Hidden Gems Route! Complete Guide to Autumn Hiking and Leaf Collecting at Qixia Mountain

Dear friends! Besides enjoying the maple leaves, Qixia Mountain is also an amazing hiking destination! I've discovered many hidden routes and fun ways to "collect autumn." Quickly save this guide!
🌟 What is "collecting autumn"?
It means gathering naturally fallen beautiful leaves and fruits to make specimens or crafts, bringing autumn home to cherish! Safety first, only pick up naturally fallen leaves and fruits, do not harm trees or pick flowers.
🗺️ Recommended Hiking Routes:
Easy Leisure Route (2-3 hours)
West Gate → Mingjing Lake → Qixia Temple → Red Leaf Valley → Return
Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆ Suitable for families with elderly and children
Deep Exploration Route (4-5 hours)
West Gate → Qixia Temple → Thousand Buddha Rock → Relic Pagoda → Red Leaf Valley → Emperor Qin’s Riverside Spot → Fengxiang Peak
Difficulty: ★★★☆☆ Suitable for young people with good stamina
🍂 Best Spots for Collecting Autumn:
1️⃣ Around Red Leaf Valley
This area has dense maple trees and a variety of fallen leaves, where you can find intact five-lobed maple leaves
Best Time: Early morning when fewer people are around, leaves are freshest
2️⃣ Front Courtyard of Qixia Temple
Not only maple leaves but also golden ginkgo leaves, combined with the ancient temple background, create a very charming scene
Feature: You can collect perfectly shaped ginkgo leaves to make bookmarks
3️⃣ Forest Trails
Along roadsides in areas like Mufu Mountain and other parts of Qixia Mountain, with abundant plants and colorful autumn leaves, perfect for collecting
🎨 Autumn Collecting Craft Ideas:
• Leaf Specimens: Press leaves in a thick book for 2 weeks to make transparent bookmarks
• Collage Art: Use leaves of different colors to create animal patterns
• Gratitude Tree: Stick leaves on cardstock to make thank-you cards
🎒 Gear Checklist:
• Lightweight backpack + collection bag (for leaves)
• Comfortable hiking shoes
• Camera (to capture beautiful moments)
• Water and snacks
💡 Helpful Tips:
• Only pick naturally fallen leaves, do not pick branches or leaves from trees
• Do not eat any beautiful fruits you find to avoid discomfort
• Avoid steep slopes and dangerous areas, safety first
• When making specimens, keep leaves dry and flat for longer preservation
📅 Best Time for Collecting Autumn:
Late October to the end of November, when fallen leaves are most abundant and diverse
Autumn at Qixia Mountain is brief and beautiful. Besides taking photos, collecting autumn leaves is a super fun experience! Quickly invite your friends and put autumn in your pocket together!