Crossing the red of Benxi, encountering the colorful Qipanshan

Setting off early in the morning, my mind was still filled with the overwhelming red of Benxi’s maple forest. But when the first autumn breeze of Qipanshan brushed my face, I realized—this mountain and water near my doorstep, which I had long overlooked, was about to teach me a profound lesson with its silent and abundant beauty. Mountain Road: The Prelude to Autumn Stepping through the mountain gate, the noise instantly fades away. The path gently ascends, winding through dense woods. The autumn colors here are not as fiery and bold as in Benxi; they resemble a reserved painter using richer pigments. Hazelnut trees, smoke trees, maples, oaks... layer upon layer, pale yellow, ochre, dark purple, and golden red intertwine, forming a vast, colorful tapestry. Sunlight filters through the sparse branches, casting mottled shadows. Stepping on the thick fallen leaves, a crisp rustling sound fills the air, full of autumn’s essence. The air is crisp, carrying a faint scent of grass and trees; every breath feels like a cleansing of the soul. Xiuhu Lake: The Mirror of the Mountains Reaching the mountainside, Xiuhu Lake suddenly appears before you. It is extremely still and clear, like a huge, uncut sapphire embedded in the embrace of colorful mountains. The trees on the shore pour their vibrant colors into the lake without reservation, making the water’s bottom seem to hold an equally brilliant yet more tranquil and profound world. Occasionally, a breeze stirs the surface, causing ripples that gently sway the reflections, breaking them into thousands of flowing shards of light, dreamlike and magical. Riding a painted boat slowly across the lake, surrounded by mountain scenery like a screen, it feels less like sightseeing and more like drifting into a serene and far-reaching Song Dynasty landscape scroll. Summit: A Vast Poem Climbing to the peak of Qipanshan reveals another realm. All the winding mountain paths and colorful woods now lie beneath your feet, transforming into a vast ocean of autumn. Gazing into the distance, the sky is high and clouds are light, with the silhouette of Shenyang city faintly visible far away. Nearby, Xiuhu Lake has shrunk into a piece of green jade. Only now do I understand that Qipanshan’s beauty lies not in the uniqueness of each tree or plant, but in its broad, all-encompassing spirit. It neither competes nor rushes, simply existing peacefully here, turning the gifts of the four seasons into this silent grandeur. Four Seasons: A Silent Promise On the way down, I began to imagine how it looks in the other three seasons. In spring, the mountain must be bursting with blooming flowers and vibrant life; in summer, the lush greenery must be even more dense, and the lake even deeper and greener; and when winter arrives, covered in silver and white, it must become a quiet, crystal-clear world. It turns out Qipanshan is never “only” autumn. Each of its four seasons has its own charm, but it never boasts, always quietly waiting for those destined to discover it. After returning, I often think of Qipanshan’s tranquility. We always yearn for distant fame but often overlook the scenery right at our fingertips. Qipanshan is like a steady neighbor, needing no loud proclamation, simply existing peacefully, guarding the city’s seasonal cycles with its enduring beauty. If you come, it will be there. Whenever, it is ready with a full landscape, quietly awaiting your gaze. This understated, composed beauty may well be its most moving poem.