📅 Trip Highlights at a Glance
✅ Visual Impact: Tens of thousands of acres of wild maple forests dye the valleys red, with a red leaf corridor more intense than Kyoto, Japan
✅ Wild Experience: Hike ancient post roads, collect volcanic stones, and encounter the Qinling Four Treasures (Golden Snub-nosed Monkey/Red-bellied Tragopan sightings alert!)
✅ Food Surprise: At the foot of the mountain, enjoy Lantian’s Nine Big Bowls and taste the immortal jelly noodles (a Tang Dynasty intangible cultural heritage cold noodle dish)
🌄 Morning: Enter the Secret Realm of Maple Flames (8:00-11:30)
📍 Recommended Route: East Gate of Scenic Area → Volcanic Crater Ruins → Maple Forest Boardwalk → Camel Rock Viewing Platform
First Stop: Volcanic Crater Ruins (8:30-9:30)
A unique landform formed by volcanic eruptions billions of years ago, with black and red rocks creating a strong contrast with the red leaves.
📸 Must-shoot scenes:
Stand at the edge of the volcanic pit for overhead shots (wide-angle lens is more stunning)
Hold up a volcanic stone to “support” the distant maple forest in a perspective shot
Second Stop: Maple Forest Boardwalk Walk (9:30-11:00)
A 3-kilometer suspended wooden boardwalk winding through maple trees, most spectacular from late October to early November.
🔍 Hidden photo spots:
At the 47th corner of the boardwalk, red leaves form a natural archway
Crouch and shoot upward to let sunlight filter through the maple leaves creating a starburst effect
Third Stop: Camel Rock Panorama (11:00-11:30)
A giant rock shaped like a camel is the highest point, offering views of five colors of maple leaves (yellow/orange/red/purple/green gradient)
🍜 Noon: Mountain Wild Exclusive Delicacies (12:00-13:30)
🏡 Recommended Restaurant: Lingxia Renjia (40 RMB per person)
Must-order trio:
🔸 Immortal Jelly Noodles (made with leaves from the Qinling immortal tree, drizzled with spicy vinegar sauce)
🔸 Acorn Jelly Noodles (same staple food as squirrels, served with wild chive sauce)
🔸 Fire Crystal Persimmon Cake (maple leaf shape, with molten sesame filling)
Hidden perk:
Show your scenic area ticket to get “Maple Dew Tea” brewed with Lantian jade (natural maple leaf patterns at the bottom of the cup)
🌿 Afternoon: Wild Exploration Time (14:00-17:00)
🎯 Choose your activity:
Light hikers → Ancient Salt Road Adventure
Walk along the Tang Dynasty salt transport stone path, encounter waterfall clusters
At the end, there is a “Matchmaking Maple” tree where you can tie a red string and make a red leaf print for blessings on site
Families with kids → Nature Classroom
Collect volcanic stones (staff will teach you how to identify collectible types)
Make leaf rubbings with maple leaves (tools provided free at the visitor center)
Photography enthusiasts → Stakeout Qinling Spirits
3:00-4:00 PM is the feeding peak for golden snub-nosed monkeys (bring a telephoto lens)
Red-bellied tragopans often appear in the western arrow bamboo forest (wear camouflage for easier approach)
📌 Practical Survival Guide
Transportation:
🚗 Self-drive navigation to “Lantian Camel Ridge Scenic Area” (1.5 hours from Xi’an)
🚌 Take bus 904 from Textile City Bus Station to “Lantian Bus Station,” then transfer to the scenic area shuttle (departs daily at 9:00 AM)
Tickets: Peak season 60 RMB (Oct 15 - Nov 30), off-season 30 RMB
Gear checklist:
✔ Non-slip hiking shoes (some sections have moss)
✔ Thermos (free hot water supply at mid-mountain)
✔ Sealable bags (allowed to legally collect up to 10 fallen leaves)
Pitfall warnings:
❌ Don’t buy “wild lingzhi mushrooms” from roadside vendors (mostly cultivated)
❌ Beware of villagers claiming to “show shortcuts” (easy to get lost)
🎯 Suitable for:
✔ Hardcore players wanting to shoot National Geographic-level red leaf photos
✔ Families with kids/pet-friendly (dogs allowed) craving wild fun
✔ Science buffs obsessed with geological wonders
🔥 Ultimate Easter Egg:
200 meters north of the volcanic crater, there is a “singing” maple forest—when the wind blows, leaves at certain angles whistle like a flute! (Only appears during specific times in early November)
Post by elara_morgana_nightshade | Oct 26, 2025
