Top 10 Fall Colors Places in China: Photography the Best Autumn Views

Autumn (September to November) in China offers a truly enchanting experience for both regular travelers and avid photographers. The weather during this period works its magic, transforming the once green leaves into a mesmerizing palette of golden, yellow, orange, and red hues. The landscape becomes a breathtaking canvas of colorful hills, valleys, and plains, complemented by the backdrop of clear blue skies and reflective lakes. For photographers, it is an opportune time to seize their cameras and venture into China's nature to capture the awe-inspiring beauty of autumn.

In this article, we will embark on a journey to explore the Top 10 Fall Colors Places in China, where nature unveils its picturesque landscapes adorned with vibrant reds, deep oranges, and golden yellows. Whether you are a photography enthusiast or simply in search of the natural wonders, these destinations will undoubtedly leave you mesmerized by the breathtaking autumn views they have to offer.

1. Jiuzhaigou National Park in Northern Sichuan

Considered to be China’s premier national park, Jiuzhaigou is located in the Min Shan mountain range, Northern Sichuan in South Western China with elevations ranging between 1,990 m (6,529 feet) to 4,764 m (15,630 feet) above sea level, about 400KM away from Chengdu and is easily accessible by direct flights or overland driving, and the top highlight of the Sichuan tour. Reputed as the ‘fairy tale world’ and the ‘King of Water Scenery’, it is a national park with spectacular scenery throughout the year including fabled blue and green lakes, spectacular waterfalls, snow-capped peaks, colorful forests, blue ice, rare wildlife, and unique Tibetan customs, making it one of the most treasured scenic sites of China.

In 1992, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rich in animal and plant resources, it has extremely high ecological protection, scientific research, and aesthetic tourism value. Autumn is the most colorful and splendid season of Jiuzhai Valley. In addition to the green, the mountains and forests are dyed in golden, fiery red and other colors and reflected in the bright lake water, the colorful fallen leaves float in the lake, the distant clear sky is clear and blue, making it super charming.

Popular activities: trekking, photography, sightseeing, and horseback riding
Best seasons: Autumn in September and October, especially from mid-October to late-October
Admission: CN¥ 169 per person (Apr. 1st to Nov. 15th); CN¥ 80 per person (Nov. 16th to the next Mar. 31st)
Opening hours: 08:30-17:00
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day or more

2. Kanas Lake Scenic Area in Northern Xinjiang

Located in the deep mountains and dense forests of the Altay region, about 800 kilometers away from the capital city Urumqi of Xinjiang, Kanas Scenic Area is one of the most impressive natural sights in China including Kanas Lake Scenic Area, Hemu Village, Baihaba Village, and other famous scenic spots, offering bizarre natural landscapes such as snow-capped mountains, clear streams, dense forests, deep turquoise lakes, and vast grasslands, historical and cultural relics such as Genghis Khan’s West Expedition Point General Platform, ancient rock paintings, and the unique folk customs of Mongolian Tuwa people. 

Kanas Lake is obsessed with mysterious lake monsters, changing colors of lake water, and dazzling natural scenery. It is also one of the major hiking routes in China and has become a paradise route in the minds of domestic outdoor enthusiasts. When Autumn comes, the color of the trees’ leaves and grasses turns to yellow and golden, making the scenery there breathtaking.

Popular Activities: Hiking, sightseeing, horseback riding, and photography
Best seasons: Autumn, especially from mid-September to early October
Admission: CN¥ 185 per person (May 1st to Oct. 15th); CN¥ 90 per person (Oct. 16th to the next Apr. 30th), CN¥ 80 per person for sightseeing bus
Opening hours: 08:30-19:30
Recommended sightseeing time: At least 1 day

3. Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve in Western Sichuan

Reputed as ‘the last Shangri-la’ and ‘the last pure land on our blue planet’, Daocheng Yading Nature Reserve was first known by the world when an article of Daocheng written by the famous American adventurer Joseph F. Rock was published in the National Geographic in 1928. It is a harmonious utopian land composed of snow-capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, steep cliffs, vast pastures, as well as the dense woods. Yading National Nature Reserve is mainly composed of three mountains "Xiannairi (6,032 m), Yangmaiyong (5,958 m), Xianuoduoji (5,958 m)" and surrounding rivers, lakes and alpine meadows. It is located at an altitude of 2,900 m (the mouth of Gongga River) - 6,032 m (Xiannairi Peak). As of October 2019, it is one of the most complete and primitive alpine natural ecosystems in China. It is a great experience to challenge yourself by trekking along the steep trail to Milk Lake and Five Color Lake. Autumn is one of the best seasons to photograph in Yading, the whole area dresses in different bright colors like yellow, golden, red, white, green, etc., making it the paradise for photographers to take marvelous pictures.

