Four iconic mountains for leaf peeping in China

As the vibrant hues of autumn blanket the landscape, the best time to admire China's stunning maple leaves begins. Among the country's top leaf-peeping destinations are four renowned spots: Xiangshan Park in Beijing, Qixia Mountain in Nanjing, Tianping Mountain in Suzhou, and Yuelu Mountain in Changsha.

Located in the western suburbs of Beijing, Xiangshan Park is a former imperial garden known for its forested hills. The mountainside, adorned with over 100,000 smoke trees, offers a breathtaking view as the red leaves create a dreamlike scene. The peak viewing time for Xiangshan's vibrant foliage is late October.

In east China's Jiangsu Province, Nanjing's Qixia Mountain is synonymous with red maple leaves. The mountain's maple groves date back over 1,700 years. With more than 10 varieties of red leaves and hundreds of centuries-old maple trees, Qixia Mountain's autumn splendor has long been celebrated in poems by literati throughout history.

Also located in Jiangsu is Suzhou's Tianping Mountain, famous for its unique combination of strange rock formations, clear springs, and red maple trees, known as the "Three Wonders of Tianping Mountain." The oldest maple grove on Tianping Mountain dates back to the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) and was planted by the 17th-generation descendant of the famous Song Dynasty(960-1276) statesman Fan Zhongyan. The triangular-shaped leaves present a remarkable sight, with different colors appearing on the same tree. 

Further south, Yuelu Mountain in Changsha, Hunan Province is both an iconic scenic spot and an outdoor "botanical museum" with nearly 1,000 species of plants. It is a top destination for maple viewing, as the fiery red leaves in late autumn transform the forest landscape into a breathtaking spectacle ablaze with brilliant colors.

While Xiangshan Park's peak season is in late October, the three southern locations – Qixia, Tianping, and Yuelu mountains – reach their prime for maple leaf viewing in mid-to-late November. Of course, beyond these four famous mountains, many hidden gems across China also offer stunning autumn views, inviting visitors to embrace the poetic and romantic beauty of the season.