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China Autumn Foliage Map: When and Where to See Fall Colors

China Autumn Foliage Map: When and Where to See Fall Colors

From northeastern maple valleys to southern mountain temples, here are the six best places in China to catch autumn foliage — and when to be there.

• By Pima

China Autumn Foliage Map: When and Where to See Fall Colors

Every year, the China Weather Network publishes a national autumn foliage map. The red leaves sweep south from the northern mountains in late September, reaching the Yangtze Delta by November, and arriving at the far south in December.

Here are the six best places to catch the show, from north to south.

China Autumn Foliage Map

The Six Best Autumn Foliage Destinations

  • Jilin Jiaoye Valley (吉林蛟河), Late Sep–early Nov — 100 km of red maple valleys. The first to turn, and with the longest viewing window.
  • Beijing Xiangshan (北京香山), Late Oct–early Nov — One of China's Four Great Maple Mountains. Thousands of acres of smoke trees turn crimson.
  • Nanjing Qixia Mountain (南京栖霞山), November — Ancient red maples against temple walls. Another of the Four Greats.
  • Suzhou Tianping Mountain (苏州天平山), November — 400-year-old maple trees. The oldest autumn tradition in the Jiangnan region.
  • Huangshan Tachuan (黄山塔川), Early–mid Nov — Red leaves draped over white-walled Huizhou villages beneath the Yellow Mountains.
  • Changsha Yuelu Mountain (长沙岳麓山), Late Nov–mid Dec — The southernmost. Its maples peak when the northern forests are already bare.

How to Read the Map

The six cities above are marked on the map with their peak foliage windows. Jilin — the northernmost — has the longest season and is highlighted with a gold badge. The color of each sticker hints at the season: warm reds and oranges in the north, cooler greens in the south, where autumn arrives later.

Practical Notes

  • Avoid Golden Week (October 1–7). Every destination on this list gets crowded.
  • Go early in the day. Tourist buses arrive by 9:30. At 8 AM, you walk alone.
  • Book transport in advance for mountain sites. Some of these — like Tachuan — are not on major rail lines.
  • Peak weeks are short. Ginkgo and maple windows can be as brief as 7–10 days. Check local forecasts and go the moment conditions look right.

For the sensory experience — what autumn smells like, tastes like, and feels like on the ground in one of these cities — read the companion piece: Why Autumn Is the Best Time to Visit Hangzhou.

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Sources: China Weather Network (中国天气网) — 2025 National Autumn Foliage Map; individual site data verified via Chinese tourism boards and park authorities.

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