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Autumn is always stunning but short. Before we have time to appreciate the thousands of acres of ginkgo trees, reeds and metasequoia trees, red maple and persimmon forests... "Light Snow" has arrived quietly.
While the autumn colors are still lingering and the weather hasn't completely cooled down, it's the perfect time to go hiking! Today, I've selected 11 late-autumn short hikes around Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai, perfect for both beginners and advanced hikers. The autumn colors are still stunning, so hurry up and seize the last of autumn!
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 is a poetic retreat, both secluded and beautiful. Houses cling to the hillside, and streams wind around them. Walking through the village, you can catch glimpses of the towering green mountains, separated by towering gables.
Lijiakeng Village, located deep in the Siming Mountains, seems to have the same artistic conception as Wang Wei's "Autumn Night in the Mountain".
When persimmons are ripe in autumn and winter, the pink walls and black tiles are covered with small persimmons like red lanterns, bright red and joyful.
The persimmon trees all over the mountains are set against the old houses with pink walls and black tiles, and the scenery is particularly beautiful in autumn and winter.
"Mountains and rivers are so dense that you think there is no way out, but when you look up, you see another village with willows and flowers." Lu You, a poet of the Southern Song Dynasty, once left a famous line in Pan'an that has been passed down through the ages.
Pan'an, located in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, is the birthplace of the Yandang, Kuancang, Huiji, and Xianxia Mountains. Known as the "ancestor of mountains and source of rivers," it boasts a geographical landscape characterized by "nine mountains, half water, and half farmland." With a forest coverage rate of 80.9%, Pan'an has earned the reputation of being "Central Zhejiang's Great Bonsai and Natural Oxygen Bar."
The Red Maple Ancient Trail in Pan'an is hidden in the deep and few people know about it. It is lined with red maples and ancient pines, which shade the sun and are covered with red leaves. The quiet little mountain village has retained its rare primitiveness and simplicity, and here you can enjoy the most authentic colorful colors of autumn.
When everywhere called itself "Little Jiuzhaigou", the appearance of Xuedouling really amazed everyone.
Xuedou Ridge is located in the Zhibukeng natural village of Zhutiantou Village. It has become a "net celebrity zone" because of its stunning autumn Metasequoia forest that has been widely shared on WeChat Moments.
The Xuedouling Ancient Trail is approximately 7 kilometers long, with steps made of natural stone, rising and falling in a continuous pattern. Along the way, you'll encounter overlapping peaks, rocks, and flowing streams, creating a natural landscape of overlapping peaks and verdant landscapes. The unusually shaped rocks along the trail are truly breathtaking.
Arriving at the mountaintop reservoir, its mirror-like surface earned it the nickname "Little Jiuzhaigou" of Jiangnan. The Metasequoia leaves have already turned red, transforming into a redwood forest, creating an even more stunning scene under the sunlight. Xuedouling, such a poetic and dreamy name! The vibrant colors of the forest, the Metasequoia in full crimson, are a truly worthwhile journey!
In Hangzhou, there is such a little-known secret place of autumn colors - Dayu Valley.
The Changle Forest Farm where it is located is beautiful all year round. There are straight and tall Metasequoia paths, rows of Metasequoia trees that stretch as far as the eye can see, and thick fallen leaves piled on the ground, which make a "crunching, crunching" sound when you step on them.
The fiery red Metasequoia trees and golden rice fields along the way are filled with the romantic charm of the countryside.
Walking along the country road, you will reach the Ganling Lake Dam, where you will suddenly see the open air. The lake is covered with autumn colors and the waves are sparkling. The golden ginkgo trees, fiery red redwoods, colorful sweetgum trees and autumn leaves covering the ground make this place look like a fairy tale world.
Zhimaling, a mountain range bordering Jiangsu and Anhui provinces, has attracted many urbanites with its unique wild charm. The Metasequoia forest, a popular spot on Zhimaling, boasts approximately four to five hundred trees, each boasting towering trunks and spire-shaped crowns. Various birds occasionally roam among the trees, creating a pristine scene.
Arrive early in the morning to experience the misty, ethereal light and shadows. Metasequoia trees stand tall in the water, while green mountains are reflected in the lake, creating a scene of harmonious harmony between mountains and water. Besides the Metasequoia forest, there are also volcanic rocks and various unique vegetation scattered across the mountain.
This time we arranged a Zhimaling Grand Loop Hike, which took us through the fairytale forest, through different terrains, climbing pagodas, viewing windmills, and experiencing the time at Zhimaling from multiple angles and in all directions. The 20km hike seemed difficult, but it was full of fun.
This is a century-old hiking trail from Xianju to Jinyun. You can walk deep into Jinyun, visit the quiet ancient village, and feel the autumn all over the mountains.
Along the way, you will pass stone bridges, stone arches, stone paths, forests, streams and mountains... There are peaks and ridges, and gurgling springs along the way, as if you have entered a primeval forest with dense vegetation.
