Autumn in Guiyang is colorful and bright. Cool breezes, brilliant sunshine, fire red maple trees and large colorful gardens welcome visitors. What are you waiting for? Let’s go enjoy autumn!

Golden Avenue in Huaxi

Recalling ancient memories

For residents in Guiyang, the stunning fall landscapes bring back ancient memories. After all, there are few places to enjoy autumn in South China.

Huaxi Golden Avenue is a wide road with light traffic and tall French phoenix trees. Dense shade covers the road. The Huaxi River flows beside the road peacefully. During autumn, the French phoenix trees become golden yellow, hence the name “Golden Avenue”. Many people come here to take a walk and enjoy the beautiful view every autumn.

"When I was in primary school, our school would organize an outing every autumn. Nowadays, the phoenix trees have become denser and stronger. Golden Avenue has become more beautiful," a citizen said. "Nowadays, our family, together with our kids, comes here to enjoy the beautiful scenery every autumn." It's a great pleasure to sit along the riverbank, watching the falling leaves, listening to the running river, and tasting the unique local flavor.

Gaopo Terrace

Overlooking a golden field

Autumn is the most fascinating season in the Guiyang countryside. The fields are covered in a gold hue. Beautiful ethnic Miao girls with handmade baskets walk lightly across the field. The view of Huaxi Gaopo Terrace is spectacular. It's a favorite place for photographers.

In autumn, visitors can reach the top of the hill along a winding path, overlooking the vast undulating fields of wheat. The layers of ridges stretch into the distance as working farmers dot the landscape.

Gaopo is a Miao settlement in Huaxi at an altitude of 1,500 meters. It features gorges, stone forests, waterfalls, block platforms, and acres of fields and meadows. In the villages of the Yunding prairie, visitors can see Miao-style houses with pepper and corn strung on the wall and rice drying in the yard.

Huaxi Shili Beach

Traveling across a field of Matura flowers

Matura, also known as the "Equinox Flower", is a flower that is believed to help lead the soul to heaven. The red Matura is called Manjusaka, while the white Matura is called Mandarava.

During the spring equinox and autumn equinox people visit graves. Equinox Flowers always blossom during this period, hence the name. Because of the mysterious and poignant legend, the rare Matura flower is coveted by teenagers and young artists.

There is a large Matura flower field in Guiyang Huaxi Shili Wetland Beach Park. Every season in late September, the Matura flower field becomes a favorite place for students and new couples.

Hongfeng Lake, Qianling Lake, Xianghua Rock

Hongfeng Lake Tourist Scenic Spot is suitable for travel in all seasons. Many residents in Guiyang come here to enjoy the lake view and pluck grapes in summer. However, few people are familiar with the beautiful maple scenery here. Hongfeng Mountain is located near Hongfeng Lake. Many Chinese sweet gum trees grow around the lake and on the mountain. When autumn arrives, the maple leaves turn fire red. Walking on the island, you can enjoy the layers of red and yellow leaves alongside the green water.

Besides enjoying the red leaves, you can also take a boat to the island to experience the local folk culture and natural scenery. Boating on the lake, you can enjoy the spectacular peaks, steep cliffs, winding rivers, and beautiful scenery. In the tourist attractions, there are Miao villages, Dong villages and Bouyei villages. Stilt houses of the Miao ethnic group, the Drum Tower and Wind and Rain Bridge of the Dong ethnic group, and the stone houses of the Bouyei ethnic group are popular in the tourist area.

Apart from Hongfeng Lake, Xianghuo Rock in Kaiyang and Qianling Lake are also good places to appreciate red maple leaves. Every autumn, red leaves cover Xianghuo Rock. Many residents in Guiyang come to Qianling Lake for summer holiday since its formation in 1954. However, the most beautiful time is autumn. Standing on the Wind and Rain Bridge, you will be astonished by the mirror-like lake and the reflections of fire-red maple leaves.

Xiuwen Scottish Prairie

A suitable place for outdoor activity

In autumn, besides admiring beautiful flowers and leaves, doing outdoor activities and having a family barbecue are also good ways to relax. The Scottish Prairie Holiday Village in Xiuwen county is a very good place for such activities.

Scottish Prairie Holiday Village is located in Qingjiang village, Jiuchang town, Xiuwen county. It is 41km from Guiyang and is an ecological and agricultural sightseeing park integrating ecological agriculture sightseeing, travel, vacation, entertainment and rehabilitation. Visitors can enjoy the unique charm of the prairie by gazing at the blue sky and the green grass, with groups of cows and sheep grazing in the verdant pasture.

Activities: Golf, grass skiing, horseback riding, children's playgrounds and baked whole-sheep dishes

Golf: 40 yuan ($6.54)/person

Grass Skiing: 30 yuan ($4.90)/person

Horseback Riding: 20 yuan ($3.27)/person

Edited by Li Yang and Michael Thai