Who understands! Autumn in Dujiangyan hides a "Golden Hiking Trail"

The morning sunlight passes through the thousand-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system, and the stone steps of Lingyan Mountain are covered with ginkgo leaves that rustle underfoot; on both sides of the bluestone road in Guanxian Ancient Town, golden ginkgo branches form "arches," and when the wind blows, the leaves fall like little fans on your shoulders... It turns out you don’t have to squeeze into Jiuzhaigou, because autumn in Dujiangyan hides an immersive "golden stepping" ginkgo hiking route!
📍 3 Must-Walk Ginkgo Hiking Trails (with viewing and playing guides)
Lingyan Mountain "Ancient Temple Ginkgo" Hiking Trail (Difficulty: ★★☆)
Highlights: The thousand-year-old Lingyan Temple hides 3 century-old ginkgo trees, with golden leaves falling under the temple’s red walls, combined with mountain mist, it feels like stepping into a historical drama; during the hike, you can overlook the Min River tributary, with ginkgo and landscape perfectly framed for photos.
Photography: Take photos of the temple ginkgo between 9-10 AM, when sunlight slants on the red walls; have your companion stand under the ginkgo tree and catch falling leaves for dynamic shots; at the summit viewing platform, shoot "ginkgo + distant mountains" using your phone’s wide-angle mode for a panoramic view.
Transportation: Drive and navigate to "Lingyan Mountain Scenic Area Parking Lot" (parking fee 10 RMB/day); take Dujiangyan Bus Line 1 to "Lingyan Mountain Station," then walk 10 minutes to the trailhead; the hike is about 3 km and takes 1.5 hours.
Guanxian Ancient Town - Yulei Mountain "Cityscape Fusion" Loop (Difficulty: ★☆☆)
Highlights: The ginkgo trees on South Street of Guanxian Ancient Town grow alongside Ming and Qing dynasty old houses, with leaves hanging in front of carved window frames; hiking along the ancient city wall up Yulei Mountain, the "ginkgo trail" halfway up offers a panoramic view of the entire Dujiangyan irrigation project, with golden ginkgo contrasting the blue-gray ancient irrigation system.
Photography: Wear light coffee or white Hanfu / trench coat, and take photos under the ginkgo trees on South Street for a "corner encounter with gold"; near the "Erwang Temple" on Yulei Mountain, shoot ginkgo + Baopingkou panorama, have the person stand to the side of the trail to avoid blocking the distant view.
Hidden Perks: The "Ginkgo Cultural and Creative Store" in the ancient town sells ginkgo leaf bookmarks and ginkgo-flavored pastries; when tired from hiking, you can also enjoy a cup of hot ginkgo tea.
Transportation: Exit D of "Yingbin Road Station" on Metro Line 2, then walk 15 minutes to Guanxian Ancient Town; the loop is about 2.5 km and takes 1 hour, suitable for elderly and children.
Qingcheng Mountain Front Mountain "Tranquil Ginkgo" Branch Trail (Difficulty: ★★★)
Highlights: From the Qingcheng Mountain gate, hike along the "Five Caves Heaven" trail, where over 20 ginkgo trees hide among bamboo groves; sunlight filters through bamboo and ginkgo leaves, casting dappled shadows; at the endpoint "Yuanming Palace," there are stone tables and benches under ginkgo trees where you can sit and listen to the insects.
Photography: Use your phone’s macro mode to capture the texture of ginkgo leaves (morning dew adds liveliness); take side-profile shots at the "ginkgo-bamboo boundary," using the bamboo forest as a background to highlight the golden ginkgo.
Tips: Wear anti-slip hiking shoes (some sections have moss); bring your own water bottle (there is drinking water on the mountain, but warm water is recommended in autumn and winter).
Transportation: Drive and navigate to "Qingcheng Mountain Front Mountain Parking Lot"; take a bus from Chengdu Chadianzi Bus Station to "Qingcheng Mountain Station," then transfer to the scenic area shuttle to the mountain gate; the branch trail is about 4 km and takes 2.5 hours.
⏰ Best Viewing Time (Don’t miss it!)
Best months: Late October to mid-November (ginkgo leaves change from light yellow to golden; early November is the "full gold period," and sunny days make for better photos)
Daily time slots: 9:00-11:00 AM (soft sunlight, good leaf translucency, ideal for photos), 2:00-4:00 PM (hiking without sun exposure, and you can see ginkgo reflecting the sunset glow in the evening)
Avoid pitfalls: Lingyan Mountain and Qingcheng Mountain are crowded on weekends, so it’s recommended to visit on weekdays; if it rains, ginkgo leaves will have water droplets, making photos look fresher, but bring rain gear and anti-slip shoes.
🧥 Practical Tips (Easy for beginners)
Outfit suggestions: Wear light autumn clothes (thin sweater inside + trench coat/denim jacket outside), casual pants for hiking; choose colors like beige, light coffee, white (harmonious contrast with ginkgo yellow, brightening and photogenic), and wear a knit hat for an autumn vibe.
Gear preparation: Bring anti-slip hiking shoes (important! some routes have stone steps and moss), a small backpack (for water bottle, tissues, power bank); for ginkgo photography, bring a phone macro lens (for leaf texture), and a 50mm prime lens for DSLR (for people and ginkgo shots).
Civilized hiking: Do not pick ginkgo leaves or break branches; keep quiet inside Lingyan Temple; carry out all trash generated during the hike (some routes have trash bins, but it’s recommended to bring your own trash bag).
Nearby extras: After hiking, visit the "Dujiangyan Scenic Area" to see the thousand-year-old irrigation project (there are also scattered ginkgo trees in the scenic area during ginkgo season); must-try local foods — You Rabbit Head (spicy marinade is super fragrant), Zhazha Noodles (perfect with fried egg), and if you feel cold, drink a bowl of "fermented glutinous rice soup" to warm up.
💬 Rambling
I used to think Dujiangyan was only cool in summer, until I walked the Lingyan Mountain ginkgo trail — then I realized autumn in Dujiangyan is "golden gentleness": stepping on fallen leaves while hearing the ancient temple bell, looking up to see ginkgo against the blue sky, turning around to see the Min River flowing slowly... This kind of hiking is more healing than just sightseeing.
(Comment below: Which trail do you most want to walk? What snacks would you bring to step on the ginkgo leaves~)