Popular activities: Trekking, sightseeing, and photography
Best seasons: Spring from April to May; Autumn from September to October, especially from mid-October to early November
Admission: CN¥ 270 per person including CN¥ 150 entrance fee and CN¥ 120 sightseeing bus fee, CN¥ 80 per person for round-trip battery cart between Chonggu temple and Luorong pasture
Opening hours: 07:00-17:30
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day or more

4. Shangri-la in Northern Yunnan

Shangri-la means ‘the sun and the moon in the heart’ in Tibetan, which is the capital of the prefecture-level administrative region of the Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province. Located in the northwestern part of Yunnan Province and the hinterland of the Hengduan Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it is the junction of Yunnan, Sichuan, and Tibet and also the location of the World Natural Heritage ‘Three Parallel Rivers’ scenic spot. It was longed for by the world when it appeared in the famous novel "Lost Horizon" by British writer James Hilton in the 1930s. Soon this novel was made into a movie of the same name and won many Oscars, making it even more famous. Now it's a must-see city if you plan a Yunnan tour. The Shangri-La Tibetan area has a long history and gorgeous natural scenery, including Pudacuo National Park, Dukezong Ancient City, Ganden Songzanlin Temple, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Holy Meili Snow Mountains, and other attractions. In May and June, the vast green grasslands and countless hills with dense forests are dotted with beautiful flowers, while in Autumn, the leaves of trees gradually turn to different colors like yellow, golden, red, and more, which is ideal for photographing.

Popular activities: Trekking, horseback riding, sightseeing, and photography
Best seasons: Spring (May and June) and Autumn (September and October)
Recommended sightseeing time: 1 day or more

5. Miyaluo Scenic Area in Northern Sichuan

About 263 km. (163.4 mi.) away from Chengdu, Miyaluo Scenic Area is located in Lixian County, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan China. It is the largest landscape of red fall foliage in China and has the most splendid scenery in autumn, making it one of the popular places to visit in China. Covering an area of 3,688 sq. km. (1,423.9 sq. mi.), it is decorated with maples, birch trees, snow-capped mountains, hot springs, and waterfalls. Autumn is the golden season and the most wonderful time to travel to Miyaluo. At this time, it turns to fairy-tale land with eye-catching red leaves, tranquil blue skies, white clouds, quiet valleys, and gurgling creeks.

Popular activities: Sightseeing, enjoying the hot-springs, and photography
Best seasons: Autumn, especially from October to November
Admission: CN¥ 30 per person
Opening hours: All day
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours

6. Great Wall Simatai & Xiangshan Park in Beijing

Simatai Great Wall

Located in the Miyun District of Beijing, Simatai Great Wall is approximately 120KM away from Beijing city only requiring about 2.5 hours drive. As the only section of the ancient Great Wall that retains the original appearance of the Ming Great Wall, it was listed as one of the representative sections of Great Wall at World Heritage Site in 1987 and designated as the "Primitive Great Wall" by UNESCO, then in 2012, it was rated by the British Times as ‘the top of the 25 scenic spots in the world that should not be missed’.

Built on steep mountains, the Simatai Great Wall is famous for its ingenious conception, unique design, novel conception, and different shapes. It is a wonderful place containing all features of the Great Wall. Alongside, at the foot of the Great Wall on the west side of Simatai, there is a hot spring with a water temperature of 38°C all the year-round. What is amazing is that there is a cold spring on its east side only tens of meters away, hence, its name ‘Mandarin Duck Spring’.

Popular Activities: Hiking, camping or picnic, sightseeing, and photography
Best seasons: Spring / Autumn, particularly April, May, September, and October
Admission: CN¥ 40 per person
Opening hours: 08:00~17:30
Recommended sightseeing time: No less than 3 hours

Xiangshan Park (Fragrant Hills Park)

Situated on the west side of Beijing, Fragrant Hills is more than 20 kilometers from Beijing, occupying an area of 160 hectares. It is a large forest park with the features of imperial gardens in which natural landscape is combined with artificial scenery. Its highest peak is 557 meters above sea level, which looks like a huge incense burner, hence the name ‘Incense Burner Peak’. In addition, the name Fragrant Hills (Xiang Shan) is derived from this as well.

It has a very long history established in 1186, during Jin Dynasty, and renovated and expanded by emperors of the Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties (1115-1911). In 1745, Emperor Qianlong ordered large-scale construction by setting 28 beautiful scenes with enclosing walls and named it as Jingyi Park. In 1860 and 1900, the Anglo-French Army and the Eight Power Allied Forces burned it to ashes respectively. In 1956, it was open to the public as a park. After extensive reconstruction since the 1990s, it again took on its unique charm. The red-leaf trees are the most spectacular natural scenery in Xiangshan Park, especially in Autumn when the green leaves turn to red-yellow, orange-red, and other colors.

