The Ceiling of Qinling's Autumn

A complete 3-day, 2-night maple viewing guide in Liuba: colorful forests, ancient trails, starry skies, stunning beyond words! 🍁

While the city is still in short sleeves and air conditioning,
here it has already donned a brocade of red and yellow.
Every breath is filled with the fresh scent of pine needles and fallen leaves.
Today, I’m sharing this exclusive 3-day, 2-night autumn limited guide to unlock the most breathtaking autumn in Qinling!

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🚗 Itinerary (Autumn Highlights Edition)

📍Day 1: Depart from Xi’an (Baoji) → Lunch at Liuba Old Street → Check in to a scenic guesthouse → Night tour of Old Street to admire lanterns
📍Day 2: Sunrise at Taiziling → Shizigou Ranch → Lover’s Valley → Zibai Mountain for colorful forests
📍Day 3: Self-drive on Gaojiang Road → Zhang Liang Temple → Return trip

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🍁 Must-Visit Spots (Autumn Limited Edition)

1️⃣ Taiziling · Sea of Clouds and Red Leaves
📍Location: Near Jiangwozi, Liuba County
⏰Best time: Sunrise (6:30-7:30)
✅ Personal experience: Waking up at 4 AM to catch the sunrise was totally worth it! The sea of clouds rolls beneath your feet, and the rising sun gilds the layers of colorful forests. Recommended to wear a windbreaker and bring a thermos with hot water—sipping it while waiting feels incredibly cozy!

2️⃣ Gaojiang Road · The Most Beautiful Countryside Road
📍Location: Yuhuangmiao Town, Liuba County
✅ Personal experience: This "most beautiful countryside road" is breathtaking in autumn! The dawn redwood avenue turns into a golden corridor, with corn and chili drying along the way—every snapshot looks like a masterpiece. Renting a bike to ride slowly and enjoy the autumn breeze is highly recommended.

3️⃣ Zibai Mountain · Colorful Forest Feast
📍Location: Liuhou Town, Liuba County
🎫Tickets: It’s recommended to buy a combined ticket for the scenic area
✅ Personal experience: The cable car ride feels like traveling through a colorful painting. The meadow at the summit turns golden in autumn, contrasting sharply with the dark green firs and fiery red maples—a paradise for photography lovers!

4️⃣ Shizigou Ranch · Fairy Tale World
✅ Personal experience: The ranch in autumn has a unique charm, with golden grass scattered with leisurely cows and sheep, and colorful forests in the background, like stepping into a fairy tale. Best to visit between 3-5 PM when the light is softest.

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🏡 Autumn Accommodation Recommendations

1️⃣ Daoban Inn · Top Choice for Autumn Viewing
· Floor-to-ceiling windows facing colorful forests, enjoy the view right from bed
· Offers warming ginger tea and autumn specialty meals
· Around 350 RMB per person, including breakfast

2️⃣ Book & Field Guesthouse · Artistic Choice
· Each room has a scenic balcony
· Evening tea by the stove while listening to the host’s Liuba stories
· A gathering spot for photography enthusiasts

3️⃣ Kongshan Jiutiao · Quality Choice
· Highly designed mountain residence
· Offers seasonal specialties like ginkgo nut stewed free-range chicken
· Ideal for couples or families seeking privacy

💡 Booking tip: The best time to visit Liuba is around National Day; be sure to book at least half a month in advance!

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🍜 Autumn Limited Delicacies

1️⃣ Chestnut Stewed Free-Range Chicken: Sweet and soft autumn chestnuts perfectly paired with free-range chicken
2️⃣ Wild Mushroom Hotpot: Fresh mushrooms picked after rain, with a rich and delicious broth
3️⃣ Walnut Bread: Liuba specialty made with fresh walnuts, crispy and tasty
4️⃣ Persimmon Cake: Locally naturally sun-dried persimmons, sweet but not greasy

👍 Recommended restaurants: Shanli Renjia, Old Flavor Restaurant, Old Street Farmhouse Cuisine

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💰 Autumn Travel Money-Saving Tips

1️⃣ Golden Autumn Discount Ticket: Combined ticket for Zibai Mountain, Zhang Liang Temple, and Boardwalk Water World for 118 RMB (original price 235 RMB)
2️⃣ Accommodation Discount: 20% off for stays of two nights or more, plus a special souvenir gift
3️⃣ Transportation Subsidy: Toll receipts can be used to offset scenic area expenses
4️⃣ Early Bird Discount: Book guesthouses one week in advance to get 100 RMB off

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📸 Photo Guide

✨ Best Spots:
· Taiziling Viewing Platform: Capture sea of clouds + colorful forests
· Gaojiang Road at 39 km milestone: Capture the golden dawn redwood avenue
· Shizigou Ranch: Capture the ranch + panoramic colorful forests
· Lover’s Valley Suspension Bridge: Portraits + larch leaves

👗 Outfit Suggestions:
· White and beige clothes stand out best in colorful forests
· Bring scarves, hats, and accessories to enhance the atmosphere
· Comfortable hiking shoes are a must!

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📝 Practical Tips

1️⃣ Transportation: About 3.5 hours driving from Xi’an, recommend leaving before 7:00 AM to avoid morning rush hour
2️⃣ Weather: Large temperature difference in autumn (8-22°C), bring a lightweight down jacket
3️⃣ Gear: Power bank, spare camera batteries, thermos, sunscreen
4️⃣ Reservations: Popular viewing spots are best visited early to avoid crowds

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💫 My Ramblings

On the last morning in Liuba,
I sat on the guesthouse terrace,
watching the sunlight slowly dye the mountains opposite red.
Suddenly, I understood why the ancients said "Autumn days surpass spring mornings."
This small town hidden deep in Qinling
uses its most brilliant colors
to give us a reason to forget our worries.

This autumn,
why not clear your phone’s photo album
and fill it with a whole year’s worth of beauty in Liuba! 📸

[Follow me to unlock more secret autumn landscapes!]

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This article is based on the blogger’s on-site experience; attraction opening times are subject to official announcements.
Original content, reproduction requires authorization.