Whither the bewitching beauty of autumn’s palette?
Print Edition
RED and golden leaves swirl in the filtered sunlight of autumn and crunch underfoot. The crispness of this special season delights so many people. Minhang, famous for its spring flowers, summer greenery and winter blossoms, isn’t particularly known for its displays of autumn foliage, but it is home to the Hongqiao transport hub, where you can be whisked away to areas where the colors of autumn are especially breathtaking. Shanghai Daily has a few destinations to suggest.
Japan
Red maple leaves, which the Japanese call momiji, are nearly as popular as the sakura cherry blossoms. Kyoto in the Kansai area is one of the best places for viewing magnificent autumn foliage from late November into early December.
Maples are planted alongside sakura trees in the gardens of temples, while on Arashi Mountain, momiji create a sea of fiery red.
Japan is only about 90 minutes flight time from Shanghai, so don’t count it out if you really want to see autumn colors at their best.
How to get there from Minhang
There are direct flights from Hongqiao International Airport to Kansai International Airport in Osaka. There are airport buses to Kyoto, or, if you are in a rush, there is a JR train going to the Kyoto Station.
Huzhong, Heilongjiang Province
Northeastern China is lesser known as a destination abounding in autumn foliage, but don’t be fooled by the common notion that this section of the country passes directly from summer to winter. The scenic area of the Daxing’an Mountain Range is China’s biggest reserve of larch, coniferous trees with bright green needles. In autumn, the needles turn a golden yellow. Light clouds often obscure the top of the mountains, blurring the boundary between sky and earth.
How to get there from Minhang
There is high-speed train from Hongqiao Railway Station to West Harbin Station in Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang. Travelers can then transfer by train to Huzhong.
Kanas Lake, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region
The wide, serene Kanas Lake is surrounded by golden birch and fiery-red maple trees when autumn arrives. Except for a few ethnic minority groups, this well-preserved scenic area is sparsely populated.
Although it is a 14-hour trip from Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang, to Kanas Lake, many say the time is well-spent because the area has such breathtaking beauty.
How to get there from Minhang
There is direct flight from Hongqiao International Airport to Urumqi, and from there travelers can access the Kanas Lake area by long-distance bus.
Mount Namjagbarwa, Tibet Autonomous Region
Nestled in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley, Mount Namjagbarwa stands 7,782 meters above sea level and ranks among the tallest mountains in the world. It is also praised as a natural museum of plants. When autumn falls, the trees on the mountain slopes are robed in coats of many colors. This is high plateau country, so visitors may suffer from high-altitude sickness until they adapt to the thinner air.
How to get there from Minhang
There are direct flights from Hongqiao International Airport to Gongga International Airport in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous Region.
Qixia Hill, Jiangsu Province
This is a popular spot for those who love autumn foliage. Qixia Hill has a delicate landscape reminiscent of southern China. A little creek flows along the hill path, which is strewn with freshly fallen leaves.
Ancient emperors loved to holiday in the area. Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) built a palace here.
The Qixia Temple, which is believed to be among the most auspicious temples in the country, is the usual starting place for visitors. As one goes deeper into the mountainside, the scenery becomes more beautiful.
How to get there from Minhang
Take a train from the Hongqiao Railway Station to Nanjing. Upon arrival, you will find buses going directly to the hill area.
Tianping Hill, Jiangsu Province
This hill near Suzhou is known for its “five-color maples.” When autumn comes, maple trees on the hill change from green to yellow, to orange, to scarlet and then to purple.
There is an observation tower on top of the hill that gives the best sweeping view of Mother Nature’s grandeur. Visitors can actually see the progression of colors up the hill, as trees near the top change before those at the bottom.
“I go to Tianping Hill every year in late November or early December to view the maple leaves,” said Jackie He, a resident in Minhang. “I used to sometimes miss the best time, but now I go to Suzhou local online forums to see people’s photos of autumn foliage. If I see the leaves starting to lose their green, I know it’s time to make plans to travel there.”
How to get there from Minhang
There are numerous trains to Suzhou from the Hongqiao Railway Station. After reaching Suzhou Station, take any of a number of buses to the hill.
Jiuzhaigou, Sichuan Province
In the 1970s, a group of lumberjacks stumbled across this area by accident and were astounded by the “fairyland” they found.
Jiuzhaigou has gained a worldwide reputation for its unique natural landscape, which changes with the season. Sichuan people believe Jiuzhaigou is most stunning in the autumn.
In late November to early December, the emerald and royal blue lakes reflect crimson and gold leaves. The setting is completed by frothy waterfalls and snowy mountains beneath a sapphire sky. The scene looks like something straight out of a painting.
Yading, Sichuan Province
This scenic area is often called “the last pure land on the planet.” It encompasses three holy mountains and a holy lake.
People in Yading worship nature and want everything to remain unspoiled. When autumn arrives, the spruce forests on the mountains “glow like the light of heaven” and the snowy mountaintops glitter in the sunshine.
How to get there from Minhang
There are flights to the Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu from Hongqiao Airport, and then connecting flights to the Jiuzhaigou-Huanglong Airport. From the airport, you can also get buses to Yading.
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