Live Your Best Lives
I'd say November is the month with the most vibrant autumn colors, and no one would disagree, right? By this time, snow has already fallen in the north, central China has been dyed a golden hue, and autumn has begun in the south of the Yangtze River, with golden ginkgo trees and fiery red maple leaves making a stunning appearance!
Frost Descent is the last stop of autumn. After this, the world is in deep autumn colors, just waiting for winter. If you don’t go out to see it, autumn will really slip away!
While many tourists may still be unable to travel, I've found 14 destinations perfect for November. These destinations are less crowded, enjoy vibrant autumn colors, and each boasts breathtaking scenery. Check them out! Which one is the most exciting for you?
"Zhejiang Xiaoqiu Famous Mountain"
In autumn, when you look down at Siming Mountain from a God's perspective, you will see shades of red and orange beginning to appear on the original yellow-green background... It is no exaggeration to describe this place as "colorful"!
Hidden high in the mountains, this historic village offers a secluded yet beautiful scene. Houses nestle against the mountain, swirling around streams, separated by towering gables. Walking through the halls, you can glimpse the towering green mountains in the distance. Deep in the Siming Mountains, Lijiakeng Village evokes the secluded atmosphere described in Wang Wei's "Autumn Dusk in the Mountain."
When persimmons are ripe in autumn and winter, the small persimmons all over the mountains and fields are like red lanterns, bright red and cheerful, and they look very beautiful against the pink walls and black tiles of the old houses!
"200 acres of red maple forest", "climbing to enjoy the lake"
When you set foot on the Genglou Red Maple Ancient Trail, walking on the path covered with fallen leaves, you will see ancient trees and towering red maples along the way. The autumn breeze is intoxicating, and the vicissitudes of the ancient road paint a beautiful autumn picture.
As early as more than 900 years ago, the famous scholar Lu Guishu founded Lumen Academy in Guimen Genglou. His good friend Zhu Xi also visited the academy to give lectures and discuss philosophy.
Here, you can not only feel the profound cultural heritage of Lumen Academy, but also appreciate the realm of "returning to the clouds and separating from the dust" advocated by ancient philosophers such as Zhu Xi and Lu Guishu.
Walking through the trails of the thousand-acre tea fields, the emerald green tea fields, the clear reservoirs, and the fiery red pond cypress complement each other. Between the light and shadow of the mountains and forests, the ground is covered with thick fallen leaves, and the rich autumn colors are overwhelming!
Cycling and enjoying autumn at the same time
Gradient-colored redwood trees stand on both sides of the road. Cycling through the tea fields and wheat waves of Mogan Mountain, the entire 40-kilometer journey takes one day, allowing you to slowly experience the beauty of every mountain road!
Pass through the famous Naked Valley, and envy the B&B owner who has lived a hermit life here all year round. Put down your bicycle, stop at the tea mountain, enter the tea field to feel the mellow green, and stop at the ranch to see the cows, horses and farms.
In the afternoon, we arrived at the rarely visited Hekou Reservoir, a scenic spot often missed by 90% of visitors to Moganshan. After the ride, we returned to Moganshan Town and strolled freely through the Republican-era style streets, experiencing the European romance of the Republican era.
"Mist in Shicheng" and "Autumn Sunshine in Huangling"
Walk out of the bustling city and come to the quiet countryside. When the mountains are covered with red leaves in autumn, it is best to go to the quiet Wuyuan to relax.
If Wuyuan is gentle in spring, then Wuyuan in autumn is truly stunning! In late autumn, the area is ablaze with color. Beneath the tall red maples are golden firewood stacks, and through the smoke from cooking, you can vaguely see the interweaving of green bricks and tiles and towering trees.
Wuyuan's autumn colors are hidden in the sun-drying of Huangling, and the leisurely rural life always makes people dream. Huangling Village, surrounded by green mountains, complements the vibrant red mountain scenery!
Wuyuan's autumn colors are also hidden in the morning mist of Shicheng, a city steeply sloping and picturesque. In late autumn and early winter, a light morning mist hangs over the village, and the whitewashed walls, gray tiles, and red maple leaves in the sunlight are a breathtaking sight!
"Internet-famous Metasequoia forest"
Zhimaling, a mountain range that marks the border between Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, has attracted many urbanites with its unique wild charm. As Nanjing's only biodiversity reserve, the area is dotted with poplars, chestnuts, locust trees, and sand pines. From a distance, the area appears to be a vibrant tapestry of yellow, red, and green, as if carefully blended and spread across the mountain.
