Experience the earliest autumn in China at the Greater Khingan Mountains

The autumn in the Greater Khingan Mountains arrives especially early. The leaves are already turning yellow, and in just over ten days, it will be the best time to enjoy the scenery. Here’s your ultimate guide to the earliest red leaves in the country.
After completing this trip, you’ll truly feel it’s a must-visit autumn travel route in life!

📍 Itinerary (Super detailed version)
D0 Arrive at Hailar Airport. Many cities have direct flights or convenient transfers. If you have time, explore this small city.
D1 Hailar — Moergerle River — Erguna
Cliff grasslands + Erguna wetland sunset, overnight in Erguna.
Recommended accommodation: big hotels or wooden manor houses, both with great atmosphere~
D2 Erguna — Xing’an Reindeer Park — Moerdaoga
A reindeer park even more photogenic than Olguya✔, stunning wetland views from the mountaintop!
Overnight in Moerdaoga, enjoy Northeast China’s iron pot stew🔥.
D3 Moerdaoga — Forest Park Mini Train — Shiwei/Linjiang — Enhe
Russian ethnic village, wooden houses + oil painting style small town, perfect for photos.
D4 Enhe — China-Russia border checkpoint — Heishantou
Wild grassland borderline, horseback riding to watch the sunset is incredibly romantic!
D5 Heishantou — Ribbon River — Manzhouli
The border defense highway is insanely beautiful, you can also grass-ski at Ribbon River, and enjoy the Russian-style small town night scene.
D6 Manzhouli — Hulun Lake — Arxan
Big lake + grasslands intertwined, scenic views all along the way.
D7 Arxan Forest Park
Heavenly Lake / Unfrozen River / Santan Gorge… step into a fairy-tale forest full of autumn colors.
D8 Arxan — Hailar
Return trip, heading home with a full autumn filter🍂.
✨ Accommodation/Food: Many towns along the way with relatively complete facilities.
✨ Best time: Late September to early October
✨ Remember to bring warm clothes, the temperature difference between day and night is huge!
Autumn in the Greater Khingan Mountains + Hulunbuir = the ultimate romance of red leaves, grasslands, lakes, and forests!
📌 Save this self-driving guide and follow it exactly to capture a whole “autumn photo album.”