintala is over 100 kilometers from Ulanhot, less than 200 kilometers from Tongliao, and over 200 kilometers from Baicheng and Taonan in Jilin Province. National Highway 111 runs through the area, and it's less than 20 kilometers from Bayanhushu Town, Tuquan County, Xing'an League, and the seat of Keyouzhong Banner. Daiqintala is most famous for its maple trees, the Acer truncatum, which are unique to Keyouzhong Banner. Legend has it that they were seeds brought to Keyouzhong by Empress Xiaozhuang. Every year, it attracts many photography enthusiasts to visit and take photos!
Tips:
Autumn is the most beautiful season in the Daiqintala Maple Scenic Area. The entrance fee is 40 yuan per person, and a fare is also required for cars to enter. The price is negotiable, and the fare is roughly 20 yuan per car.
There is no charge for visiting during other seasons.
There are also horse riding, camel riding and other activities in the scenic area, which are all independent self-funded projects.
As you can see from the location map above, Daiqintala is relatively remote. When visiting here, you can stay in a hotel in Horqin Right Middle Banner or Tuquan Town at night, which is about 25KM away from the scenic area and a half-hour drive away.
Here I recommend two hotels to you, Tuquan Jundi Hotel in Tuquan Town (3 diamonds on Ctrip) and Kezuozhongqi Saikhantala Hotel (3 diamonds on Ctrip).
Tips:
The best hotels in Tuquan and Kezuozhong Banner are 3-diamond hotels, and the price of a standard room during the National Day holiday is around 250 yuan.
Wudantala Maple Park is located in the heart of the Horqin Desert, 55 kilometers east of Ganqika Town, the seat of the government of Kezuohou Banner, Inner Mongolia, and 11 kilometers south of Ganjin North Provincial Highway 305. It is at the junction of Ganqika, Jirgalang and Changsheng towns, with a total area of 350,000 mu.
Wudantala Maple Park has now been listed by Tongliao City as one of the "Top Ten Countryside Parks in Tongliao City".
In 2016, Kezuohou Banner held the "2016 First Tongliao Wudantala International Maple Leaf Festival" with the theme of "The Xiangshan Mountains are still green, and the Tongliao maple leaves are red".
In 2017, Kezuohou Banner held the second Tongliao Wudantala International Maple Leaf Festival.
Tips:
The Wudantala Maple Scenic Area is currently free and there is no entrance fee.
Recommended play time: 2-3 hours
If you want to spend more time in the Wudantala Scenic Area, you can stay in Ganqika Town at night. We recommend the Bowang Hotel in Kezuohouqi (3 diamonds on Ctrip).
You can also drive to Shenyang to check in. The distance from Udantala to Shenyang is about 210 kilometers, which takes about 3 hours by car.
Tips:
The standard room price at Bowang Hotel in Kezuohouqi during the National Day holiday is around 200 yuan.
The impression that most people have of Northeast China is "thousands of miles of ice and tens of thousands of miles of snow", and it is the favorite destination for southerners to visit in winter.
In fact, the three northeastern provinces not only have spectacular snow scenes, but also charming autumn scenery. Autumn in the Northeast always comes earlier than in other places. Often when the south is still scorching hot, the Northeast is already enjoying the cool and refreshing weather.
Precisely because autumn comes so early in Northeast China, it becomes people's favorite destination during the National Day holiday. The most beautiful autumn paradise in Northeast China is the Guanmenshan National Forest Park, located near the Maple Leaf Capital of China, a natural scenic spot famous for its "red maples".
This time we will focus on introducing the maple viewing spots around Guanmen Mountain.
Guanmen Mountain is a well-known spot for viewing maple leaves. Due to its steep mountains, beautiful scenery and picturesque views, it is known as the "Little Huangshan Mountain in Northeast China".
It is located in Benxi Manchu Autonomous County, 13 kilometers away from Benxi Water Cave. It got its name because of the two peaks facing each other, one wide and one narrow, one large and one small, which look like a gate.
The scenic area is relatively simple to explore. Take the scenic shuttle bus to Green Shade Villa, then start hiking along the wooden plank path in the valley. The entire hike to the scenic entrance is about 6 kilometers. From Green Shade Villa, you can hike to Maple King, which is the most scenic area. Afterwards, you can take a bus out of the scenic area and observe the route. If you have enough time or are energetic, you can go to Yuhu Yinlian Station and take the bus out.
Tips:
Guanmenshan National Forest Park ticket: 90 yuan
Recommended play time: 4-6 hours
Fall foliage viewing season: mid-September to mid-October
Tianqiaogou is not as famous as Guanmen Mountain, but it is also a national 4A-level scenic tourist area and one of the top ten famous maple viewing spots in China.
There are many varieties of maple trees in Tianqiaogou Forest Park. The most common ones are seven-pointed maple, nine-pointed maple and eleven-pointed maple, followed by five-pointed maple and thirteen-pointed maple.
Maple trees turn red early and late due to their different species and environments. The scenic area is very large, so we chose to play and shoot in the valley instead of climbing the mountain.
Take the scenic shuttle bus to Shuanglonghui (the terminus of the plank road) as shown on the map. Start your hike towards the scenic area entrance. The entire hike is about 4 kilometers long, all on a downhill wooden plank road. A stream flows through the valley, lined with maple trees and other autumn-leaf trees. Enjoy the walk and take some slow-motion photos. There's a tulip garden about 2 kilometers into the hike, and those who can't walk can take a bus down to the scenic area entrance.