The Metasequoia forest is a popular attraction in Zhimaling. There are about four to five hundred Metasequoia trees, each with a straight trunk and a spire-shaped crown. Various birds occasionally appear among them, creating a primitive scenery!
Picture @Photo.net
Go there in the early morning, and you'll see mist swirling around, lights and shadows enchanting, pond cypresses standing in the water, and green mountains reflected in the lake, creating a scene of harmonious integration of mountains and water.
Besides taking photos and relaxing, you can also hike in the Zhimaling Mountains, wandering through the fairytale forest, climbing pagodas, watching the wind, and deeply experiencing the wonderful moments in Zhimaling.
"Autumn sun drying in earthen buildings"
Huizhou is more than just a town of white walls, black tiles and ink paintings. Deep in the mountains of southern Anhui, there is a small ancient village with a unique "Hui style earthen building" architectural style. It is Yangchan Village.
Picture @Photo.net
Villagers use red soil and wood to build their homes. More than 300 earthen buildings are built on the mountainside, carrying nearly 400 years of history. In the golden autumn, drying the harvest has become a beautiful scenery here!
Colorful crops bathed in sunlight, dotted with quaint houses, fill the entire village with the joy of a bountiful harvest. Gazing at the inky mountains and the wildflowers in full bloom, it's a truly unique and vibrant world.
The picture below is from @photo.net
"Dong Nationality Celebrates New Year"
Every year around the winter solstice of the lunar calendar, on the first day of the eleventh lunar month, the Dong people celebrate the New Year. This is a unique festival for the Dong people, and the specific duration is determined by the village.
Picture @TuChong Creative
For thousands of years, Dongnian has been a festival for the Dong people to commemorate their ancestors, reunite with families and celebrate the harvest. It can be called the "encyclopedia of Dong culture."
Among them, the customs of Zhaoxing Dong Village are the most distinctive. On the first and fifteenth day of every month, a ceremony to worship Sama is held. Villagers, dressed in their finest attire, greet guests by blocking the road, singing songs, playing the Lusheng (reed pipe), performing Dong opera, and performing the Getang (song hall). The atmosphere is rich with festival spirit, showcasing their warm hospitality to those who visit.
There will also be wonderful Dong opera performances and the Dong ethnic group's unique Yueke (Dong family banquet)! Rice cakes are a traditional Dong New Year treat, and making them is a key activity during the festival. After dinner, there's nothing better than watching a dazzling fireworks display!
Picture @TuChong Creative
Danba Red Leaf Scenery
If you want to experience the tranquil countryside, you don’t have to go to Europe; if you want to experience the quaint Tibetan village customs, you don’t have to go to Tibet.
In western Sichuan, there is a beautiful pastoral scenery, a paradise selected by National Geographic as the "most beautiful village", where you can forget the troubles of the world and spend a few days of carefree, relaxing and peaceful time. This is Danba Tibetan Village!
Danba Zhonglu Tibetan Village is located in Zhonglu Township, Danba County, Ganzi Prefecture, Sichuan Province, at an altitude of 2,100 meters. "Zhonglu" means "a place that people and gods yearn for" in Tibetan.
Known as the "most beautiful ancient Tibetan village", it is located on an open plain on the hillside on the east bank of Xiaojin River, sheltered at the foot of the most famous Morduo Sacred Mountain in Jiarong Tibetan area. The tranquil and poetic countryside and the beautiful Tibetan village towers complement each other!
Every autumn, Danba's mountains are ablaze with vibrant forests, nestled among secluded Tibetan villages. In the evening, curls of smoke rise from the valley, cattle and sheep graze leisurely, and towering snow-capped mountains tower over the surrounding forests...it's a paradise on earth!
"The latest and best autumn leaves in the country"
As November approaches every year, the red leaves of the Three Gorges become more intense. When sailing in autumn, you will see a sea of red as you travel through the vast mountains and rivers!
Its red color has the charm of Tang and Song poetry, and is set against historical legends. It is a beautiful sight, and more importantly, a story! Climb to the top of the Three Gorges, overlooking the Yangtze River, and take in the grandeur and intensity of the Three Gorges!
Climb up to Baidi City and listen to the "unceasing cries of monkeys on both sides of the river." By the way, check out the classic Kuimen on the back of the 10-yuan RMB and see its beautiful waters and green mountains!
When autumn turns the Three Gorges red, let’s go see its warmth, hike in a different way, enjoy the autumn colors all over the mountains, and embrace the red leaves!
