An inventory of Sichuan’s eight top autumn colors, hidden gems that can’t be hidden, miss them and wait another year!

Preface

With the arrival of September and October, Sichuan, having weathered the rainy season, is approaching its peak beauty. The varied altitudes and changing landscapes make autumn in Sichuan more expansive across time and space. Today, we'll take you into this dreamlike place and share a vibrant "autumn dream."

Autumn scenery in Ganzi, western Sichuan

Best time to enjoy autumn: mid-October to early November

Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, also known as Ganzi Prefecture, is located in western Sichuan Province. It boasts world-class photography galleries and vibrant snowy forests. The autumnal wonderland here sometimes stretches into early December, giving tourists more time to savor the richness of autumn.

Dangling

Located at the end of the Geshiza River in the west of Danba County, at the foot of the majestic Dangling Snow Mountain, October is the most beautiful season in Dangling.

Dangling Snow Mountain - the highest peak is the Xiaqiangla Snow Mountain in the Hengduan Mountains. Here there are majestic snow peaks, colorful primeval forests, thick alpine meadows like a carpet, and the gourd-shaped Huluhaizi. Surrounded by all the autumn colors, it looks like a wonderful oil painting inlaid in the Hengduan Mountains.

Daocheng Yading

There are so many beautiful sights to enjoy in Daocheng. In addition to the Three Sacred Mountains, there are also the Milk Sea, the Five-Colored Sea, and the Pearl Sea. The scenery here will reach its peak in mid-October.

As you slowly climb the mountain step by step, and see the crystal clear lake spreading out in front of you, a landscape painting unfolds before your eyes, and you will sigh that this trip is worthwhile.

Gongga Snow Mountain

Mount Gongga, the King of Sichuan Mountains, is surrounded by numerous scenic spots, including Xinduqiao, Quanhua Beach, and Hailuogou. Each of these is breathtakingly beautiful. In autumn, the golden birch and poplar forests, interwoven with the magical light of the changing sky, create a fairyland-like scene.

Xinduqiao is a small town on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway 318. While there aren't many iconic landmarks here, the most beautiful scenery is the 10-kilometer-long plateau scenery along the route, known as the "Photographer's Corridor." In summer, wildflowers bloom, and in autumn, poplar forests blaze with golden yellow.

Hailuogou, located at the foot of Mount Gongga, is renowned for its low-altitude modern glaciers. A short hike takes you to distant glaciers and the autumn foliage, which blooms for two months starting in September. The renowned Golden Mountain in the Sunlight is also at its best in autumn.

Picture @Photo.net

Pugoucuo

Located in Batang County at the foot of Haizi Mountain in Ganzi Prefecture, western Sichuan, Cuopu Lake, nestled in Cuopu Valley, is known as the "First Holy Lake of Kham." Facing the vast Zhangde Grassland, it is surrounded on three sides by dense primeval forests of fir and cypress. Beautiful swans and black-necked cranes roam the lake.

Cuopu Valley, hidden deep under the Haizi Mountain in western Sichuan, has not received much tourism development, but it condenses the beautiful scenery of western Sichuan and even the entire Tibetan area.

Jinchuan River Valley & Zhonglu Tibetan Village

Located in the eastern part of Ganzi Prefecture in western Sichuan, there are many rivers here. The Dajin River and the Xiaojin River converge here. There is also the Moldo Sacred Mountain, one of the four sacred mountains in Tibet. Every late autumn, it turns golden and red. The river valley and Tibetan villages together constitute the most beautiful scenery of Danba.

Due to its altitude, Danba's autumn comes later than Daocheng Yading and Xinduqiao. If you want to see the colorful forests, you basically need to visit in November.

Autumn colors in northern Sichuan

Jiuzhaigou

Best time to enjoy autumn: Late October to mid-November

In autumn, the amount of rain in Jiuzhaigou decreases, and the area is characterized by a combination of fantastically colored lakes and colorful forests. The green sea is calm, the red leaves are brilliant, and there is a sea of golden reeds. The yellow-orange reeds are matched with the distant mountains and the crystal clear lake in front of you, giving you a feeling of being in a paradise.

Bipenggou

Best time to enjoy autumn: mid-September to late October

Bipenggou is located in Li County, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. It is one of the famous places for viewing red leaves in China.

Bipenggou's beauty varies with each season, creating a vibrant world. Enjoy the snow in winter, the greenery in spring, the blossoms in summer, and the maple leaves in autumn. If one had to single out the best time to visit, it would be the maple season, from mid-September to late October. The weather is excellent during this time, making it ideal for hiking. While admiring the red leaves, you can also take in the majestic snow-capped mountains – a truly unique experience.

Autumn colors in Guangwu Mountain

Best time to enjoy autumn: mid-to-late October to early November

Bazhong Guangwu Mountain is located in Guangwushan Town, Nanjiang County, Bazhong, Sichuan. It borders Shaanxi Province and is connected by a provincial road, making the scenic area well-connected.

The must-see attractions in autumn include the Dam Scenic Area, Black Bear Valley, Xianglu Mountain, and Eighteen Moon Lake. Each is bathed in vibrant colors of gold and crimson. The autumn breeze rustles the fallen leaves, and the melodious chirping of birds fills the air, creating a truly picturesque scene. The Dam Scenic Area, in particular, resembles a gallery of autumn colors. A wooden plank path stretches beneath the tens-of-meter-high trees, creating a picturesque scene.

Black Bear Valley is a great place to view winding streams. The entire scenic area is only 2 kilometers long, with forests and clear streams on both sides. You can feel the exquisiteness that is completely contrary to the name of the scenic area.

If you have the energy, you can also choose to climb Xianglu Mountain. The peak with an altitude of 2,330 meters is one of the highest peaks in the Guangwu Mountain Scenic Area. The sunrise and morning glow are the reasons that attract travelers. During the climb, you can see the red leaves all over the mountain, as if you are in a sea of clouds.

Eighteen Moon Lake is known as the "Jiuzhaigou of Northeast Sichuan". The water of the lake flows out from the main peak of Guangwu Mountain, winding for several kilometers, leaving behind eighteen waterfalls of different sizes among the maple forest, which compete with the red leaves on the mountain. This is how the Eighteen Moon Lake got its name.