Follow these three treasure spots to easily get the ultimate autumn and winter travel experience

As the autumn wind blows, the summer heat completely fades away, and the limited-time romance of autumn and winter is loading—the natural world seems to have spilled its palette, layering golden yellows, fiery reds, and snowy whites, saturating the mountains and waters with a full atmosphere; meanwhile, historical sites are no longer bustling with crowds, revealing their original appearance in the crisp air.
Whether you want to wander through the colorful nature, watching the mountain and water lines become clearer and more vivid, or visit ancient sites in quiet moments, understanding the sediment of time in an undisturbed atmosphere, setting off this autumn and winter is just right!
🍂 Encounter the season’s exclusive brilliance and serene beauty
Without the lush greenery of summer, the contours of mountains and waters in autumn and winter are more distinct. The ginkgo’s golden yellow, maple’s fiery red, and reed’s snowy white unique to this season help nature stage a fleeting visual feast.
✨️ The beauty of Beijing’s mountains, waters, and city walls combined
When the hills are covered with red maples and golden ginkgo, the top seasonal attraction in the capital, Xiangshan’s red leaves, burn like flames in the last autumn light, perfect for photos; at the turn of autumn and winter, Badaling exudes grandeur and magnificence. Visiting the Great Wall winding through colorful forests in the early morning mist feels like stepping into an ancient painting. The relatively fewer visitors in autumn and winter allow you to fully experience the heroic spirit of “He who has never been to the Great Wall is not a true man.”
Kunming Lake in the Summer Palace looks even clearer in autumn and winter, with weeping willows dyed in autumn colors and withered lotus reflecting on the water. Strolling along the Long Corridor or boating on the lake, the tranquility of the ancient garden perfectly blends with the autumn atmosphere; in the open and spacious Olympic Park during autumn and winter, you can enjoy the pure sky above the swaying reeds and the modern Bird’s Nest and Water Cube, or walk along the golden ginkgo avenue to breathe fresh air and take photos, feeling relaxed and comfortable.
✨️ When the ancient charm of Sanqin meets autumn and winter
Shaanxi’s autumn and winter are deep and magnificent. Although Hukou Waterfall is not as turbulent as in summer, the mist rising from the abundant water flow or the unique “ice peak hanging upside down” phenomenon in winter adds a solemn and serene beauty to the grandeur; the autumn grass and ruins of Daming Palace appear distant and lonely under the warm autumn sun, as if you can hear whispers from a thousand years ago while walking.
The area around the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda and Small Wild Goose Pagoda dresses up in splendid colors. When leaves fall, the combination of ancient buildings and autumn scenery creates stunning photos that quickly flood social media; in Xi’an Expo Park, the golden ginkgo trees shaped like small umbrellas complement the landmark Chang’an Tower, making every snapshot look like a cinematic masterpiece.
✨️ The extraordinary autumn and winter filter of Bagui’s mountains and waters
Guangxi’s mountains and waters lose their humid mist in autumn and winter, becoming clearer and purer—in the bright late autumn, you have the chance to see the Longji Terraces faintly appearing in the sea of clouds at dawn, or watch the sunset glow dye the exposed ridges of the terraces warm gold, contrasting sharply with the dark distant mountains; after winter arrives, you can witness the dreamlike scenery of sky and cloud reflections on the flooded terraces, or even snow-covered terraces and villages transforming into a fairy tale world.
For those who dislike the cold, Guangxi offers the warm and pleasant Beihai and Weizhou Island with an average temperature of 22°C. The Silver Beach is especially quiet away from the crowds, and the ever-sunny Weizhou Island always surprises you; the Li River in autumn and winter is clearer, with emerald green water and bamboo rafts slowly drifting by, fully displaying the leisurely charm of fishermen singing at dusk.
📜 Explore ancient sites and immerse yourself in authentic history
The crisp autumn and winter air seems to slow down time. Visiting historical sites at this time means no more crowds, only the quiet dialogue with ancient civilizations. In the clear air, the contours of ancient buildings are outlined by soft light, and every relic holds stories that are easier to feel.
✨️ Leisurely strolls at the foot of the imperial city
Whether it’s the ancient cypress and fallen leaves in the Imperial Garden, the corner towers reflecting with ginkgo and moat in the sunset, or the thin snow covering the yellow tiles after early winter chills, the Forbidden City in autumn and winter carries a cinematic filter; compared to the solemnity of the Forbidden City, the Prince Gong Mansion’s courtyard hides autumn and winter elegance: ginkgo leaves fall between pavilions and towers, persimmon trees hang orange-yellow fruits, Taihu stones in the garden have unique charm under soft light, and there’s no need to queue long in front of the Fu character stone tablet.
As a Qing Dynasty royal garden, the Summer Palace embodies the utmost refinement of imperial gardens, from the vermilion beams of the Tower of Buddhist Incense to the century-old vibrant paintings of the Long Corridor, from the Suzhou Street replicating the Qing palace market scene to the Seventeen-Arch Bridge by Kunming Lake. The quieter autumn and winter season allows you to calmly explore the historical imprints in the garden.
✨️ Understanding millennia through Qin bricks and Han tiles
The Terracotta Warriors of Emperor Qin Shi Huang look even more majestic in the soft autumn and winter light. Visitors at this time can leisurely appreciate the details of the terracotta figures without crowds; the ancient temple in the Famen Cultural Scenic Area is hidden in tranquility, with ginkgo leaves covering the ground in front of the reliquary pagoda, where incense and fallen leaves mingle. If time permits, you can also experience copying sutras in the temple, seeking inner peace through brush and paper.
Visitors to the Shaanxi History Museum this season can take their time admiring the rust patterns on Shang and Zhou bronzes, while the glaze of Tang Sancai pottery appears more vivid under soft lighting; the Xi’an Beilin Museum houses over ten thousand precious items including steles, epitaphs, stone carvings, ancient books, and paintings from the Han Dynasty onward. Visiting in autumn and winter may give you the chance to watch staff demonstrate or personally try hand-rubbing techniques, experiencing the charm of stele culture.
✨️ The gentle blend of everyday life and ancient charm
The bluestone roads of Guilin’s East and West Alleys are warm under the winter sun. Here, enjoy a steaming bowl of Guilin rice noodles, experiencing the Ming and Qing dynasty charm while facing the lively human atmosphere.
Besides the culinary journey in Guangxi, you can also fully understand Guangxi culture through the breathtaking performances of “Guilin Eternal Love” or “Impression Liu Sanjie,” exploring the history and folk customs of the Bagui land.
Of course, the autumn and winter beauty of Beijing, Shaanxi, and Guangxi goes beyond this.
Walking among the ruins of the Old Summer Palace, immersing in the weight of history; the wintersweet in Da Ci’en Temple quietly buds at the turn of autumn and winter; drifting on the Yulong River in autumn and winter, the banks are painted with red and yellow or serene picturesque landscapes... This time, go personally to unlock the diverse autumn and winter experiences of these three treasure places!