Eight Places to See Some of Beijing’s Autumn Colors
Autumn is finally in full swing. Be sure to catch Beijing in a sea of yellow, orange, and red leaves before winter turns the city a dreary gray. The changing leaves are a beautiful sight to behold, especially in areas covered with maples, gingko trees, and oaks. Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan) is one of the most popular places in Beijing to appreciate the changing of the seasons, but it also happens to be one of the most crowded. Several other sites in Beijing offer a better alternative to the popular destination for a day of hiking or walking, photography, and playing in the leaves.
Baiwangshan 百望山
Boasting a variety of maple trees from the US and Holland, Baiwangshan has two main sightseeing points: the Friendship Pavilion and Langfeng Pavilion. The Friendship Pavilion is accessible through a flat walking path surrounded by trees while Lanfeng Pavilion offers a panoramic view from the top of the mountain.
Best time to go: Mid-October to mid-November
RMB 6. Daily 8am-5pm. 19 Heihu Beikou, Haidian District (6288 4508, 6287 7730) 海淀区黑山扈北口19号（近颐和园）
Mutianyu Great Wall 慕田峪长城
Nestled 75km northeast of the CBD, Mutianyu Great Wall section offers a less crowded and peaceful restored section of the wall than Badaling. There are more than 280,000 species of trees, which fill the landscape with red, gold, and green leaves.
Best time to go: Mid-October to late November
RMB 45 (adult), RMB 25 (child 12 and under). Daily 7.30am-5.30pm (Nov-Mar), 7am-6pm (Apr-Oct). Mutianyu Village, Bohai Town, Huairou District (6162 6505, 6162 6022) 怀柔区渤海镇慕田峪村
Beigong National Forest Park 北宫国家森林公园
Located in Fengtai District, this park sprawls over 1,800 hectares. with a lake, a fruit orchard, a 240m-high viewing platform, and several scenic spots. There’s also a bird-watching section called the”100 Species of Birds Forest,” so take those those binoculars with you.
Best time to go: Early October to mid-November
RMB 10. Daily 6.30am-8pm (Apr 1-Nov 30), 7am-5pm (Dec 1-Mar 31). 55 Dahuiguang Donglu, Changxindian Town, Fengtai District (8384 0830) 丰台区长辛店镇大灰厂东路55号
Mangshan National Forest Park 蟒山国家森林公园
Located near the Ming Tombs Reservoir in Changping District, Mangshan is the largest forest in the capital at 82sqkm. The park has over 170 species of trees and flowers, and is a popular hiking spot for tourists climbing the 3,666 steps to the highest peak. The park also contains the largest stone-carved Buddha in North China.
Best time to go: Mid-October to late November
RMB 20 (adults), RMB 10 (students and seniors). Daily 8am-5pm. 2 Mangshan Lu, Changping District (6071 1866) www.msforestpark.com/lianxi.asp 昌平区蟒山路2号
Hongluo Temple 红螺寺
Hongluo (Red Snail) Temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in northern China and was built during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). Visitors can stroll the tree-lined path leading to Hongluo or take the cable car up to Guanyin Temple, which offers panoramic views from the peak of Hongluo Mountain.
Best time to visit: Late October to late November
RMB 54. Cable car – RMB 60 (round-trip), RMB 40 (one-way). Daily 8am-5.30pm (summer), 8am-4.30pm (winter). 2 Hongluo Donglu, Hongluoshan, Yanxi Town, Huairou District (6068 1175) www.hongluosi.com 怀柔区雁栖镇红螺山下红螺东路2号
Peking and Tsinghua University Campuses
You don’t have to leave the city to enjoy autumn leaves; two of the most prestigious universities in China happen to have campuses filled with red, gold, and orange trees. The grounds offer a quiet sanctuary; combine the visit with a jaunt to Wudaokou or the Summer Palace.
Best time to go: Mid-October to late November
Peking University (Beida) 北京大学
Free. 8am-9pm. 5 Yiheyuan Lu, Haidian District (6275 1230/1) www.pku.edu.cn 海淀区颐和园路5号
Tsinghua University 清华大学
Free. 8am-9am. Chengfu Lu, Haidian District (6278 9437, 8286 3785) www.tsinghua.edu.cn 海淀区成府路
Badaling Forest Park 八达岭森林公园
Located near the Great Wall section of the same name, Badaling National Forest Park covers 56 hectares and contains more than 50,000 maple trees. Every autumn, the Red Festival makes the park a popular place for viewing fall foliage.
Best time to go: Late September to late October
RMB 45. Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat-Sun 8.30am-5.30pm (summer), daily 9am-4pm (winter). South across the highway from Badaling Great Wall Center, Yanqing County (6912 1842/2591) 延庆县八达岭长城南
Miaofengshan 妙峰山
Located in Mentougou around 70km from Beijing, Miaofengshan is famed for its ancient temples, striking rock structures, and summer roses. The area has a religious heritage and was once considered the home of goddesses. Look out for the deep valleys, breathtaking views of the hills, and dramatic outcroppings of rocks.
Best time to go: Early October to early November
RMB 30. Daily 7am-6pm (summer), 8am-5pm (winter). Miaofengshan Township, Mentougou District (6188 2936) 门头沟区妙峰山镇
This article first appeared on beijingkids.
Photo: mrhayata (Flickr), ntalka (Flickr)
