Daxing'anling Autumn Travel Guide｜China's Northernmost "Oil Painting Corridor"!

September is legendary, this 2024 practical guide teaches you how to shoot cinematic masterpieces, miss it and wait another year

You think autumn is only about Beijing Xiangshan and Nanjing Wutong?
Wrong!
At the northernmost edge of China, there is a secret realm where God spilled the paint palette——
Daxing'anling · Golden Autumn Line!

Once October arrives, the entire forest sea instantly transforms:
🍁 The birch forest turns golden like flames, swaying in the wind like a thousand-armed Guanyin waving sleeves
🌲 The larch trees form a golden carpet, crunching underfoot
🌾 Morning mist lingers over Nenjiang Bay, cattle and sheep leisurely walk through the wetlands
🚂 The green train runs through the valley, the window reflecting a flowing oil painting...

But some complain: "The road is too remote!" "No signal at all!" "So cold I want to go home immediately!"

What's the problem? — It's not the scenery, you just didn't do your homework right!

If you want a deep autumn trip without crowds, where every shot is a masterpiece, and you can experience the Oroqen culture,
this [2024 Latest · Daxing'anling Autumn 7 Days 6 Nights Self-Drive Practical Guide],
from the best time, dressing tips to hidden photo spots,
will hand-hold you to use one car + one tank of gas,
to turn this "China's Most Beautiful Autumn Corridor" into your private documentary!

🗺️ Recommended route: Hulunbuir → Genhe → Mohe classic loop (essence version)｜about 1800km in total

🎯 Core highlights coverage:
Asia's largest original birch forest
Moerdaoga "Peak of the Forest Sea"
Oroqen Reindeer Tribe
Arctic Village Aurora Edge Zone (rare but atmospheric)

🚗 Travel advice:
Strongly recommend self-driving or carpool tours (charter about ¥600–800/day)
Gas stations are far apart, fill up whenever you see one!
Mobile signal is intermittent, download offline maps in advance (recommend "Two Steps Road" APP)

🏨 Accommodation tips:
Type Features
------ --------
Wooden log cabin homestays (Enhe, Shiwei) Russian-style wooden houses, warm kang bed + fireplace, very cozy
Forest farm guesthouses (Moerdaoga Town) Simple but cheap, good for rest
Arctic Village family inns Experience the "northernmost home," book in advance!

🎫 Ticket reference (2024):
Birch Forest Scenic Area: ¥60
Moerdaoga National Forest Park: ¥110 (includes sightseeing bus)
Oroqen Reindeer Tribe: ¥80 (can feed reindeer)
Arctic Village: ¥70
Tip: Remember to bring student or senior ID, most attractions offer half price!

🌟 Four must-do experiences · detailed by scene + practical tips
Birch Forest Walk｜Step into a Studio Ghibli animation scene

📍 Recommended spot: Erguna Birch Forest Scenic Area / G331 National Road wild section
🎯 Best time: before 9:00 AM or after 4:00 PM
✅ Soft light, dappled shadows, stunning backlit photos

📸 Photo tips:
Wear a red/black solid color long dress, background full of golden trunks
Have a companion throw leaves to capture the "golden rain"
Shoot from a low angle looking up, tree crowns form a natural arch

💡 Friendly reminder: Do not break branches! Locals regard birch as the "forest beauty"

Moerdaoga Summit｜Stand on the "shoulders of the northern giant"

⛰️ Longyan Mountain is Moerdaoga's highest viewing platform
✅ Only 20 minutes to the top, unbeatable views
✅ Overlook the rolling forest sea, clouds and mist rolling like waves

📌 Tips:
Go up an hour before sunset, the golden glow is most stunning
Bring a thermos with ginger tea, it's very cold and windy at the top!

Oroqen Reindeer Feeding｜Face to face with the "forest spirits"

🦌 The only reindeer tribe in the country, kids scream with excitement!
🎯 Interaction tips:
Buy a basket of moss (¥10), let the deer gently lick your palm
Don't shout loudly, they are more timid than cats
No flash photography!

💬 Cultural note: The Evenks once used reindeer for transportation, known as the "last reindeer tribe"

Arctic Village Check-in｜Be a "northernmost Chinese"

🇨🇳 Four must-do things:
Take a photo at the "China's northernmost point" monument
Send a postcard from the "northernmost post office"
Eat a "northernmost hotpot" (the taste is average... just for the experience)
Look up at the stars at night—low light pollution, the Milky Way is clearly visible!

⚠️ Special things to avoid: These are "must not do"!

❌ Going out in a thin jacket → October nights drop below 0°C!
✅ Must bring down jacket + fleece liner + hat and scarf

❌ Long outdoor activities during midday strong sun → strong UV, easy to get sunburned
✅ Wear sunglasses, apply high SPF sunscreen

❌ Going alone deep into uninhabited forest or riverside → bear risk (though rare)
✅ Stick to scenic trails, go with companions

❌ Feeding animals or picking wild mushrooms → risk of poisoning or ecological damage
✅ Leave everything to locals

❌ Trusting roadside "cheap car rentals" or "wild guides" → there have been scams
✅ Contact drivers through official travel agencies or homestay owners

💡 Backup plans (in bad weather or low energy)

🔧 Plan B1: If heavy snow/road closure → switch to indoor activities
For example: Hulunbuir Ethnic Museum, Genhe Cold Pole Village Ice and Snow Exhibition Hall

🔧 Plan B2: Too tired with kids → shorten the trip, focus on Hulunbuir section
Reduce long drives, focus on grasslands + birch forest

🔧 Plan B3: Don’t want to self-drive → join a reliable small group (6–8 people boutique tour)
Worry-free and less effort, plus you can learn photography from teammates

Final words:

Daxing'anling in autumn,
doesn't speak,
but it tells you with a falling leaf, a wisp of morning mist, a deer’s call:
Some beauty must be walked into personally,
to hear the earth’s gentle sigh as the seasons change.