Popular Activities: Sightseeing and photography
Best seasons: Autumn, especially from late October to early November
Admission: CN¥ 10 per person (Apr. 1st to Nov. 15th); CN¥ 5 per person (Nov. 16th to the next Mar. 31st)
Opening hours: 06:00~18:30 (Apr. 1st to Jun. 30th, Sep. 1st to Nov. 15th); 06:00~19:00 (Jul. 1st to Aug. 31st); 06:00~18:00 (Nov. 16th to the next Mar. 31st)
Recommended sightseeing hours: No less than 3 hours

7. Yunnan Dongchuan Red Land

Praised as ‘God's palette’, Dongchuan Red Land is located about 260KM northeast of Kunming city at elevations between 1,800 meters and 2,600 meters above sea level. It is regarded as the most imposing red land in the world except the red land in Brazil, and its scenery is even more magnificent, looking afar, it is such a colorful place, and beloved by travelers and photographers during their Yunnan tours.

Different scenery can be seen in different seasons. April to June and September to December are the 2 periods suitable for visiting the red land. But relatively speaking, the best season to photograph here is from September to December. At this time of the year, part of the red land is plowed for planting, and the other part of the red land has been planted with green barley or wheat, the white rapeseed flowers unique to Yunnan are also in full bloom. The rich colors are set against the blue sky, white clouds, and unpredictable light on the plateau, making the land look like a gorgeous watercolor painting and form a unique and magnificent scenery.

Popular activities: Sightseeing and photography
Best Seasons: September to December, especially from mid-October to November
Admission: CN¥ 30 per person
Opening hours: All day
Recommended sightseeing time: At least 3 hours

8. Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province

Zhangjiajie, established as a city for tourism, is one of the most important tourist cities in China. It was awarded the honorary title of "National Forest City" in 2017. With a yearly average temperature of 16.8°c, Zhangjiajie becomes a wonderful travel destination with enjoyable weather all year round, there is no severe cold in winter and no scorching heat in summer, hence, it can be said that all seasons here are like spring. It is highly recommended to make a trip to Zhangjiajie between April and October. April (flowers blossom time) and October (leaf-peeping time) are the best months to visit and shoot Zhangjiajie, as its natural scenery is the most beautiful in the best shape with rich colors. Zhangjiajie is a place full of natural wonders. Wulingyuan Scenic and Historic Interest Area of Zhangjiajie, covering an area of 264.6 square kilometers, is composed of four major scenic spots including China's first national forest park - Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianzishan Nature Reserve, Suoxiyu Nature Reserve, and Yangjiajie Nature Reserve. It is one of China’s first selected world natural heritage sites (in 1992), one of China’s first selected world geological parks (in 2004), and one of the first 5A-level national Parks of China. In addition, the other top Zhangjiajie attractions deserve to be explored including Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Yellow Stone (Huangshizhai) Village, Golden Whip Creek, Yellow Dragon Cave, Tianmen Mountain, etc.

Popular activities: Mountain hiking, sightseeing, and photography
Best seasons: Spring and Autumn, especially April and October
Recommended sightseeing time: 3-5 days

9. Yangtze River Wu Gorge

With a length of 46KM, Wu Gorge, also known as ‘Da Gorge’, is the longest gorge among the Three Gorges along Yangtze River, stretching twistingly from Daning River in Wushan County, Chongqing to Guandukou in Badong County, Hubei. The entire gorge is shaped with deep gorges, atypical peaks, rugged rocks, continuous cliffs, dense forests covering the mountains and changeable clouds and mists wreathing around the tops, making the scenery here the most impressive, graceful, and charming among the Three Gorges. As a long and narrow deep gorge, Wu Gorge has short sunshine hours, hence, the high moisture makes it easy to yield clouds and mists here. The clouds and mists are in various forms, sometimes they gather into surging clouds, which form Buddha light under the sun.
The most appealing scenic spot of Wu Gorge is the Wushan Twelve Peaks standing on the north and south banks of Yangtze River, among which Shennv Peak is the most beautiful. There are many streams along the Wu Gorge River. After the Three Gorges Project is impounded, the river surface rises, offering the possibility to boat on the small streams. The streams most worthy of exploration in Wu Gorge are the beautiful Goddess Creek, Shamurang Creek, Bianyu Creek, Xiaoxi River, and Lianzi Creek. In addition to the above natural wonders, there are many scenic spots and historical sites in Wu Gorge, such as Ancient Luyou Cave, Dayu teaching platform, Shennv Temple ruins, Kongming stone stele, and Kuiwu plank road on the cliff, many cliff inscriptions from the past dynasties, and more. As a place with such marvelous views, it has become many Chinese poets’ favorite, giving them the inspiration to write many widely prevalent beautiful poems.