You can encounter the sunrise, sea of clouds and starry sky, but the ridge line for watching the sunrise is quite difficult, about 4KM round trip, with a steep climbing slope.
And how can we miss the delicious food in Xianju? The farm-style chicken soup is highly recommended! A big bowl of it will make you feel better after a long hike. The Jinyun sesame cakes are slightly sweet and filled with preserved vegetables and meat. The thin crust is large and delicious!
We stayed in Yanxia Village at night. Most of the houses here are stone houses, which are warm in winter and cool in summer. There are only about two hundred households in the village, and there are usually few tourists visiting, so the village can still maintain its rare primitiveness and simplicity.
The entire route is a dirt road, full of wildness, and is very suitable for advanced hikers.
The autumn in Yushan is like a paintbrush, splashing ink and writing. The red maples in Yushan Park are like clouds and rosy clouds, the ginkgo trees in Zanghai Temple add to the autumn colors, the autumn leaves in Shanghu Lake are scattered, and the chrysanthemums soften the autumn mood, all of which are interwoven into a lively "color map".
Yushan is ablaze with colors in autumn. The buildings in Fangta Garden are all modeled after the Song Dynasty style, which is gorgeous and majestic. They also adopt the winding and changing style of Jiangnan gardens, with curved bridges, pavilions, corridors, waterside terraces, rocks, flowers and trees, which complement each other.
Don't travel far! Changshu, just an hour's drive away, offers stunning autumn scenery! Enjoy a leisurely hike to Yushan Mountain, check out Yushan Park, visit Xingfu Temple, and explore Fangta Garden. Autumn's colors are fleeting, so cherish your time to savor them!
Starting from the thousand-year-old ancient village of Guanpei Village, you will pass through three ancient trails: Jiaohu Ancient Trail, Shizishan Ancient Trail, and Shangwanggang Ancient Trail.
This place not only has a long history and culture, but also beautiful scenery, with green bamboos everywhere, gurgling streams, and ancient bridges, ancient temples, ancient roads and natural landscapes complementing each other.
In the afternoon, we will pass through Yelangshan Village and walk on the ancient mountain trails of Siming Mountain. Along the way, we can enjoy various bamboo forests and streams hidden in the mountains.
The Jiaohu Ancient Road connects two ancient villages. It is hidden deep in the mountains and surrounded by bamboo sea, like a fairyland. The homestays here have a Lijiang style, where you can experience the slow time.
In late autumn, the mountains around Lotus Peak are graced with an elegant autumn charm because of the presence of a Tianchi Lake. The fiery maple leaves and golden ginkgo trees along the way create a unique atmosphere.
Lotus Peak is a geological wonder. A huge rock stands on the top of the mountain, several meters high and shaped like a lotus petal. The road surface is mostly stone, quite similar to Huangshan Mountain. There is even a miniature version of the "Monkey Watching the Sea", which is full of wild fun.
After passing the Lotus Peak, you can overlook the ancient village of Mudu from the Fanghe Pavilion. The view here is broad, with white walls and black tiles dotting the valley. Looking into the distance, you can see the Qionglong Mountain, the first mountain in Wuzhong, standing majestically by the Taihu Lake, and a picture of autumn mountain life comes to life before your eyes.
Qionglong Mountain is located in the western suburbs of Suzhou. Its main peak, Ruomao Peak, is 341.7 meters above sea level and is the highest of the mountains on the east bank of Taihu Lake.
Regarding Qionglong Mountain, it has many historical sites, rich scenery and cultural heritage, and enjoys the reputation of "the first famous mountain in Wuzhong". The beautiful Qionglong Mountain has spawned many hiking routes.
The popular and well-received Little Dinosaur Route uses a five-up-five-down method to depict the shape of a little dinosaur with footsteps, allowing you to explore beautiful scenery that cannot be seen on regular tours.
In the afternoon, I walked along the mountain paths, where I saw bamboo forests, tea gardens, wild flowers, streams, and temples. It was full of vitality and tranquility.
Jiulianjian, also known locally as Jiuhua Mountain or Jiulian Mountain, has a main peak 433 meters high. As the name suggests, it means nine consecutive peaks.
Jiulianjian is located between Tangshan and Jurong, about 40 kilometers away from Nanjing city. A large amount of lava that has cooled after the volcanic eruption can be seen on the top of the mountain. There are ancient copper mine sites from the Spring and Autumn Period in the mountains.
This is a hidden paradise. Due to its alpine meadow landscape, it is very similar to Wugong Mountain and is known as "Little Wugong Mountain" in the outdoor world.
Because the view around this mountain is wide, standing on the top of the mountain is like being integrated into the mountains. Looking out from a high place, the beautiful scenery is shocking, and looking around, your mind suddenly opens up.
A one-day light hike around the area is suitable for everyone. Choose a good day to go and catch the tail end of autumn~
