National Geographic didn’t lie to me!! The autumn here is stunningly beautiful!!

I used to think of going to Western Sichuan to see the colorful forests in autumn, but I didn’t expect that Hanzhong Longtoushan behind Guangwu Mountain also has such beautiful colorful forests. The “Oil Painting Forest” of Longtoushan, with few people and beautiful scenery, is hidden along the ancient Micang Trail between Sichuan and Shaanxi. It’s a cultural hiking spot with a history of 3,500 years! The best part is 🚄 it’s very convenient, just over 2 hours away, perfectly meeting the needs of a day trip for people from Sichuan and Chongqing.

Longtoushan and Guangwu Mountain both belong to the Micang Mountain range. Here, there are fewer people and even more beautiful scenery! At an altitude of over 2200 meters, this cloud paradise offers colorful forests, sea of clouds, and cliffside plank roads all at once. The key is you can “hike without pain” — the cable car plus cloud ladder takes you straight to the clouds without tiring your legs!

Here is the late-night travel guide I wrote for everyone, to help you unlock the most beautiful autumn Longtoushan:
💕 Autumn Travel Highlights
✅ Autumn-exclusive Colorful Forests:
The best viewing period for colorful forests is from mid-October to early November every year. Tens of thousands of acres of red, yellow, and orange leaves intertwine like an oil painting, and every snapshot looks like a masterpiece!

For hiking lovers, take the bus to the “Oil Painting Forest” stop, then hike down the stairs. Surprises await all along the way, especially when sunlight filters in, creating a full atmosphere. You can walk and shoot photos 📸 with a very high chance of great shots~

✅ Dreamy Sea of Clouds
When we arrived, it was still raining. At the mountain top, after the rain cleared, we saw a breathtaking sea of clouds ☁️, with mist swirling around the peaks, as if walking in a fairyland.

✅ Pain-free Hiking:
Cable car + 180-meter super long cloud ladder straight to the summit, no climbing needed! A blessing for the lazy! No pressure for elderly or children!

✅ Thrilling Cliffside Plank Road Experience:
At over 2200 meters altitude, the Longtou Cloud Plank Road is 3.5 kilometers long, with cliffs and colorful forests below your feet — thrilling and spectacular! On clear days, you can see the sunset 🌇 and sea of clouds, truly magnificent!!

🗓️ Best Time to Visit
Peak colorful forest period: mid-October to early November (this year’s autumn colors are at their peak, go for it!).
Sea of clouds peak period: clear mornings or afternoons after rain.
Recommended duration: two days and one night, stay at the summit to watch sunrise and sunset.

💡 Thoughtful Tips
1. Clothing guide: The temperature difference at the summit is large, so wear down jackets or windbreakers, and bring hats, scarves, and gloves.
2. Pitfall warnings:
- Pets are not allowed in the park!
- Cable car stops operating at 18:00, pay attention to your descent time.
- The chance of sea of clouds is higher after rain clears, check the weather before you go.

🚗 Transportation Guide
Self-driving: Navigate to “Longtoushan International Tourism Resort”
High-speed train + shuttle: Chengdu to Hanzhong Station (about 2.5 hours), then transfer to the scenic area shuttle (departures at 9:30 and 10:00, about 1.5 hours).

Longtoushan is truly the “lazy hiker’s dream” in my heart! You can enjoy stunning autumn colors without strenuous walking. The moment when colorful forests and sea of clouds appear together makes everything worth it!