Golden autumn in Qujing, as if God spilled a palette of colors, a healing journey through mountains and waters!

I always thought the most beautiful part of Yunnan was in western Yunnan, until I saw autumn in Qujing!

Autumn in Qujing truly left me speechless with amazement! This small city in eastern Yunnan feels like a colorful secret realm privately kept by the Creator. In the golden autumn season, it weaves a pastoral dream far from the hustle and bustle with golden rice fields and emerald peaks.

✨ Five Autumn Wonders

❶ Sunrise Sea of Clouds at Jinjifeng Cluster
Standing on the viewing platform, watch the karst peaks emerge from the sea of clouds, with tens of thousands of acres of golden rice fields (rapeseed flowers in spring) winding around the turquoise river. The scene of farmers leading cattle along golden ridges is the ultimate healing pastoral masterpiece!

❷ Duoyi River Secret Realm Hiking
Ride a bamboo raft through clear waters, with ancient banyan trees shading both banks, and the ethereal singing of Bouyei girls. Walking along the river, you’ll encounter seven waterfalls and can even operate waterwheels yourself, making the experience fully immersive!

❸ Jiulong Waterfall Cluster: Flying Pearls and Splashes
With abundant water in autumn, the ten-level waterfall cluster is magnificent. Standing at the foot of the falls, feeling the mist and thunderous roar, all worries are swept away! Rainbows frequently appear around the falls.

❹ Colorful Sand Forest Light and Shadow Show
A 300-million-year geological wonder dressed in autumn colors, with red, yellow, and green intertwined. The cliff projections tell the Yi creation epic (show starts nightly at 7:30 PM), a stunning fusion of ancient and modern that will leave you speechless.

❺ Pearl River Source Exploration
Follow in the footsteps of Xu Xiake to "trace the source of the Pearl River," watch a "single drop of water" gather into a river, with pine trees reflecting in the clear blue lake. Every photo looks like a masterpiece of mountains and waters. The autumn forest is ablaze with colors—green pines, red maples, and yellow shrubs intertwine like a natural oil painting.

🎮 Hidden Tasks to Unlock

✔ Learn to dance the Sanxian dance (receive a Yi embroidered sachet)
✔ Collect five-colored soil (exchange for a Pearl River source commemorative medal)
✔ Taste Bouyei five-colored glutinous rice and listen to elders tell stories of the Ancient Tea Horse Road
✔ Take kids to harvest rice and thresh grain, experiencing farming life more meaningful than any amusement park

🍜 Foodie Recommendations

· Qujing Steamed Ersi: Have a bowl in the morning, soft and flavorful ersi noodles paired with meat sauce and pickled vegetables—absolutely delicious!
· Zhanyi Spicy Chicken: Spicy and satisfying, tender chicken that goes perfectly with rice—you can eat two big bowls!
· Xuanwei Ham: Vacuum-packed for souvenirs, delicious for cooking or steaming at home.
· Mushroom Hotpot: Autumn is the season for plump mushrooms, so fresh it’ll make your eyebrows fall off!

📌 Practical Tips

🚌 Transportation:
· 40 minutes by high-speed train from Kunming to Qujing
· Recommended to rent a car to tour and connect Luoping, Shizong, and Zhanyi scenic spots

🏠 Accommodation:
· Cost-effective options in Qujing city center
· For a deeper experience, stay at a characteristic inn by Duoyi River or a starry tent at Dahai Caoshan

💰 Expenses:
· Scenic area combo ticket 118 RMB (covers 5 major core attractions)
· Moderate budget, about 3000-4000 RMB per person (7 days 6 nights)

📅 Best Time: September 28 to November 15 (mid-October is the most vibrant)

👗 Outfit Formula: Ethnic-style shawl + hiking shoes (bring warm clothes for temperature differences)

Qujing’s golden autumn is half the clarity of mountains and waters, half the richness of culture. You can hike to explore nature’s source and dive into stone inscriptions to read history. Pack your bags now and come unlock the double joy of "mountains & waters + culture" here.