The stunning autumn scenery in Apple Valley, Qixia's autumn colors ignite the mountains and fields, with tens of thousands of red leaves reflecting Xian Du!

🍁 Yantai, Shandong · Qixia City Autumn Viewing Guide When the autumn breeze sweeps across the Jiaodong Hills, Qixia—a small city named for the "evening glow resting on the mountain peaks"—quietly dons its most splendid attire. Here, you’ll find not only the most spectacular northern red leaf forests spanning thousands of acres but also the golden ginkgo trees of ancient temples, apple-scented harvest valleys, and Taoist immortal mountains shrouded in mist. With fewer crowds and beautiful scenery at every step, it is a hidden paradise you must not miss in autumn. 📅 1. Best Time to View Autumn Leaves Late October to mid-November The peak red leaf season is from late October to early November, while the golden ginkgo leaves last until mid to late November. The climate is cool and pleasant, perfect for a leisurely and immersive visit. 🍂 2. Six Must-Visit Autumn Viewing Spots Yashan National Forest Park | The King of Northern Red Leaves The largest and most diverse natural red leaf area on the Jiaodong Peninsula! Maples, smoke trees, and lacquer trees cover the mountains, turning the forests into a sea of color in late autumn, resembling a blazing wildfire from afar. The main peak, "Sanyaoshan," stands at 805 meters, offering a panoramic view of the rolling red mountains. 🌄 Highlights: Morning mist and sea of clouds, rich wildlife, a paradise for hiking enthusiasts 🚘 Recommended to drive: Navigate to "Yashan Forest Park West Entrance," the mountain road is gentle and easy to drive Mou’s Manor | Quiet and Beautiful Autumn in an Ancient Courtyard One of the largest and best-preserved feudal landlord manors in China. Between the blue bricks and gray tiles, century-old ginkgo and persimmon trees dot the grounds. In autumn, golden leaves carpet the ground and red fruits hang from branches, as if stepping into a poetic life from a hundred years ago. 📸 Must-shoot: Fallen leaves in the courtyard, window light and shadow, persimmons framed with flying eaves 🎫 Ticket: 60 RMB, half price for students Aishan National Nature Reserve | A Secret Colorful Forest on Volcanic Ruins Famous for its volcanic geology, but stunningly beautiful in autumn. The mountain vegetation is diverse, with torch trees burning red, birch forests shimmering gold, and streams flowing through the woods reflecting the colorful autumn. Occasionally, wild birds fly by, adding to the rich ecology. 🐦 Highlights: Shuangyang Lake birdwatching platform, volcanic crater ruins, wooden boardwalks in the forest 💡 Tips: Quiet and less crowded in the early morning, perfect for meditation and photography Guoluokuang Village | The “Little Jiangnan of the North” Hidden in the Mountains An ecological demonstration village surrounded by mountains, with babbling streams and stone bridges. In autumn, every household dries corn and chili peppers at their doorsteps, red vines climb the courtyard walls, and smoke curls from old houses, resembling a paradise away from the world. 🏡 Activities: Farmhouse stay experience, apple picking, visiting traditional craftsmen 📍 Location: Within Tingkou Town, about 25 km from the city center Taixu Palace | The Zen Autumn Charm of the Taoist Ancestral Temple The cultivation site of Wang Chongyang, founder of the Quanzhen School. The temple is built on a mountain with ancient cypress trees towering. On autumn afternoons, sunlight shines between golden eaves and yellow leaves, the bell tolls melodiously, and fallen leaves fall silently, as if in a fairyland. 🕊️ Recommended time: 3–4 PM, the light and shadow are most beautiful; you can also join morning Tai Chi practice 🚌 Transportation: Take Qixia bus to "Taixu Palace Station" and get off directly Shewobo Apple Valley | A Fairy Tale Orchard After Harvest Season The core production area of the "Apple Capital of China." After the October harvest, the orchard is still full of autumn atmosphere. The remaining Red Fuji apples on the branches sparkle in the slanting sun, straw men and fruit baskets pile up on the ridges, and children run and play, creating a pastoral poetry scene. 🍏 Experience: Adopt a fruit tree, make apple jam, drink hot apple tea 📍 Recommended areas: Tangjiabo Town, Sujiadian Town vicinity 🍱 3. Qixia Autumn Limited Delicacies Apple Stewed Ribs: Local Fuji apples cooked into dishes, sweet and sour to cut the grease, warm and comforting home-style food Millet Porridge with Sweet Potato and Jujube: A farmhouse breakfast staple, warming and nourishing Mountain Scorpion Fried Egg: A specialty mountain delicacy, crispy and tasty (not for the faint-hearted) Hot Pear Soup: Slow-cooked with autumn-harvested snow pears, moistens lungs and relieves cough, commonly found on the streets 📸 4. Photo Tips Yashan: Aerial panoramic shots are the most stunning, or use a telephoto lens to capture red leaf details Mou’s Manor: Shoot fallen leaves and bluestone slabs from a low angle to highlight texture Taixu Palace: Wear plain-colored Hanfu and capture the moment light filters through ginkgo leaves Apple Valley: Shoot red fruits hanging on branches against backlight, with a blurred autumn forest background for better shots 🚗 5. Recommended Itinerary (2 days 1 night) Day 1: Yashan red leaf viewing → Lunch (farmhouse at the mountain foot) → Visit Mou’s Manor → Overnight at a boutique guesthouse in Qixia city Day 2: Morning Tai Chi and blessing at Taixu Palace → Experience Shewobo Apple Valley → Return in the afternoon This autumn, don’t just focus on Xiangshan in Beijing or Qixia in Nanjing. Come to the real "Qixia"—Qixia, Shandong, See tens of thousands of red leaves set the mountains ablaze, hear the millennium-old bell echo through the autumn forest, And in a small city soaked in the scent of apples, collect the purest Chinese autumn.