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November 5, 2014

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Gorgeous fall foliage abounds in Zhejiang

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LATE autumn around Hangzhou is known for a kaleidoscope of colors. Gingko maple and phoenix trees paint the hills a mix of yellow, orange, red and gold. The sight of the colorful leaves against a clear blue sky is one of autumn’s great charms in Zhejiang Province.

This beautiful combination of colors only lasts about two weeks.

Shanghai Daily explores four places where people can take a stroll down sun-dappled paths as their feet scrunch among fallen leaves.

Yangjia Village

杨家村

Gingko trees grow slowly. They are known as the “grandpa and grandson trees” in China because a man may plant the tree while young, but will only see it bear fruit when he is old enough to have a grandson.

Yangjia Village boasts thousands of gingko trees, some hundreds of years old, that create a magnificent scene.

The secluded village is popular with shutterbugs, who bring their professional photography equipment to capture the splendid fall view.

Since Yangjia Village is at the junction of Fuyang, Lin’an and Tonglu, it also attracts hikers from Hangzhou and Shaoxing.

Some family-run eateries serve authentic Yangjia cuisine.

How to get there: Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Hangzhou-Jinhua-Quzhou Expressway — Changchun-Shenzhen Expressway

Nanhuang Ancient Road

南黄古道

It was established by ancient merchants to develop trade routes and in the fall is known for its gorgeous maple trees.

The road begins at Qianyang Village in Tiantai County and reaches Dafan Village in Linhai County.

Upon its establishment in the early Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127), the road was important to the economy of Zhejiang Province for hundreds of years. Merchants relied on it to transport tea, porcelain, silk and salt.

Although its status has declined in the modern era, the roadside’s lush maple trees have turned it into a tourism attraction.

Nanhuang is considered a rival to Beijing’s Xiangshan Hill, which is famous for its maple trees that turn ruby red in the autumn.

How to get there: Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Changzhou-Taizhou Expressway — Qianyang Village

Daming Mountain

大明山

Daming Mountain turns into a ski resort in the winter but it’s also an autumn wonderland of maple and gingko trees, as well as green bamboos.

The maple leaves turn various shades of red and mix with other colors on the slopes.

Tourists also like to visit Ruijing Stone Flower Cave, known for its stalactites that come in a variety of strange shapes. The stalactites have undergone thousands of years of chemical changes and the cave remains a pleasant 18 degrees Celsius year around.

How to get there: Shanghai-Kunming Expressway — Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway — Hangzhou-Ruili Expressway — Hebai Road — Dada Road

Gingko Porch, Changxing County

长兴银杏长廊

A 5-kilometer stretch features 30,000 wild gingko trees and they are believed to be the oldest of the species on the Chinese mainland.

The trees are not planted in lines, but have grown naturally between small hamlets with their yellow hues creating a serene landscape.

The porch usually attracts numerous visitors every fall.

How to get there: Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway — Shanghai-Jiangsu-Zhejiang Expressway — Changxing




 

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