On the morning of September 20, 2014, the 9th (Tianqiaogou) Maple Leaf Culture Festival of Liaoning, China, jointly organized by the Liaoning Provincial Tourism Administration, Dandong Municipal Government, Kuandian County Government, and Kuandian County Tourism Bureau, and hosted by Tianqiaogou Forest Park, grandly opened. Officials from provincial, municipal, and county levels, media reporters, outdoor associations, travel industry guests, and tourists gathered at Tianqiaogou Forest Park to enjoy the beauty of autumn amid the sea of maple leaves, savoring a feast of the area’s natural scenery.
Maple leaves are autumn’s most beautiful attire, transforming mountains and rivers into breathtaking works of art with their dazzling colors. In Tianqiaogou, Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, Dandong City, Liaoning Province—a place once named by China Traveler magazine as “the place with the reddest and most vibrant maple leaves in China”—visitors can admire the intoxicating sight of “forests ablaze in color, a mountain of rainbow hues.” Venturing deep into Tianqiaogou Forest Park, the autumn wind paints the landscape, the ground is covered in golden leaves, and the lake reflects the crimson foliage, presenting everywhere a captivating golden autumn scene. The Liaoning Maple Leaf Culture Festival uniquely blends photography, painting, and the natural beauty of maple leaves, allowing art and nature to spark brilliantly and inspiring even more people to love maple foliage. At the event’s press conference on the morning of September 20, local government leaders including You Zejun, Director of the Dandong Tourism Development Committee of Liaoning Province, Lin Shikuan, Secretary of the Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County Committee, and Song Xiaohu, Executive Deputy County Head of Kuandian Manchu Autonomous County, attended to welcome everyone. This was followed by performances of traditional songs and dances of the Manchu and Korean ethnic groups, which brought the artistic atmosphere of the Maple Leaf Culture Festival to a climax.
As a “feast” themed around maple leaves, during the Maple Leaf Culture Festival, Tianqiaogou Forest Park not only arranged activities such as hiking to admire the maple leaves, maple leaf photography contests, and Tianqiaogou maple scenery exhibitions, but also included Korean ethnic performances, Kuandian specialty product fairs, and the Kuandian Food Festival, fully meeting the diverse needs of attendees. In addition, Tianqiaogou set up five premier maple leaf viewing platforms for guests to enjoy the scenery and take photos, showcasing the park’s thoughtful service and dedication to sharing its natural beauty.
When nature meets art, and photographers encounter the stunning maple scenery, the Tianqiaogou Maple Leaf Culture Festival presents a visual feast of the most beautiful maple landscapes. As attendees view the maple scenery captured by photographers, they gain a deeper appreciation for the vibrant and enchanting natural “maple” views of Tianqiaogou.
This kind of “maple” scenery can be the pristine natural beauty of “beautiful trees, crimson leaves, brilliant hues, and intense vibrancy.” When staff at Tianqiaogou Forest Park proudly introduce the area to visitors, they say: “We are one of the best spots to view maple leaves. Once you come to Tianqiaogou, you’ll see just how beautiful our maple leaves are.”
This kind of “maple” scenery can also be the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. American-style villas built along the mountainside are backed by lush forests and mountains, face the crystal-clear Tian Tan Lake, and overlook the undulating terrain of a mountain golf course. Deep within the forest also grows wild ginseng—the foremost of the “Three Treasures of Northeast China”—a plant with extremely demanding habitat requirements that has thrived here for generations, highlighting Tianqiaogou’s pristine environment, spiritual energy, and exceptional surroundings.
In addition, Tianqiaogou is a national AAAA-level scenic tourist area, and has been awarded several honors, including “National Five-Star Demonstration Base for Leisure Agriculture and Rural Tourism,” “Top Ten Scenic Spots with Highest Visitor Satisfaction at the 18th Asian Golden Travel Awards,” and “Top Ten Leisure Farms” in national leisure agriculture and rural tourism. After several years of comprehensive renovation and in-depth development, the infrastructure, reception capacity, and services within the Tianqiaogou scenic area have all matured, providing tourists with the highest quality scenic routes and services for enjoying the maple leaves.
The 9th Tianqiaogou Maple Leaf Culture Festival has come to an end, but it has shared its beautiful scenery with more people, encouraging them to connect with nature and embrace a healthier, more open-minded attitude toward work and life. This is the very essence of the Tianqiaogou Maple Leaf Culture Festival.