Stop chasing abroad! Guangwu Mountain in Sichuan hides the "ceiling" of China's red leaves

Stop chasing abroad! Guangwu Mountain in Sichuan hides the "ceiling" of China's red leaves

In late autumn, there’s no need to chase Japanese maple leaves or Canadian autumn scenery. Guangwu Mountain in Sichuan, China, has long perfected the romance of autumn. Known as "China’s Number One Red Leaf Mountain," its more than 500 square kilometers of forest transform into a colorful feast in deep autumn. From golden yellow to fiery red, the gradient layers of trees resemble a palette spilled by God, breathtakingly beautiful. This comprehensive guide on transportation, accommodation, and core activities will help you precisely capture this exclusive "Chinese red."

🚗 Transportation Guide: Unlock the best way to enter the mountain

Guangwu Mountain is located in Nanjiang County, Bazhong City, Sichuan Province, near the Sichuan-Shaanxi border. Choose your travel method based on your situation:

• Self-driving (preferred): Maximum freedom, with chances to encounter autumn scenery along the way. About 4.5 hours from Chengdu, about 4 hours from Xi’an. Just set your navigation to the target scenic spots (such as Micang Mountain National Forest Park, Shibayue Pool); mountain roads are winding, so drive carefully and check your vehicle in advance.

• Public transportation (suitable for those without cars): First take a high-speed train or flight to Bazhong city, then transfer to a bus to Nanjiang County; upon arrival in Nanjiang, you can take local shuttle buses or charter a car to the scenic area. Although it takes longer, it’s worry-free and lets you focus on enjoying the scenery along the way.

🏡 Accommodation Suggestions: Choose according to your needs and stay immersed in autumn views

• Nanjiang County town: Offers a wide range of hotels, convenient dining and shopping, and good value. Suitable for resting on the first day of arrival or the last day before departure. You will need to drive or take a taxi to reach the scenic spots.

• Around the scenic areas (Daba/Taoyuan Scenic Area): Mainly homestays and farmhouses, within walking distance to the scenic entrances, convenient for entering the mountain early the next day. Open your window in the morning to catch a glimpse of the red leaves in the mountains and enjoy authentic farmhouse cuisine, fully immersing yourself in autumn mountain life.

• Near Shibayue Pool: Fewer accommodation options, mostly simple farmhouses with modest conditions but peaceful and less crowded. You can closely admire the morning mist and sunset at Shibayue Pool. The pool water reflects the red leaves in the morning, like a fairyland, perfect for visitors seeking tranquility.

🍁 Core Scenic Area Activities: Check in at the red leaf highlights

1. Micang Mountain National Forest Park: The core venue of the red leaf feast

This is the essence of Guangwu Mountain’s red leaves, every step feels like walking into a painting:

• Natural Gallery: A must-visit "red leaf landmark"! A forest path covered with fallen leaves, flanked by Bashan water green maples dressed in golden yellow. Sunlight filters through the branches casting mottled shadows. Any photo taken here is a full-on autumn masterpiece.

• Xianglu Mountain: The main peak of Guangwu Mountain, accessible by cable car (round trip about 150 RMB). From the top, the view opens up, with the colorful forest spreading below. When the sea of clouds rolls in the distance, the red leaves and clouds reflect each other, grand and romantic—a perfect spot to overlook the entire red leaf panorama.

2. Shibayue Pool: A poetic encounter of clear water and red leaves

Known for "water reflecting red leaves," it’s called the "Little Jiuzhaigou of Northeast Sichuan." It’s recommended to reserve a full day for in-depth exploration:

• Route: Recommended to enter from the upper entrance and exit from the lower entrance, about 5-6 hours of hiking, mostly downhill which saves energy, and you can check off all the pools and waterfalls along the way.

• Highlights: 18 pools and waterfalls connected by streams, with clear water reflecting the fiery red maple leaves on the banks, creating a charming contrast of blue water and red cliffs. In the early morning mist, the pool surface is shrouded in vapor, with red leaves faintly visible, like a fairyland.

3. Daba Scenic Area: A secret realm of richly layered colorful forests

This area has the richest layers of colorful forests in Guangwu Mountain, perfect for slow, detailed appreciation:

• Heixiong Valley: Babbling streams surrounded by colorful forests, with red, golden, and green leaves intertwined, reflected in the clear streams. Every snapshot is a lively autumn scene. Ideal for strolling along the trails and enjoying nature’s beauty.

• Daxiao Lan Valley: Few people and secluded scenery, with a strong sense of original forest. Walking through the woods, thick fallen leaves underfoot, birdsong and insect calls in your ears, it feels like entering an undisturbed autumn secret realm.

📌 Practical Tips: Pitfall avoidance & bonus guide

• Best viewing period: October 25 to November 15, when the red leaves are at their peak and colors are most vivid. Miss it and wait another year!

• Ticket info: Combined ticket for Micang Mountain + Daba Scenic Area about 140 RMB, Shibayue Pool Scenic Area about 55 RMB. It’s recommended to buy tickets in advance on official platforms to avoid queues.

• Gear preparation: Large temperature differences in the mountains morning and evening, be sure to bring a thick jacket (such as down jacket or windbreaker); wear comfortable, non-slip hiking shoes for forest trekking; bring rain gear as mountain weather is changeable.

• Safety tips: Mountain roads have many curves, control your speed; when hiking, stick to designated routes, do not enter undeveloped areas to protect your safety and the natural environment.

No need to travel abroad, Guangwu Mountain hides China’s most stunning autumn romance. Pick a weekend, bring this guide, and let the sea of red leaves capture your heart all autumn long.