Live Your Best Lives
Cities have their own unique beauty in spring, summer, autumn and winter, but some cities are absolutely not to be missed in autumn. For example, there is a city that I want to visit as soon as autumn arrives. Even if I have been there many times, autumn is still my favorite.
Its dreamy and short autumn brings golden raindrops from the sycamore trees, streets covered with ginkgo leaves, ancient temples, and 400 million osmanthus flowers. Once autumn arrives, the world is filled with vibrant colors and fragrance...
Picture @Photo.net
This city is very livable, with ginkgo trees, red maples, green pines, and an ancient style that carries half of the history of the Republic of China, integrating the natural charm into the city.
Some people say that this city has the grandeur of Beijing and the thickness of Xi'an; the charm of Hangzhou and the comfort of Suzhou; the bustling life of Wuhan and the style of Qingdao.
Picture @Photo.net
With its beautiful scenery, delicious food and convenient transportation, Nanjing is a city that is full of surprises and never boring to visit.
Nanjing, long known as the "Ancient Capital of Six Dynasties," is a destination rich in resources in the southeast, and is also known as the "First Prefecture in Jiangnan." Known as "the most beautiful place in Jiangnan, the imperial capital of Jinling," it is a city that exudes a sense of antiquity and a variety of customs.
Picture @Photo.net
It is said that "Nanjing turns into Jinling in autumn". In autumn, Nanjing is home to the 600-meter Golden Sacred Road of Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the stunning red maple forest of Qixia Mountain, the colorful sycamore trees of Yihe Road, and the century-old ginkgo trees of Qingliang Mountain.
There is also the sunrise over the Metasequoia forest at Zhimaling, and the morning glow over the Metasequoia at the foot of the mountain. This scene can be described as a fairy tale world.
Picture @Photo.net
The whole city is covered with yellow and red plane trees, deep and light. Its autumn colors have the elegance of the south of the Yangtze River and the grandeur of northwest Xinjiang, painting a beautiful treasure-like autumn picture. Now is its most beautiful time!
With yellow ginkgo leaves and dancing red maples, it's about to become as beautiful as Jinling. The journey from Hangzhou to Nanjing takes just over an hour. Join us as we experience the grandeur of Jinling's autumn in this ancient capital of six dynasties, at its most beautiful season!
"Niu Shou in spring, Qixia in autumn" Qixia Mountain is the oldest place to enjoy autumn in Nanjing. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been known as "one Qixia Mountain, half of the history of Nanjing".
Qixia Mountain, with its vibrant red maple trees, is known as one of the "Four Great Places for Viewing Maple Leaves in China" along with Beijing's Xiangshan Mountain, Suzhou's Tianping Mountain, and Changsha's Yuelu Mountain. As autumn deepens, the leaves on the mountain become redder, like fiery clouds floating on the top of the mountain, intense and bright.
Qixia Mountain is dotted with historical sites and rich in forest resources. In autumn, the mountain is blanketed in crimson leaves, creating a truly spectacular spectacle. Legend has it that five kings and fourteen emperors visited Qixia Mountain. Emperor Qianlong, one of the emperors, visited the mountain five times during his six trips south of the Yangtze River. This demonstrates the extraordinary beauty of Qixia Mountain.
A short walk from the summit to Maple Forest Lake and Red Leaf Valley leads to one of Qixia Mountain's best maple viewing areas. The autumn breeze sweeps through the authentic maple forest, and the lake beneath shimmers with ripples, creating a breathtaking beauty.
From a distance, you can see the green tiles and double eaves surrounded by red walls and white cliffs among the maple leaves, which is very majestic. This is the Qixia Temple, which is known as one of the "Four Great Monasteries" of Chinese Buddhism.
There are two towering old ginkgo trees in front of the main hall, which create a scene of "the whole city is covered with golden armor" in autumn. With the red-walled and gray-tiled buildings as the background, the autumn and Zen atmosphere can be given full marks!
At the border of Chengqiao Town, Liuhe District, Nanjing City and Leiguan Town, Lai'an County, Anhui Province, Chishan Lake, a national wetland park covering an area of nearly 5,800 acres, is one of the most beautiful colors of autumn in Nanjing.
Metasequoia Lake Wetland Park is the largest Metasequoia forest area in East China. There are more than 50,000 old Metasequoia and young Metasequoia trees growing on the lake. October to December every year is the best viewing season for Metasequoia Lake.
Egrets, herons, geese, grey cranes, hoopoes... More than 20 species of wild birds live here, with thousands of acres of lake surface, tens of thousands of pond cypresses, and tens of thousands of migratory birds returning to their nests.
Whether you are looking from a drone or taking a boat around the lake, you can capture the unique beauty of the lake.
Zhimaling, also known as "Zhimaling", is the boundary mountain between Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. The Metasequoia trees, known as the "forest on water", are the classic scenery of Zhimaling.
It is said that this place is the "Little Jiuzhaigou" of Nanjing. The most beautiful scenery is in the early morning. The pond cypress is matched with the morning mist, interacting perfectly with the light and shadow. Occasionally, ducks swim through it, making it like a paradise.
The sunrise in the early morning is also a perfect masterpiece. At any moment in Zhimaling, it is a surprise that makes photography enthusiasts linger.
There is also a red maple avenue in Zhimaling, which starts to turn yellow in mid-October every year.
Nestled in the Ginkgo Valley, Qingliang Mountain has become a holy place for enjoying autumn in downtown Nanjing. As soon as you enter the park, you will be greeted by the rich autumn atmosphere. The entire ginkgo forest is covered with yellow ginkgo leaves, like a natural soft golden carpet, which makes you intoxicated as soon as you step into it.
