Home / Beijing autumn red leaves
Last weekend's chilly temperatures and crisp winds signalled the end of Beijing's pleasant autumn and the arrival of another cold winter season.
But the increasingly frigid air does more than require Beijing's residents to don warm winter jackets and mittens it also helps turn the city into a colourful world of golden and red leaves. According to experienced locals, when the temperature first drops 10 degrees from day to night, leaves can turn gold and red in a single night.
Now till the end of November is the right time for people to take a good look at Beijing's changing foliage before more winds sweep them away.
Before you set out to the outskirts to catch some scenery, make sure to bundle up. Temperatures at some of these places are 3-5 degrees lower than inside the urban area.
BJW recommends the following places to glimpse grand views of colourful foliage:
Fragrant Hills
Although many are disappointed at the scenery of the spot, Fragrant Hills has long been famous for viewing red leaves, mostly belonging to the smoke tree (huang lu). The hills are often extremely crowded, and during the recent weekends, those visiting the tourist attraction experienced terrible traffic jams.
BJW suggests going on a weekday.
How to get there: Drive to the West Fourth Ring Road and get off at the exit to Xiangshan () near Sihaiqiao (). Or take bus 331 from near Jishuitan subway station and get off at the terminal, or take bus 904 at Xizhimen and get off at Xiangshan station. 6259-1155
Badachu Park, Jiufeng Peak, Baiwangshan, and Yangtaishan
Fragrant Hills are a part of Beijing's western mountain ranges. These other parts of the mountains are all full of smoke trees and are great places to see big patches of red foliage.
Named after eight sightseeing spots and just southwest of the Fragrant Hills, Badachu Park has the same scenery as the Fragrant Hills but is not as crowded. Baiwangshan, on the other hand, is to the north of the Summer Palace, and has a whole slope of red leaves. There are also pine trees, cypress, poplar and Japanese pagoda trees. It is said that those leaves will not fall even after Lidong, a Chinese traditional calendar term to mark the beginning of winter, which falls on November 7 this year.
Yangtaishan is famous for Jinshan Temple, an ancient temple dating back thousands of years. Jiufeng National Forest Park is the nearest forest park to Beijing. It not only has smoke trees, but also ginkgo trees on the mountains.
How to get there:
Badachu: Get off at Pingguoyuan subway station () and take bus 972, 965, or 311. Or get off at Yuquanlu subway station () and take 389. You can also take bus 972 from the zoo.
Baiwangshan: 19 Heishanhu Beikou, Haidian District19. Take bus 330 and get off at Heishanhu Lu Beikou, or take bus T6 and get off at Baiwangshan station. Or drive from Summer Palace, through Yiyang Road () heading north to get to Heishanhu Beikou. 6288-4508.
Jiufeng: 30 kilometres northwest of Beijing, at the western end of Beiqing Lu (). Take bus 346 at Summer Palace and get off at Bei' anhe Beikou station, walk 800 metres west to arrive. Jiufeng Forest Park, Bei'anhe Xiang, Haidian District. 6245-5816.
Yangtaishan: Take bus 346 and get off at Bei' anhe Beikou. Or drive from Summer Palace through Yiyang Lu to arrive at the hot spring and go on for 2 kilometres. West Moutain, Bei'anhe Xiang, Haidian District . 6246-4550
Badaling Red Leaves Valley
Most people know about Badaling Great Wall but few are familiar with the forest park nearby. This spot, newly opened in last September, is actually a part of Badling Forest Park. There are smoke, maple and persimmon trees.
How to get there: Drive on Badaling expressway () and get out at Badaling Shuiguan exit (). Or take bus 919 at Deshengmen . 8118-1468
Mutianyu, Huangyaguan, and Yanqing Great Walls
Mutianyu Great Wall has more than 3,000 metres of foliage scenery, where golden and red colours mix. Huangyaguan Great Wall has maple and hawthorn trees to see. Yanqing has a wide spectrum of changing leaves.
How to get there:
Mutianyu: Take tourist bus 6 at Xuanwumen or Dongsishitiao to arrive directly. Or drive via Jingshun Lu and follow road signs.
Huangyaguan: Take bus 918 to get there directly in three hours. Located in Jixian, Tianjin . Or drive on Jingshun Lu, get to Shunyi traffic isle, pass Jinhaihu Lake and follow road signs.
Yanqing: Drive on Badaling expressway and get off on Yanqing exit.
Miaofengshan, Mentougou
This mountain is 45 kilometres away from Beijing, with the highest peak rising 1,291 metres above sea level. It is a natural botanical garden, with more than 600 types of plants. Red patches are mingled with other colours on this mountain.
How to get there:
Mentougou Beilu. Take buses 336, 326 at Pingguoyuan subway station to get to Hetan (), change to buses from Mentougou to Miaofengshan. Or drive from Hangtianqiao on West Third Ring Road, go through Fushi Lu () to arrive at Mentougou, go on through 109 national road for 10 kilometres to get to Danlicun Village(), where there is a road sign pointing to the mountains.
Labagoumen, Huairou
The area has 6,000 hectares of maple, white birch, oak and pine trees. It is a quiet place, but also cold because of its high altitude.
How to get there: Get to Huairou from Jingcheng expressway, get off at Huairou exit, drive past Huairou District and follow the road signs. Or take bus 916 at Dongzhimen, get to Huairou downtown, change to a small bus and go to Labagoumen. Located 174 kilometres from Beijing, it takes three hours to arrive. 6962-1410
