From the birch forests of Northern Xinjiang to the autumn drying scenes of Jiangnan, these 8 hidden spots hold the most beautiful scenery of the year

When the first ginkgo leaf falls on the red walls of the Forbidden City, and morning mist rises over the wooden houses in Northern Xinjiang, China’s autumn unfolds simultaneously from north to south. Combining the top recommended destinations and hidden experiences from Trip.com's popular travel notes, this guide covering scenery, culture, and cuisine helps you avoid crowds and capture the exclusive autumn beauty in your photo album. Northern Autumn Charm: A vivid landscape painting Xinjiang · Hemu Village (late September to early October) As Trip.com's top Northern Xinjiang destination, Hemu Village has half the visitors of Kanas but holds a purer fairy-tale atmosphere. The stream at the village entrance at 7 a.m. is a golden photo spot, with mist winding around golden birch trees and pointed wooden houses, smoke and sunlight weaving a fairyland. Using your phone’s original camera mode can capture cinematic shots. Hiking to the mountaintop viewing platform offers a panoramic view of the birch forest blanketing the valley. In the evening, while enjoying hand-pulled meat on the wooden house terrace, don’t forget to capture the stunning silhouette of people, sunset, and wooden houses. Book a wooden house with a terrace at least one month in advance to shoot the Milky Way at midnight; wear a light apricot-colored new Chinese-style coat with a dark embroidered belt to stay elegant while resisting the day-night temperature difference. Travel advice: fly to Altay Airport, then a 3-hour car ride; Trip.com currently offers a flight plus homestay package saving 200 RMB. Liaoning · Benxi Laobian Valley (mid to late October) Known by Trip.com travelers as the “Northeast Red Leaf Ceiling,” Laobian Valley is dyed fiery red by sweetgum and five-point maple trees, with streams flowing around red stone beaches, and red maples reflecting on the water like cinnabar in ink paintings. The best light is under the “Maple King” tree at 3 p.m.; use portrait mode on your phone to blur the background, and close-ups of red leaves have an oil painting texture. Recommended to stay at a farmhouse at the foot of the mountain, where for about 80 RMB per person you can try iron pot stewed goose and enjoy red leaves under the starry sky at night. Tips: late October has the peak red leaves but also frequent rain, so wear anti-slip hiking shoes; Trip.com app offers direct shuttle bus bookings to the scenic area, saving 20 RMB on parking fees compared to driving. Beijing · Gubei Water Town (October 20 to November 5) Field research in 2025 shows that the autumn colors of Gubei Water Town have reached their peak. The red leaf sea at Simatai Great Wall combined with the town’s night lights offers double surprises. Yinghua Academy’s ginkgo path and the reflection at Yangui Wharf are popular photo spots. Stay at “Duanjia Courtyard” hot spring homestay; Trip.com’s limited-time package is 799 RMB/night including breakfast for two and hot spring tickets, offering great value. Transportation: take the Dongzhimen tourist express bus for 1.5 hours direct; the newly added “Red Leaf Season Night Bus” runs until 9 p.m., so night visitors don’t need to rush. Wear a light-colored sweater with a red scarf to enhance the atmosphere in the ginkgo forest photos. Southern Autumn Scenery: Graceful and elegant ink poetry Jiangxi · Huangling, Wuyuan (mid October to early November) Huangling’s autumn drying scenes are a “regular guest” in Trip.com’s southern autumn notes. In the drying racks under Hui-style roofs, red chili peppers, yellow corn, and orange pumpkins layer upon layer, with clouds drifting by like a folk painting. The best light is at 10 a.m. in the drying square; hold up a red chili pepper and shoot from below, capturing gray tiles and blue sky for instant blockbuster shots. Staying at a mountain homestay waives the need for a second ticket; open the window to see the full drying rack panorama. Must-try local snacks at the village entrance include mashed tofu (15 RMB) and glutinous rice cakes (10 RMB), more authentic than the scenic area restaurants. Travel advice: take the high-speed train to Wuyuan Station, then book a Trip.com contracted car (300 RMB/day); solo female travelers will find this safer. Sichuan · Western Sichuan Secret Spots (late October to early November) Western Sichuan’s autumn secret spots are highly recommended in Trip.com’s solo female travel notes. Bifeng Gorge in Ya’an explodes with red leaves in late October; “Bifeng Gorge Scenic Homestay” costs about 200 RMB per person including breakfast, and new users booking get a free panda base shuttle ticket. Instead of crowded Emei Mountain, take a boat to see the Leshan Giant Buddha with only a 15-minute queue, then a 20-minute taxi to Suji Ancient Town, where mini bowls of Qiaojiao beef offer eight kinds of snacks. Xichang has become a new hotspot with the newly opened intercity train, 1.5 hours direct to Qionghai, where jacaranda blooms again; you can rent bikes around the lake with a QR code deposit-free system. Dujiangyan is 18 minutes by high-speed train; Zhipingpu Reservoir shines emerald green, and Zhongshuge bookstore’s mirrored space afternoon tea costs about 49 RMB per person. Posting notes with the hashtag also gets a custom bookmark. Zhejiang · Jiuxi Smoke Trees, Hangzhou (late October to mid November) Jiuxi’s autumn is the Jiangnan described by Bai Juyi, with maple leaves turning red, clear streams, and green tea gardens, while fallen leaves drift on the stone slab bridges. On cloudy days or evenings, hold a light brown oil-paper umbrella and shoot the silhouette walking over the stone bridge, capturing the skirt’s flutter in slow motion for a strong ancient style. It’s recommended to visit on weekdays to avoid crowds; wear comfortable hiking shoes and walk along the stream. When tasting tea in Longjing Village, capture panoramic shots of “tea garden + red leaves + farmhouse.” In the evening, take a group photo by the “Jiuxi Smoke Trees” stone tablet, a hot spot on social media. Transportation: take Metro Line 6 to Qianjiang New City Station, then transfer to Bus 4 direct, no transfers needed. Practical Tips for Autumn Travel Preparation For transportation, northern routes are best after the National Day holiday to avoid peak crowds, with ample high-speed train tickets; southern routes should avoid the late October rainy season. Book accommodations two weeks in advance; Trip.com’s “Autumn Listings” tag filters rooms with scenic terraces or hot springs. Solo female travelers are advised to purchase “Safe Travel” insurance, which includes a 24-hour female hotline for peace of mind. Photo Tips Follow the “simple and muted in the north, bright and lively in the south” dressing principle: choose low-saturation colors (white, gray, light apricot) in the north to avoid clashing, and add orange or pink in the south to brighten your look; cotton-linen and stand-collar styles enhance the Chinese aesthetic. For photography, capture northern scenes before 9 a.m. and after 4 p.m.; in the south, use diffused light on cloudy days, and props like oil-paper umbrellas and red leaves make photos stand out. Avoiding Pitfalls Don’t buy individual attraction tickets separately; Trip.com’s 2025 new feature allows real-time price comparison, with popular city combo tickets saving 30%. Some attractions require advance electronic ticket reservations; popular spots like Gubei Water Town and Huangling are best booked three days ahead. For food, avoid only popular trendy restaurants; old brands like Liaoji Sand Pot Fish in Ya’an and Qiaojiao Beef in Leshan offer more authentic flavors. Autumn scenery is fleeting—mist in Hemu, red leaves in Laobian Valley, drying racks in Huangling, streams in Jiuxi—miss them and you’ll have to wait until next year. Take advantage of the beautiful autumn light, bring this guide, and capture the autumn colors of mountains and rivers in your memory.