There are more than 300 ginkgo trees planted in the entire Ginkgo Valley. The average age of these ginkgo trees is about 60 years old. Walking up the mountain path from Saoye Building for two or three minutes, you can see a golden ginkgo forest shining in the sun in the distance.
This is also a gathering place for bird lovers. Walking along the hiking trail around Qingliang Mountain, you can hear the lively and clear calls of birds. Their melodious and clear songs and crisp voices make it very lively.
Although also located in the Zhongshan Scenic Area, Linggu Temple is far quieter and more tranquil than the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum next door. The mountain air is crisp, ancient trees tower, and far from the city, every breath is incredibly pleasurable.
In early autumn, many Nanjing people will go to Zhongshan Mountain to Linggu Temple to enjoy a sweet-scented osmanthus rain. More than 20,000 sweet-scented osmanthus trees are hit by the autumn rain, and the entire Linggu Temple seems to be sprayed with autumn-limited fragrance.
Walking slowly up the trail, you will see a small pond. Two red maple trees on the bank are so dazzling red in the sunlight.
"A winding path leads to a secluded place, where the Zen room is surrounded by flowers and trees." The two most popular labels of Linggu Temple are "plain noodles" and "fireflies." Fireflies are only seen in summer, but plain noodles and autumn colors are worth pursuing.
Known as "the first temple among the 480 temples of the Southern Dynasties", Jiming Temple is loved by tourists and locals alike, and is a popular place of worship.
Although the ancient Jiming Temple is located in the bustling city center of Nanjing, the hustle and bustle of the world has never greatly infringed upon the tranquility of the temple.
Compared to the delicate spring, autumn seems to be more in line with the temperament of Jiming Temple. The solemn and majestic temple is surrounded by colorful forests, adding a touch of human fireworks in the ancient nature.
Strolling in Jiming Temple, you will be surrounded by the lingering Buddhist sounds, which are quiet and pleasant, and you will feel a sense of Zen and yearn for it.
The autumn in Zhongshan Scenic Area is the most unmissable autumn in Nanjing. Here, a colorful "necklace" appears every autumn, which is stunning under the aerial camera. It is the Meiling Palace.
Bordering the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum to the west and overlooking Purple Mountain to the north, it was once known as the "Far East's Greatest Villa," a true showcase of Nanjing's autumn and winter beauty. This was Chiang Kai-shek's most special gift, a sycamore "necklace," and the Meiling Palace is the most dazzling jewel in this natural necklace.
Picture @Photo.net
And what's the most striking pearl in Nanjing's autumn scenery? It has to be the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum. The Stone Elephant Road at the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum is Nanjing's most popular check-in spot in autumn.
Above picture @photo.net
Six mythical beasts stand along the trail: a lion, a xiezhi, a camel, an elephant, a qilin, and a steed. In the height of autumn, the trail's sides are bathed in a riot of red and yellow, with falling petals scattering across the landscape, creating a vibrant, romantic, and beautiful scene. It's earned the nickname "Nanjing's Most Beautiful 600 Meters."
Above picture @photo.net
Nowadays, there are a group of free-range deer on Shixiang Road. People can get close to them and feed them, which brings more liveliness and vitality to this colorful road.
Located in the bustling Qinhuai District, the Chaotian Palace Scenic Area offers a sense of seclusion within the city. Unless one has done their due research, one would never guess that it houses the highest-grade, largest, and best-preserved ancient architectural complex in the Jiangnan region.
With its palaces, terraces, pavilions, red pillars and carved rafters, Chaotian Palace has always been one of the important places for enjoying autumn in Jinling. Ginkgo leaves fall, and the ground is covered with golden color. You can hear the sound of ginkgo leaves falling quietly, and it seems as if you are dreaming of returning to the Ming Dynasty in the next second.
Today, Chaotian Palace is home to the Nanjing Museum, which houses a collection of 100,000 cultural relics dating back to ancient times and the Republic of China. The rich collection bears witness to Nanjing's history.
There is a Jingyi Pavilion at the back of the courtyard, which is the highest point. The maple leaves around it are all red. The koi in the pond are swimming peacefully. Spring flowers and autumn fruits are harvested, and it is a perfect match with Chaotian Palace in every season.
"Yihe Road, half of the history of the Republic of China"
Yihe Road, home to over 200 buildings dating back to the Republic of China, is known as the "Museum of Republican-era Architecture." The Republic of China was a period of profound significance for Nanjing, and Yihe Road witnessed nearly the entire period.
This area boasts the largest number of Republican-era mansions in China and is one of Nanjing's most distinctive Republican-era architectural attractions. The streets lined with plane trees add a touch of romance to the area. Walking along the tree-lined paths of the Summer Palace, the old houses with yellow walls and pointed roofs, and the streets fluttering with plane trees and maple leaves, one is transported back a century.
Remember the platform in Zhu Ziqing's "Back Figure"? The father bought oranges for his son at Pukou Railway Station.
Pukou Railway Station, built in the late Qing Dynasty, became a transportation hub connecting 11 provinces upon its completion in 1914. It is hailed as "one of China's ten most artistic railway stations," "the only railway station in China to retain Republican-era characteristics," and the first "century-old railway station" in China to fully preserve its historical features.
Countless people have parted and reunited, welcomed and bid farewell to each other at this station. This old-fashioned English-style building once housed the coffin of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Besides the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, the plane trees lining the platforms at Pukou Railway Station are also one of the most beautiful sights in autumn and winter.
After passenger service was discontinued in 1968, the main building of Pukou Railway Station was abandoned. This well-preserved century-old railway station has now become one of the must-see spots in Nanjing in autumn.
As autumn arrives, the city is coated with a retro Republican-era filter. If you haven't been to Nanjing in autumn, don't claim to know how beautiful it is. Take a weekend and come and see Nanjing in autumn!
