This secret Qinling self-driving route has me instantly welded into the romance of late autumn

🍂Who says you have to fight crowds to enjoy autumn? This 2-day self-driving route is the ultimate autumn trip in Shaanxi!
🍁Few people, dense scenery, every shot looks like a movie scene, and best of all, the roads are easy to drive on, even novice drivers can handle it with ease.
⏰The best time to enjoy the autumn colors is only a few weeks left: late October to early November, when the leaves turn golden and the red maples are at their peak. After that, you'll have to wait until next year!

🚗 2-Day Highlight Route
📅Day 1: Ancient Ginkgo and Red Road
🌳First stop: Four-thousand-year-old Ginkgo Tree. Navigate to "Liuba Thousand-Year-Old Ginkgo," just a 4-minute drive from the Jiangxiying Expressway exit.
🍂This ancient tree’s fallen leaves cover the ground, forming a golden carpet over 10 meters long. Shooting upward can capture the stunning moment of leaves drifting from the branches.

🛤️Second stop: Most Beautiful Countryside Road → Chaiguanling. From the ancient ginkgo, drive into a countryside road completely covered by red leaves, with maple trees on both sides forming a "red leaf tunnel."
📸There are several viewing platforms along the way, perfect for capturing epic shots of the road and red leaves.

🏯Third stop: Zhang Liang Temple. The red walls and dark tiles paired with golden ginkgo leaves highlight the ancient and tranquil atmosphere of this Taoist sacred site.

🏨Recommended accommodation: Choose Chenwai Guesthouse near Liuba County town, or Yushan Guesthouse near Shizigou Ranch. End the perfect first day with a barbecue and stargazing in the courtyard.

📅Day 2: Alpine Meadows and Pasture Scenery
💑First stop: Lover’s Valley. The valley is especially peaceful in the early morning, the stream not yet frozen. A 20-minute walk along the wooden boardwalk leads to a viewing platform where you can easily enjoy the forest time.

🏔️Second stop: Zibai Mountain National Forest Park. Be sure to take the cable car up the mountain (ticket 35 RMB, round-trip cable car 80 RMB).
🌾The alpine meadow at 2600 meters is dressed in a golden "armor," and the soft afternoon light is perfect for shooting portraits intertwined with sea of clouds, creating a fairyland scene.

🐄Third stop: Shizigou Ranch. A free-access alpine pasture where cattle and sheep roam leisurely.
🌿There are no fences here, so you can freely interact with the animals and capture pastoral scenes.

🌅Fourth stop: Taiziling. Arrive at the mountaintop viewing platform by 3 PM. The light is soft and not glaring, offering a panoramic view of the magnificent autumn colors deep in the Qinling Mountains, with layers of green and gold.

📝 Practical Tips
👕1. Dressing advice: The mountain area has big temperature differences. Waterproof hiking shoes + bright-colored jackets are both photogenic and practical. Bring a light jacket for early mornings and evenings.
📷2. Best shooting times: Afternoon light is best at Zibai Mountain; for Taiziling, visit after 3 PM for the softest light.
🚗3. Driving tips: The countryside roads are narrow with many curves, please drive carefully and slowly.