Bipenggou Scenic Area is a national eco-tourism demonstration site, a protected area for harmony between humans and nature, one of China’s top ten eco-tourism destinations, and the core zone for viewing red leaves in Miyaluo. In autumn, Bipenggou is blanketed with red leaves and colorful forests, resembling a magical, kaleidoscopic fairyland.
The viewing period for red leaves and colorful forests in Bipenggou is relatively long, lasting from mid-September to mid-November each year. The scenic area features significant altitude variations and vast distribution, creating the marvelous sight of “red and colorful leaves at lower elevations and golden foliage at higher ones.”
From the valley floor to the mountaintops, miles of colorful forests stretch endlessly, presenting a dazzling array of vibrant colors. Bipenggou boasts diverse plant types, with a rich variety of red and colorful forests dominated by species like larch and redwood. Once autumn arrives, the area becomes a world enveloped in red and colorful foliage, with each elevation showcasing a unique scene, together forming a golden autumn tapestry. Colorful forests beneath snow-capped mountains, and snow-capped mountains amidst colorful forests. The beauty born from the contrast between the warmth of the forests and the coolness of the snow can only be truly appreciated in person. Autumn lakes reflect the symmetrical scenery of lake and fall colors. The water sparkles, while mountain reflections gently ripple on the surface, as if dancing to the rhythm of autumn. Have you experienced a hot spring surrounded by red and colorful forests? Relax in the warm waters while quietly admiring the golden hues of autumn and the pristine white of the snow-capped peaks.
Bipenggou is home to a rich diversity of plants and plant types, with over 1,010 species of higher plants, accounting for about one-fifth of the total plant species in China. Among them, the genus Euptelea is unique to China and has been listed in the China Red Data Book of Rare and Endangered Plants. Nationally protected plants include first and second-class species such as spruce, fir, Mingjiang cypress, Cercidiphyllum japonicum, Tetracentron sinense, and Sichuan redwood. Below 3,000 meters in the mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forests, you’ll find tall trees like red birch and poplar, shrubs such as mountain willow, black mulberry, and alpine rhododendron, and ground cover like wild strawberries, as well as various orchids and other plants. The region’s unique natural environment has fostered a distinctive ecological system where many rare birds and animals thrive. The nature reserve is home to 76 species of mammals and 210 species of birds, including nationally protected animals such as the Sichuan golden snub-nosed monkey, forest musk deer, alpine musk deer, takin, leopard, macaque, Tibetan macaque, black bear, red panda, and blue sheep.
To fully experience Bipenggou’s red and colorful forests, staying overnight is a must. The Namu Lake Hot Spring Hotel, the only mountain resort villa in the scenic area, is the perfect choice. Simply open your curtains or windows to behold the sweeping views of red leaves and colorful forests—a truly spectacular sight. For a different kind of accommodation, try a highland five-star RV. “Stopping the carriage to admire the maple woods at dusk”—here, you can privately enjoy the splendor of autumn’s red and colorful forests.
As an early autumn destination for viewing red and colorful forests, Bipenggou boasts its own unique charm and atmosphere. It is also home to an enchanting corridor of Tibetan and Qiang ethnic culture, with warm and hospitable Tibetan and Qiang families, and enticing local cuisine—all filled with surprises and delights. Such beauty requires no arduous treks or long journeys, nor do you need to worry about time constraints or distance. Bipenggou is a highland attraction near Chengdu, just a three-hour drive (approximately 200 kilometers) from the city. A weekend trip is all it takes for a round journey, making it easy to embark on a colorful red and colorful forest adventure, whether by car or public transport. Just set aside a weekend, bring your family, your kids, and your friends, and head to Bipenggou to admire the red leaves and colorful forests.