According to observations by Fragrant Hills Park: the current red leaf discoloration rate has reached 43%.
Last weekend was the first weekend after the opening of the Fragrant Hills Red Leaf Culture Festival, drawing crowds of tourists. A total of 160,000 people visited over the two days to hike and admire the red leaves. According to observations by Fragrant Hills Park: the current red leaf discoloration rate has reached 43%.
Over 80,000 visitors enjoyed the red leaves on Saturday
Early last Saturday, Fragrant Hills welcomed a large number of foliage-viewing tourists. The park received over 80,000 visitors throughout the day, setting a new single-day record for this year. On Sunday, the number of visitors also reached over 80,000, an increase of more than 30,000 compared to the previous Sunday.
According to park officials, over half of the visitors were from out-of-town tour groups, mostly from Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, and Liaoning, as well as some from Guangdong, Yunnan, and Sichuan. Most were on special tours to Fragrant Hills specifically to see the red leaves.
By 9 a.m. yesterday, traffic had already started to back up at the exit of Wuhu Ring Road at Xiangquan. Speeds along the road from Xiangquan Roundabout to Fragrant Hills dropped to below 10 km/h. Around 10 a.m., parking spaces along the road were nearly impossible to find. By noon, some stranded citizens and tourists took to Weibo and WeChat, advising: “Foliage buddies, choose public transport to get here.”
At the square near the east gate of Fragrant Hills, reporters saw crowds of people waiting to buy tickets and enter the park. From the east gate inward, areas around the Diligent Governance Hall, Zhisong Pavilion, Eyeglass Lake, and all the way to the north gate were packed with visitors.
To ensure safe and orderly visits during peak hours, over 500 park staff members worked without rest, and key safety points were manned. Between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m., the busiest visiting period, the park implemented measures such as opening additional ticket windows, guiding visitors in sequence, and diverting crowds to ensure safety.
Fragrant Hills Park advises citizens and tourists to try to avoid peak times and visit between Monday and Thursday.
The hills are expected to be fully red this week
Looking up from the foot of the mountain, the hillsides are bathed in crimson. “The red leaves are at their peak, and Fragrant Hills is at its most fragrant!” At the top of Incense Burner Peak, a tourist from Shanxi murmured while taking photos of the beautiful scenery with his phone, planning to share them with family back home.
According to the Fragrant Hills Park management office, spots such as Incense Burner Peak, Biyun Temple, Jingcui Lake, Cloud-Rising Pavilion, Old Pine Forest, and Yuhuaxiu are among the best places to view the red leaves. The colorful scenery of red leaves, yellow flowers, red pavilions, and green trees is especially enchanting. The cable car route for aerial foliage viewing is the most popular—visitors can look down on the fiery red canopy along the route. On clear days, after reaching the top, you can also see the giant Rubber Duck on Kunming Lake to the east and the Yongding Pagoda in the Garden Expo Park to the south.
Fragrant Hills Park also recommends four “red leaf viewing” routes: after entering the east gate, turn left and pass through Jingcui Lake, Cuiwei Pavilion, Shuangqing Villa, Fragrant Hills Temple, Langfeng Pavilion, Heshun Gate, and Yutai Gate to reach Incense Burner Peak—this was the imperial path used by ancient emperors to hike and enjoy the scenery; upon entering the park from the east gate, you’ll immediately see two lush maple trees. Walk south for five minutes to reach Jingcui Lake, then follow the stone path uphill for 200 meters to enjoy the “red leaves and yellow flowers spanning the valley” view at Cuiwei Pavilion; take the sightseeing cable car for 17 minutes to reach the summit at Incense Burner Peak for a distant view of the red leaves on the southern hills; walk along the southern hill wall from the “Qing Weiliao” ruins to see red leaves on both sides of the path—many iconic photos of Fragrant Hills red leaves were taken here, and the path leads to Incense Burner Peak.
According to observations by Fragrant Hills Park: the current red leaf discoloration rate has reached 43%. Song Guogang, deputy head of the park’s red leaf team, explained that when the discoloration rate exceeds 35%, it enters the best viewing period, and over 50% results in a landscape of hills fully covered in red. He predicts that this week, Fragrant Hills will showcase the stunning view of mountains blanketed in red and forests dyed in layers of color. If there are no extreme weather conditions this year, the red leaf appreciation period could last until November 10.
Don’t let uncivilized behavior ruin the beauty of the red leaves
Yesterday, a park official stated that since the start of the Red Leaf Festival, most visitors have been civilized, but some have still engaged in uncivilized behavior such as smoking, climbing trees, and graffiti. These actions not only threaten safety but also damage the beauty of the red leaves. To protect the park’s ecological environment, the park has used low walls, fences, and barriers to separate unofficial paths, lawns, and trees, reminding visitors to behave civilly.
During the Red Leaf Festival, the number of cleaning staff at Fragrant Hills Park increased from 90 to 150 to maintain cleanliness at all times. Trash bins, garbage baskets, and waste containers have also been increased to a total of 470. “Young Pioneer Little Guides” from Xiyuan Primary School, along with dozens of volunteers from the Central University of Finance and Economics and the University of International Business and Economics, are stationed at Shuangqing Villa, park entrances, and information desks to provide free guided tours and encourage civilized behavior among visitors.
The Fragrant Hills Park management office reminds citizens and tourists that mountain park temperatures are lower, having already dropped to 6–7 degrees Celsius in the morning. Please dress appropriately to avoid catching a cold. The park is a Class I fire prevention zone—visitors are prohibited from smoking or using open flames. To protect the ecological environment and the red leaf landscape, please take your trash down the mountain and out of the park.