Arxan, rated by National Geographic as China’s most beautiful 5A autumn scenery, is stunningly beautiful

✨Arxan’s golden autumn fairy tale! A whole autumn painted like a masterpiece🍂 When the Siberian cold wind sweeps across the Greater Khingan Mountains, Arxan spills God’s palette—the mountains are covered with golden birch forests, dark green larches, ochre moss on volcanic rocks, and the air is filled with the fresh sweetness of pine needles and wild fruits. Walking here feels like stepping into a moving oil painting, every step treads on the poetry of autumn～ 【Tuofengling Heavenly Lake】The blue eye on the volcanic crater, a secret realm hidden in the folds of the mountains! After a volcanic eruption 300,000 years ago, a pool of clear water formed in the earth’s depression, shaped like a reclining camel’s hump. The lake surface is at an altitude of 1,284 meters, so clear it reflects the flowing clouds in the sky and the colorful forests on both shores. In autumn, the lake is a deep sapphire blue, surrounded by layers of golden larch and birch trees in gold, orange, and dark green, creating a painting-like scene that needs no filter—every shot is wallpaper-worthy! The breathtaking unity of water and sky can only be truly felt standing on the viewing platform—the rustling of the wind through the forest and the distant bird calls compose the most healing natural symphony. Route 1️⃣ Tuofengling Heavenly Lake ➡️ Grand Canyon 🚌 Sightseeing buses go directly to the first stop of the scenic area. After getting off, follow the signs to the mountaintop. The 698 wooden steps wind through the colorful forest, with increasingly expansive views at every step. The stairs are not steep, but it’s recommended to wear non-slip sports shoes. There are three rest platforms along the way where you can sit down to catch your breath and capture the dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves～ 🌊 After reaching the top, don’t rush to take photos. Close your eyes and breathe in the fresh scent of grass and trees in the wind, then slowly walk around the viewing platform—if you circle the lake clockwise, you’ll see the lake’s color shift from light blue to deep blue. The changing light makes the lake surface look like a color-changing gem. In mid-October, when the forest is ablaze with color, the red, yellow, and green reflections in the water are so beautiful they leave you speechless! 🐿️ There’s a surprise on the way down! The pine forest beside the boardwalk is full of super friendly squirrels with round bodies holding pine cones, not afraid of people at all. Remember to bring some plain nuts in advance (don’t feed salty snacks). You can extend your hand and enjoy the classic “squirrel feeding” scene, perfect for photos～ 🌿 The Grand Canyon is right next to Tuofengling Heavenly Lake. It’s a natural canyon carved by the Haraha River through volcanic rock, with towering cliffs on both sides and a babbling river at the bottom, covered with golden fallen leaves. Walking down the wooden boardwalk, you can closely touch the basalt formed over millions of years. Looking up, the colorful forest covers the sky, and sunlight filtering through the leaves sparkles on the water like scattered gold. Route 2️⃣ Arxan Heavenly Lake ➡️ Santan Gorge 💎 Arxan Heavenly Lake is another volcanic secret, smaller and more exquisite than Tuofengling Heavenly Lake, like a sapphire set in a volcanic crater. Its magic lies in that it “never dries up in drought, never overflows in rain.” The water is crystal clear, revealing volcanic rocks and aquatic plants beneath. 🚁 To capture the full view of the lake, you must use a drone (you need to register at the scenic area visitor center before flying, pay a 100 yuan registration fee, and flying over crowds is prohibited)! From the air, the lake looks elliptical, surrounded by colorful forests, like the pupil of the earth. This breathtaking scene is worth a special visit～ 🚶 If you don’t want to climb, strolling along the wooden boardwalk around the lake is very pleasant. Wild blueberries and mountain hawthorn grow beside the path, and occasionally you’ll see herders driving sheep in the distance. Every shot looks like a scene from a Japanese film. 💦 From Arxan Heavenly Lake, a 15-minute drive reaches Santan Gorge, truly “a miniature of the Haraha River”! Here, the river forms three deep pools: Woniu Pool, Hushi Pool, and Yuexin Pool. The roar of water hitting rocks echoes through the gorge, with birch forests and volcanic rocks on both sides. Sunlight filtering through the leaves sparkles on the water like flowing gold. 🍂 It’s recommended to hike along the wooden boardwalk by the riverbank, with soft fallen leaves underfoot and babbling water beside you. You might see squirrels darting through the forest and, if lucky, deer foraging. In autumn, Santan Gorge is ablaze with red, yellow, and green, reflected in the water like a fairy tale world. 📷 A must-know for photographers! 3 hidden spots to capture legendary shots 1. West viewing platform of Tuofengling Heavenly Lake: The best spot to shoot the entire lake panorama, capturing “lake + colorful forest + distant mountains” in one frame. The light is softest one hour after sunrise, with no glare on the lake surface. The blue-green intertwined scene is stunning; 2. Shitanglin sunset point: Asia’s largest basalt landform, black rocks covered with golden moss. At sunset, the sun casts a magical glow on the rocks, resembling the surface of Mars. The silhouette of pine trees in the distance adds to the atmosphere; 3. Santan Gorge boardwalk corner: Find the wooden railing covered with fallen leaves. With the rushing river and colorful forest as the background, use a slow shutter speed to capture the silky water flow. Have a person stand by the railing, turning back slightly for an instant artistic shot. 🏡 Accommodation guide: Two options to pick as needed • Inside the scenic area: The Heavenly Lake service area is the core lodging zone, with views of distant mountains and forests right from the window. No need to rush for early buses in the morning, and you can walk to transfer to sightseeing buses. Ideal for those who want to explore the area deeply. Recommended is the hot spring hotel—soaking in volcanic hot springs at night while watching the starry sky and colorful forest outside the window instantly melts away fatigue (prices 500-1200 RMB/night, book at least one month in advance during peak season); • City area: A cost-effective choice! Arxan city is about an hour’s drive from the scenic area. Hot spring hotels with private hot spring pools are available for 200-500 RMB/night. You can also stroll through the city’s unique shops and enjoy authentic local cuisine (recommended dishes: iron pot stew, hand-held mutton). Suitable for those on a budget or who enjoy lively surroundings. ⚠️ Essential tips for golden autumn travel • Transportation: The scenic spots are very far apart (up to 20 km). Be sure to buy the sightseeing bus ticket included in the combo ticket (285 RMB combo ticket includes admission + sightseeing bus, valid for 2 days). Missing a bus means waiting 40 minutes; • Clothing: In October, Arxan’s temperature difference between morning and evening can reach 15°C. Wear a sweater and light jacket during the day, but a down jacket or thick windbreaker is a must in the morning and evening. Bring a scarf, gloves, and hat. Choose non-slip sports shoes; • Signal: Most mountain areas have no cell signal. Download offline maps in advance and write important contacts on paper. Only the visitor center and some hotels have Wi-Fi; • Food: Recommended dishes include hand-held mutton (freshly slaughtered and cooked, dipped in chive flower sauce for extra aroma), iron pot stewed goose (served with a ring of corn cakes soaked in broth—delicious), and stir-fried wild mushrooms (local wild mushrooms, incredibly fresh). Warm up with a hot milk tea; • Others: Open flames and littering are prohibited in the scenic area. If you bring snacks, take the packaging with you. Autumn is dry—drink plenty of water and apply moisturizer and sunscreen. 🍂 In October, Arxan is a fairy tale world favored by God—colorful forests, heavenly lakes, volcanic rocks, hot springs, each spot breathtakingly beautiful. This autumn, don’t wait any longer. Pack your bags and set off to Arxan for a golden autumn rendezvous, capturing all the romance of autumn in your photo album～