Amazing! Drive in the golden Qinling to a beautiful town
People always say that the Qinling Mountains are one of the most beautiful places in Shaanxi. If one can drive to the Qinling Mountains in late autumn, one will be impressed by the beautiful scenery there!
Driving in the endless mountains, and listening to folk songs is like stepping into the world of fairy tales, where the gorgeous red leaves make people feel relaxed and happy.
A barely-known town is hidden in the deep Qinling Mountains. Thanks to the high forest coverage, the red leaves are like clouds flying under the sky. Walking under the red leaves is just like entering the red sea in a dream. Its geographical position endows here a pleasant climate with cool summers and warm winters. Also, the first high fountain is located here.
Photographed by Zou Yuqi
The autumn scenery here resembles a master’s ink wash painting of white walls and blue-black tiles.
In late autumn here, every step echoes the view.
Fengxian County, a barely known town perfect for deep-breathing
Located at the intersection of the Shaanxi, Gansu and Sichuan provinces, the forest coverage rate in Fengxian County is 79.78%. Mountains, canyons, cliffs, caves, springs, and streams are the main sceneries here. With an ancient plank road that stretches through the whole county, the Fengxian County is known as “the throat of Qin and Shu (today’s Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces) and the lock and key of the northern Hanjiang River” since the ancient times.
Photographed by Zhang Xinhua
In the autumn, leaves turn yellow and slightly red, like an overturned palette. Everything looks like an exquisite picture.
Photographed by Zhang Xinhua
The cool weather produces fog that surrounds the Fengxian County after raining. Climbing to the top of the mountains, a panoramic view can be seen.
The most beautiful road, Provincial Highway 212
If the Qinling Mountains is the nature’s gift, the road across the Qinling Mountains, connecting Baoji City and Fengxian County is more like a delicate silk belt wrapping the gift.
The route offers great views all year round. Driving on the road hidden in the colorful forest, people seems can catch a handful of color easily
Jiudianliang in Fengxian County, photographed by Song Suolin
Vibrant secondary forest is growing on the mountains. The leaves of dozens of plants there turn red every autumn. Every year after the light frost in autumn, the mountain will be colorful inside out.
The mountains and hills form a beautiful landscape in different colors along the road. Driving in this endless colorful forest is like entering a bright oil painting.
Jiudianliang, a panorama picture of the red leaves
The most beautiful Jiudianliang is in autumn. After a frost, Jiudianliang may be even more colorful.
Looking from afar, the rolling mountains are covered with forest in bright colors, like a heavy ink landscape painting. While looking nearby, the dark red and light red leaves are delicately arranged with unique features, presenting a colorful painting.
Several cottages are hidden in the early morning mist on the mountainside. The wild flowers and fruits smell like legendary wine.
Best viewing spot: the Qinling Mountain section of the National Highway 316
Lingguan Canyon, a precipitous place in the Qinling Mountains
Lingguan Canyon, the first canyon along the Jialing River, is a precipitous place in northernmost Jialing River. Traversing the border of Shaanxi and Gansu provinces, it is one of the steep sessions of the Baoji-Chengdu Railway across the Qinling Mountains.
In every late autumn and early winter, the entire Lingguan Canyon dotted with red leaves is colorful and extraordinarily enchanting. Red mountains are reflected in the green water. What a beautiful landscape!
Maple leaves can be seen all over the mountains. The green hills are dotted with yellow leaves.
The lofty cliffs covered by the red leaves on both sides of the Jialing River reflect the color red onto the river. The green water in the Jialing River looks much clearer and greener under the reflection of the red leaves, forming a wonderful picturesque landscape.
Photographed by Zhang Xinhua
Route: Drive on the Provincial Highway 212 to Fengxian County after crossing the Qinling Mountains. Keep driving along the Jialing River, and people will enter the Lingguan Canyon.
Chenjiawan Village, a hidden paradise in autumn
Chenjiawan Village is the place one will not miss on the way to Maiji Mountain and Tongtianhe Forest Park. In autumn, this place is endowed with the most breathtaking scenery one can imagine, revealing a true paradise for photographers.
The forest is dyed red by autumn leaves, which appears particularly enchanting after bathing in the rain. Coupled with rain and mist, it is easy to find oneself falling into a fairyland.
Haystacks, smoke of cooking fires, and field roads comprise the most beautiful autumn scenery complemented by light and shade. The thick fallen leaves on the ground will make crunching and creaking sounds once stepped on.
Machang (horse ranch) Scenic Spot, the “hidden paradise” along the ancient plank road
Villagers in the Machang Scenic Spot of Yinwan Village, Shuangshipu Town, and Fengxian County are well-recognized by their simplicity and honesty. Surrounded by this mesmerizing scenery, tourists can enjoy the authentic local farm foods and folk songs freely.
Strolling down the lane is like stepping into a fairyland. Gorgeous and fiery-red leaves bring incomparable relaxation and joy that one is reluctant to go back to home again.
Tongtianhe National Forest Park
It is an original ecological forest park, boasts a forest coverage rate of 98.6%. The vast natural forest vegetation landscape may even beat the reputation of the Zhangjiajie Stone Forest.
According to legends, Monk Xuan Zang stopped at this location during his journey to the West (today’s India). The Miao’er River in this place leads directly to the peak of the Qinling Mountains in the west, implicating the meaning of the “direct passage to the West” (buddhist paradise), which is also the meaning of “Tongtian”(the name of the park) in Chinese.
Photographed by Guan Ke
The park consists of three major scenic spots: Xihe Temple, Gaoshan Stone Forest and Lianhua Mountain. The beautiful forest vegetation landscape shows colorful changes at different altitudes in different seasons. The maple leaves are as red as the blood in late autumn.
Best viewing spot: the Sanchahe Bridge in Fengxian County, 25km from Shuanghongtang Highway, and the site 8km of the special tourist route in the Tongtianhe National Forest Park Scenic Spot.
The customs of Qiang ethnic minority and the Qiang Village of stones
The Qiang ethnic minority group not only lives in Sichuan province, but also boasts a long culture history in Fengxian County. It is said that people of the Qiang ethnic minority have already lived here for 5,000 years.
Source: Shaanxi Channel, photographed by Yang Mingshun
Next to the Lingguan Canyon, down the Jialing River, a group of an agglomeration of ancient buildings along the Yangtze River came into view. This is the Qiang Village of stones.
The tall and majestic stone towers of the Qiang People stand in rows among the Qinling Mountains. The quaint and mysterious sheep’s head totems are solemn and sacred, and here people have the opportunity to watch the wonderful and graceful the Sarang dance!
The brilliant night view of Fengxian County has formed a charismatic scenery. “How breathtaking it appears!” Commended by the netizens.
The high spray fountain in the Phoenix Lake
The 5D waterscape light show, fire spray, water spray and image effects make the Phoenix Lake the most beautiful place at night.
The excellent 180-meter high spray, a rare view in Asia, stimulates people’s senses with its momentum and vigor. The sparkling street lights in the sky and the colorful lanterns in the water complement each other, glowing in the night.
Travelling Guide
Address: Fengxian County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province
Route:
Train: direct line from Xi’an, Baoji or Chengdu to Fengxian Station
City bus: direct line to Fengxian County, and then county bus or taxi to the scenic spot.
Self-driving Route: Xi’an -- Lianyungang-Khorgos Highway -- Jiangcheng City/Fengxian County/Exit of National Highway 310 (G310) – Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway – Provincial Highway 212 (S212) – Fengxian County. It will take 4.5 hours to drive about 263 kilometers in total.
