Ditan Park in Autumn: Beijing’s Golden Temple of Gingko and Imperial Solitude**

When autumn descends on Beijing, **Ditan Park**—the 500-year-old "Temple of Earth"—transforms into a **gilded sanctuary**, where imperial altars become backdrops for nature’s most extravagant show. This isn’t just foliage; it’s a **celestial dialogue between man-made grandeur and seasonal alchemy**.

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### **Why Ditan’s Autumn is Legendary**
🍁 **The Gingko Avenue Spectacle**
- Along the **northern path** (near Fangze Altar), a **200-strong army of ancient gingko trees** turns the sky and ground into a single amber universe by late October.
- *Pro tip*: Visit at **7-8AM** to photograph tai chi practitioners moving through knee-deep leaves, or at **4PM** when low sun sets the trees ablaze.

⛩️ **Imperial Melancholia**
- **Fangze Altar**: The Ming-Qing emperors’ **white marble earth-worship platform** stands stark against the warmth, its geometric perfection contrasting with nature’s riot.
- **Fasting Palace’s Vermilion Walls**: A cinematic foil for falling leaves—especially after rain, when the pavement mirrors the scene upside-down.

☕ **Pekingese Poetry in Motion**
- Elderly men with caged songbirds shuffle through crunching leaves, while the weekend **autumn book fair** under the trees smells of roasted sweet potatoes and ink.

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### **Insider’s Playbook**
- **Hidden Gem**: The **white ash trees** east of the Fasting Palace glow like stained glass in late October, sans crowds.
- **Crowd Hack**: Weekday afternoons (post-3PM) offer near-private access to the gingko avenue.
- **Post-Park Detour**: Exit west to **Wudaoying Hutong** for maple-viewing with a latte in hand.

**Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)**
"Where Shi Tiesheng’s existential musings meet living Peking—all gilded by a generosity of leaves."

*Note: Wear grippy shoes—squashed gingko fruits are treacherously slippery. Avoid weekends in peak season (late Oct) unless you arrive by 8AM.*

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**"Ditan’s autumn isn’t scenery; it’s liturgy—the leaves are incense ash, the shadows are oracle bones, and every visitor leaves with a private revelation."**

*(Subway: Lines 2/5 to Yonghegong Station, Exit A. ¥2 entry; autumn hours 6AM-8:30PM.)* 🚇🌿