Early November Autumn Travel Guide for Liuba, Shaanxi!

Last week, my bestie and I went wild in Liuba for 2 days and came back to blow up our social media! Early November in Liuba is amazing—the thousand-year-old ginkgo trees are just starting to turn yellow, the dawn redwood forest is carpeted with golden and red fallen leaves, the pasture breeze carries the scent of grass, and you can even enjoy hot pot under the warm autumn sun. This guide is for those planning a trip with friends, packed with firsthand tips from itinerary to food—follow it and you’ll definitely have a great time! 1. Why must you rush to Liuba in early November? 3 irresistible reasons from our friend group 1. Perfect scenery, fewer crowds: The 4,000-year-old ancient ginkgo trees turn fully yellow only by mid-November; going in early November lets you see the “half green, half yellow” gradient, which makes photos more layered; the dawn redwood forest along the most beautiful rural road is already fully red, with fallen leaves covering the road, crunching underfoot, and you avoid the crowds of mid to late November. 2. Perfect activities for friend groups: You can shoot “pretending to be in Switzerland” photos at Shizigou Pasture, sit around enjoying outdoor hot pot and tea while chatting, and stroll through Liuba Old Street’s artsy bookstores and take vintage-style photos—no rush, just relaxed fun. 3. Easy driving with surprises along the way: Whether you choose a one-day or two-day trip, the mountain roads are many but in good condition. You can easily stop to snap autumn mountain views or check out scenic spots like Taiziling viewing platform, making the trip very flexible. 2. Must-choose for friend groups: 2-day itinerary covering all highlights without detours We chose a 2-day trip with a perfect pace each day—not too tiring to take photos and covering the essence of 13 check-in spots: - Day 1: Market stroll + ancient temple visit + stay on Old Street, experience slow living 1. Depart from Xi’an in the morning, take the highway to Jiangxiying exit, first stop straight to Qinling Market. The streets are full of farmers’ own persimmons and wild kiwis. We bought a bag of soft persimmons, super sweet and juicy, and a friend took a string of corn back as decoration. 2. Next, visit the millennium-old ginkgo tree at Yuhuang Temple. The 4,000-year-old tree is really huge—you need four friends holding hands to circle it! The leaves are half yellow now, sunlight filtering through the branches creates amazing silhouettes. We took photos under the tree for over 20 minutes and didn’t get tired. 3. At noon, have outdoor hot pot at Lianghekou Square, about 50 RMB per person, enjoying the autumn sun while eating. We also ordered a cup of gaiwan coffee, a fascinating East-meets-West vibe, chatting with friends while eating, super cozy. 4. In the afternoon, follow the route to Shimen Scenic Area and Chaiguanling. The natural landforms at Shimen are stunning; if any friend can fly a drone, bring it—the footage looks like a fairyland. The city tower at Chaiguanling offers panoramic views; when it’s windy, help each other fix your hair or photos will look messy. 5. At dusk, visit Zhangliang Temple. The temple is especially quiet in autumn, with red walls and fallen leaves, perfect for ancient-style photos. Stay overnight at a guesthouse on Liuba Old Street. Don’t miss the “Liuba Book House” on the street, full of artistic vibes—take some check-in photos with friends and enjoy some hot street snacks at night. - Day 2: See the pasture + climb Zibai Mountain, fully enjoy nature’s wild charm 1. Head to Lover’s Valley in the morning—free and less crowded! The 500+ acre larch forest is all yellow, and the suspension bridge inside is a must-shoot spot. Standing on the bridge with friends, letting the wind blow your hair, the photos look super cinematic. We also picked some beautiful fallen leaves as souvenirs. 2. Next, go to Zibai Mountain. The 1 km walk from the entrance to the cable car is stunning, with golden leaves covering the path like a carpet. The grass on the summit is already yellow, and if lucky, you can see a sea of clouds. We also rode horses together—bumpy but full of laughter. 3. At noon, eat at a farmhouse restaurant in Yingpan. Highly recommend trying the local free-range chicken; the meat is super tender, perfect for sharing among friends. 4. In the afternoon, visit Shizigou Pasture. The “Milk Lake” truly lives up to its name—the water is clear, reflecting the blue sky and surrounding yellow trees. We brought a scarf as a prop, and every photo looked like a wallpaper. The pasture is windy, remind friends to wear an extra jacket to avoid catching a cold. 5. Finally, pass by Taiziling and Huoshaodian. Take a group photo at Taiziling viewing platform, glance at the autumn drying scene at Huoshaodian, then return via Liuba highway exit, ending a perfect 2-day trip. 3. Friend group pitfall reminders: Don’t overlook these details 1. Outfit tips: Wear light-colored clothes (white, beige) to make red and yellow leaves pop in photos; choose comfortable sneakers as you’ll walk a lot in Lover’s Valley and Zibai Mountain; bring a thin jacket each because mountain temperatures vary greatly between morning/evening and noon. 2. Photo tips: Don’t always shoot front-facing photos with friends; try walking side by side or candid shots of playful moments for more natural vibes; at Shizigou Pasture, shoot from a low angle to include both lake and sky, making legs look longer; under the ancient ginkgo tree, shoot from a low angle to emphasize its height. 3. Food tips: Reserve outdoor seats early for hot pot at Lianghekou Square to enjoy the sun while eating; don’t miss the “Zhenghong Wooden Barrel Fish” in the county town—so fresh it’ll blow your mind. Eating around the wooden barrel with friends is super lively. 4. Interaction time: Which spot do you most want to check in with friends? My bestie and I love Shizigou Pasture the most—we took tons of “pretending to be abroad” photos and still can’t stop laughing when we look at them! How about you? Do you want to make wishes under the thousand-year-old ginkgo tree or take photos on the suspension bridge in Lover’s Valley? Chat in the comments—you might get new photo inspiration~ Early November in Liuba is really perfect for friend groups—no rush, no crowds, just beautiful scenery, delicious food, and great photos. Who can say no to such an autumn trip!