"Hometown of Chinese Moon Persimmons"
Gongcheng Yao Autonomous County, located southeast of Guilin, has a nearly thousand-year history of cultivating moon persimmons. In 1996, it was awarded the unique honorary title of "Hometown of Moon Persimmons in China" by the Ministry of Agriculture.
During the persimmon harvest season every year, when you walk into Gongcheng, you will see golden persimmons hanging on the trees all over the mountains, with a faint sweet fragrance floating in the air. From a distance, it is dotted with the joy of the harvest, creating a pleasant harvest scene!
The best time for photography is from the end of October to the beginning of December. We will go to Si'an Village and Hongyan Village to capture the unique rural customs, as well as scenes of villagers picking and drying persimmons, and making persimmon cakes.
"Fantasy ancient temple, hiking to enjoy autumn"
Baipu Temple is an ancient temple from the Liao Dynasty with a history of more than 900 years. It was built in the early years of the Qiantong period of the Liao Dynasty. Now the gate tower and three main halls are still preserved.
This tower was built in the sixth year of Huangtong in the Jin Dynasty (1146). It is 10 meters high and solid with a hexagonal structure. The lower part is dense-eaves style, and the upper part is stupa style. The tower body has three layers of dense eaves, and double layers of upturned lotus above the dense eaves support the stupa. It is a rare and precious tower type in China and a masterpiece among the dense-eaves towers of the Jin Dynasty.
Hidden within the mountains and forests, Baipu Temple exudes a magical and magnificent beauty. The winding paths and misty waters within the park are filled with stories. Stroll through the clear streams and savor the moment's tranquility!
If you have a car, don't miss the Temple of the God of Cars, which is said to be very powerful. This magical temple and the gorgeous autumn colors will add a rich legendary color!
"The Magical Yellow River Hundred Miles Gallery"
Compared to the more well-known Yarlung Zangbo Grand Canyon and the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River, the Shanxi-Shaanxi Grand Canyon, one of the "Ten Most Beautiful Canyons in China," is quite understated! However, its hidden beauty and culture should not be underestimated!
The Shanxi-Shaanxi Grand Canyon, stretching from Hekou Town in Inner Mongolia to Yumenkou in Shanxi, is over 700 kilometers long. It is the longest continuous canyon on the mainstream of the Yellow River. Deep ravines with dragons rising and turbid waves surging, the contest between water and stone has created the magical, beautiful and majestic Yellow River Hundred Miles Gallery.
Travel along China's stunningly beautiful Highway 1, the Yellow River Highway, from the Shanxi-Shaanxi Grand Canyon southward, traversing both banks of the Yellow River and passing through numerous historical and cultural cities. Besides breathtaking scenery, you'll also experience the unique folk customs of Shaanxi, Shanxi, and Inner Mongolia.
“There are hikes, delicious food, feelings and stories”
The Great Wall starts from Shanhaiguan at 40 degrees north latitude and marches westward. The Yellow River starts from the Bayankala Mountains in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and advances eastward. They meet magnificently and shake hands in a friendly manner at Laoniuwan in Pianguan County, Shanxi Province.
The Shanxi section of the Great Wall spans 12 dynasties, almost the entire length of the Chinese imperial era. We followed the traces of the Shanxi Outer Great Wall, from east to west, all the way to the Yellow River. Along the way, we encountered numerous important passes, various garrisons, and numerous enemy towers, horse-faced forts, and beacon towers.
Say goodbye to the crowds and walk untrodden paths, see sights no one else has seen. Here, you'll experience hiking, delicious food, nostalgia, and stories. We'll hike the Great Wall and the "no man's land" of the Yellow River, discovering the starting point of Chinese civilization. Experience the thrill of speed and passion on a speedboat cruise down the Yellow River, and savor unique local flavors along its banks.
“A little-known autumn secret”
This is a classic route hidden in the northeast of Chongqing. This time, China-TravelNote conducted on-site optimization and optimized the route, turning the original heavy-loaded route into a light-loaded one-day hike of 15km with a cumulative climb of 150 meters, making it suitable for more friends who love the outdoors.
Xuebao Mountain, located in northeastern Chongqing, is a popular destination among travellers. Its stunning beauty in autumn and winter is rarely seen.
We will go deep into it, admire the thousands of acres of larch, the colorful forests on the peaks, hike in the core area, check in the scenery of Hongchiba, where the representative colors of autumn are full of charm!
Are you overwhelmed by the stunning autumn scenery across the country? Take your pick from this list of the best November travel destinations—there's sure to be something for you!