Popular activities: Sightseeing, Yangtze River cruise, and photography
Best seasons: Spring (March to May) / Autumn (September to November), particularly September and October when are the best time to see the red leaves here
Admission: Free (cruise needs extra payment)
Opening hours: All day
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 hours

10. Huangshan Mountain & Wuyuan Villages

Huangshan Mountain (Yellow Mountains)

Reputed as the most wonderful mountain of the top ten famous mountains in China, Huangshan is declared as the World and Cultural Natural Heritage and World Geopark, located in the south of Anhui Province in Eastern China. It has 72 granite peaks, among them, Lianhua Peak is the main peak with an elevation of 1,864 meters above sea level. The representative landscapes of Huangshan include the ‘five must-see wonders and three waterfalls’. The five must-sees include the pines of different shapes, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow. The three famous waterfalls: Herringbone Waterfall, Baizhang Spring, and Jiulong Waterfall. In addition, rime, snow scenes, and sunrise at Huangshan are also sights that tourists should not miss.

Huangshan is not only a beautiful mountain but also a rich art treasure house. It honored a good reputation in the art and literature circles for a long period of Chinese history, and till today, it still holds the same fascination for visitors, poets, painters, and photographers. It is suitable for traveling all year around. In Spring (March to May), you can watch hundreds of flowers bloom, the pine branches spit out. In summer (June to August), you can enjoy the green pines and sea of clouds here. In Autumn (September to November), you can observe the colorful natural scenery such as green pine, granite, red leaves of maples, and yellow chrysanthemum flowers. In Winter (December to February), you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery of frost flowers and the rime and sea of clouds.

Popular activities: Mountain hiking, sightseeing, and photography
Best seasons: Spring / Autumn / Winter
Admission: CN¥ 230 per person, single-way cable car ranges CN¥ 80/90/100 per person depending on the route
Opening hours: 06:30-16:30 (the working days of Mar. 1st to Nov. 30th); 06:00-16:30 (the weekends of Mar. 1st to Nov. 30th); 07:00-16:30 (Dec. 1st to Feb. 28th)
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-2 days

Wuyuan Villages

Located in the northeast of Jiangxi Province and close to Huangshan Mountain and Jingdezhen, Wuyuan is one of the six counties in ancient Huizhou reputed as ‘the Hometown of Books’ and ‘the Hometown of Tea’. As a famous cultural and ecotourism county in China, it is hailed as ‘the most beautiful and picturesque village of China’. Today, there are 3 separate routes highly recommended: the eastern route, the northern route, and the southern route. The best time to travel and shoot at Wuyuan is in Spring (rapeseed flower blossom) and Autumn (red maple leaves), especially in Autumn from October to late November. Wuyuan becomes a paradise for photographers and tourists by its breathtaking scenery with a well-balanced fusion of blue sky, white walls, dark-grey roofs, fiery fields, and hillsides dotted with red maple leaves.

The eastern route is featured with well-protected ancient villages of Ming and Qing Dynasties as well as the pastoral landscape. Many of the ancient architectures here are in unique Hui-style with white walls and grey tiles. The northern route is famous for its beautiful natural scenery, where you can marvel at the fantastic views of mountains and valleys covered with dense forests. The western route is a good sample of ecological environments. Yuanyang Lake here is the biggest habitat of wild mandarin duck and the Jinshan Ecological Tea Garden is a great place to demonstrate ecological agriculture for tourists, where you can experience tea plucking, tea making, and tea drinking.

Popular activities: Hiking, sightseeing, and photography
Best seasons: Spring / Autumn
Recommended sightseeing time: 1-3 days

Conclusion:

China's autumn season offers an incredible opportunity to witness the country's natural beauty at its finest. As the green leaves turn into a stunning array of warm colors, the landscape becomes an inviting canvas for photographers and nature enthusiasts. From the picturesque Jiuzhaigou Valley to the spiritual Yading Nature Reserve, each destination in our Top 10 Fall Colors Places in China list offers a unique and unforgettable experience. So pack your camera gear, embark on a journey, and immerse yourself in the captivating beauty of China's autumn vistas.

Can’t wait to plan a trip to one or more of them in this Autumn? Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts and comments with us, as a local China travel agency with 18+ years of experience, we are more than confident to design an unique trip for you!