Tips:
Scenic spot ticket: 120 yuan ticket + 40 yuan sightseeing bus
Opening hours: 8:00-17:00
Play time: 4-6 hours
The Laobiangou Scenic Area is located in Nanyingfang Village, Dongyingfang Township, Benxi County, Liaoning Province. It is 63 kilometers away from Benxi County, 102 kilometers away from Benxi City, 160 kilometers away from Shenyang, the capital of Liaoning Province, and 120 kilometers away from Wunv Mountain in Huanren.
This is a beautiful and rich, ancient and fashionable, magical and colorful paradise on earth. It is beautiful because of its rolling hills, graceful because of its gurgling water, and famous for its maple leaves that "dye the forests with colors and bloom the mountains with colorful flowers."
Once you enter Laobiangou, you will travel around the mountains and rivers;
Lingering in the landscape painting, nostalgic and forgetting to return;
It is so beautiful that it seems like a fairyland. Why would you think of the world beyond?
Immerse yourself in a recreational environment and prolong your life!
Tips:
Ticket price: 78 yuan
Play time: about 3 hours
Starting in Benxi and ending in Huanren Town, the journey is a colorful landscape painting. Streams are everywhere, and the autumn forests are dyed with colors...
In particular, the 20-kilometer section between Xinkailing Tunnel and Da'aoling Tunnel is known as the "Chinese Maple Leaf Road" and has long become a classic route for cyclists and travelers to enjoy the autumn scenery.
The Benheng Highway is quite narrow and there is not much place to stop the bus for taking photos. If you have enough time, you can have a simple lunch or a simple roadside meal at Yanghugou Village along the way.
Tips:
Compared with Guanmen Mountain and Laobiangou, Yanghugou is still an undeveloped free scenic spot, which is relatively primitive and its public facilities are slightly worse than those of scenic spots.
However, almost every household here runs a farm stay business, and food and accommodation are very convenient and affordable. Similar to many maple viewing spots in Benxi, this is also a small river in the mountains. There are many red maples on both sides of the river and on the mountains, making it a great place to take photos.
Fenglin Valley has convenient transportation: 6 kilometers from the Lamen exit of Heda Expressway, 28 kilometers from Huanren County, 240 kilometers from Shenyang, 234 kilometers from Benxi, 120 kilometers from Tonghua, and 160 kilometers from Dandong.
"Maple forests reflect clear springs, and green trees cover secluded valleys." Explore exquisite landscapes, admire exquisite maple leaves, breathe fresh air, savor organic food, stay in a forest home, and let your heart soar.
Taking the electric car up the mountain and then walking down the mountain is a good option. Otherwise, it will consume more energy. You can enjoy the scenery without being too tired. Take the electric car to the Eighteen Arhats Forest and climb directly to the top of the Red Maple Peak.
Tips:
Maple Leaf Valley Scenic Area Ticket 80 yuan
The battery cars in the scenic area require additional charges. A one-way trip to the nearest Fenglin Square is 10 yuan, and a one-way trip to the farther Eighteen Arhats Scenic Area is 20 yuan.
The best viewing period for Huanren Maple Leaf Valley is after the Golden Week in October.
Pushi River Forest Park is located in Saima Town, Fengcheng City, 115 kilometers from Fengcheng, 120 kilometers from Benxi, and 165 kilometers from Dandong. Direct buses are available from Dandong and Fengcheng.
The park is home to strange rocks, clear water, and numerous waterfalls. It is the only surviving virgin forest in Fengcheng City. It also houses several sites of revolutionary activities by Kim Il-sung, Yang Jingyu, and the Northeast Anti-Japanese United Army.
Pushi River Forest Park is the birthplace of the "three treasures" of Northeast China - ginseng, mink fur, and Ula grass, and is the hometown of many rare species.
Tips:
Tickets for Pushi River Scenic Area: 80 yuan
Reference time: 3 hours
Actually, I feel that the Pushi River is a bit unworthy of its name. It is a bit dirty inside and the waterfall is like a small river.
In the northeast of Fushun, Liaoning, there is a county called Qingyuan Manchu Autonomous County. In the mountainous area of this county, there is a scenic spot called Kuangzigou.
The seven colorful bridges in the scenic area are very distinctive. Each one is a suspension bridge and has different meanings.
This is a place with many kinds of maple leaves. The 3-kilometer one-way wooden plank road is relatively flat and has excellent air quality. The scenic area is equipped with many dining tables and chairs, as well as swings and water entertainment projects. It is suitable for family trips and group trips with friends and colleagues.
Tips:
Scenic spot ticket: 60 yuan + scenic shuttle bus 15 yuan
Play time: 3 hours
Tips:
It is a relatively niche spot for viewing maple leaves, with fewer visitors and simpler infrastructure.
First of all, the most luxurious hotel must be the Fengxiang Valley Hot Spring Resort Hotel in Benxi County. It is located in Guanmen Mountain Scenic Area. Its superior geographical location makes it an attractive accommodation option in Benxi.
The hotel is conveniently located about 56 km from the train station.
Tips:
Fengxiang Valley Hot Spring Resort Hotel (four diamonds) in Benxi County has a price of over 1,000 yuan during the National Day holiday.
Relatively speaking, for hotels with a better cost-effectiveness and affordability, you can choose hotels in nearby areas such as Benxi Xiaoshi and Kuandian City.
Here we recommend Benxi County Walnut Hot Spring Resort Hotel.
Tips:
Benxi County Walnut Hot Spring Resort Hotel (three diamonds), the price during the National Day holiday is around 350 yuan.
Inner Mongolia and Northeast China, located in the northernmost part of China, are known as China's summer resorts and the earliest autumns! Our motherland boasts beautiful mountains and rivers, as well as countless poetic and distant landscapes! We look forward to welcoming you!
