The Ceiling of Qinling's Autumn

A complete 3-day, 2-night maple viewing guide in Liuba: colorful forests, ancient trails, starry skies, stunning beyond words! 🍁 While the city is still in short sleeves and air conditioning, here it has already donned a brocade of red and yellow. Every breath is filled with the fresh scent of pine needles and fallen leaves. Today, I’m sharing this exclusive 3-day, 2-night autumn limited guide to unlock the most breathtaking autumn in Qinling! --- 🚗 Itinerary (Autumn Highlights Edition) 📍Day 1: Depart from Xi’an (Baoji) → Lunch at Liuba Old Street → Check in to a scenic guesthouse → Night tour of Old Street to admire lanterns 📍Day 2: Sunrise at Taiziling → Shizigou Ranch → Lover’s Valley → Zibai Mountain for colorful forests 📍Day 3: Self-drive on Gaojiang Road → Zhang Liang Temple → Return trip --- 🍁 Must-Visit Spots (Autumn Limited Edition) 1️⃣ Taiziling · Sea of Clouds and Red Leaves 📍Location: Near Jiangwozi, Liuba County ⏰Best time: Sunrise (6:30-7:30) ✅ Personal experience: Waking up at 4 AM to catch the sunrise was totally worth it! The sea of clouds rolls beneath your feet, and the rising sun gilds the layers of colorful forests. Recommended to wear a windbreaker and bring a thermos with hot water—sipping it while waiting feels incredibly cozy! 2️⃣ Gaojiang Road · The Most Beautiful Countryside Road 📍Location: Yuhuangmiao Town, Liuba County ✅ Personal experience: This "most beautiful countryside road" is breathtaking in autumn! The dawn redwood avenue turns into a golden corridor, with corn and chili drying along the way—every snapshot looks like a masterpiece. Renting a bike to ride slowly and enjoy the autumn breeze is highly recommended. 3️⃣ Zibai Mountain · Colorful Forest Feast 📍Location: Liuhou Town, Liuba County 🎫Tickets: It’s recommended to buy a combined ticket for the scenic area ✅ Personal experience: The cable car ride feels like traveling through a colorful painting. The meadow at the summit turns golden in autumn, contrasting sharply with the dark green firs and fiery red maples—a paradise for photography lovers! 4️⃣ Shizigou Ranch · Fairy Tale World ✅ Personal experience: The ranch in autumn has a unique charm, with golden grass scattered with leisurely cows and sheep, and colorful forests in the background, like stepping into a fairy tale. Best to visit between 3-5 PM when the light is softest. --- 🏡 Autumn Accommodation Recommendations 1️⃣ Daoban Inn · Top Choice for Autumn Viewing · Floor-to-ceiling windows facing colorful forests, enjoy the view right from bed · Offers warming ginger tea and autumn specialty meals · Around 350 RMB per person, including breakfast 2️⃣ Book & Field Guesthouse · Artistic Choice · Each room has a scenic balcony · Evening tea by the stove while listening to the host’s Liuba stories · A gathering spot for photography enthusiasts 3️⃣ Kongshan Jiutiao · Quality Choice · Highly designed mountain residence · Offers seasonal specialties like ginkgo nut stewed free-range chicken · Ideal for couples or families seeking privacy 💡 Booking tip: The best time to visit Liuba is around National Day; be sure to book at least half a month in advance! --- 🍜 Autumn Limited Delicacies 1️⃣ Chestnut Stewed Free-Range Chicken: Sweet and soft autumn chestnuts perfectly paired with free-range chicken 2️⃣ Wild Mushroom Hotpot: Fresh mushrooms picked after rain, with a rich and delicious broth 3️⃣ Walnut Bread: Liuba specialty made with fresh walnuts, crispy and tasty 4️⃣ Persimmon Cake: Locally naturally sun-dried persimmons, sweet but not greasy 👍 Recommended restaurants: Shanli Renjia, Old Flavor Restaurant, Old Street Farmhouse Cuisine --- 💰 Autumn Travel Money-Saving Tips 1️⃣ Golden Autumn Discount Ticket: Combined ticket for Zibai Mountain, Zhang Liang Temple, and Boardwalk Water World for 118 RMB (original price 235 RMB) 2️⃣ Accommodation Discount: 20% off for stays of two nights or more, plus a special souvenir gift 3️⃣ Transportation Subsidy: Toll receipts can be used to offset scenic area expenses 4️⃣ Early Bird Discount: Book guesthouses one week in advance to get 100 RMB off --- 📸 Photo Guide ✨ Best Spots: · Taiziling Viewing Platform: Capture sea of clouds + colorful forests · Gaojiang Road at 39 km milestone: Capture the golden dawn redwood avenue · Shizigou Ranch: Capture the ranch + panoramic colorful forests · Lover’s Valley Suspension Bridge: Portraits + larch leaves 👗 Outfit Suggestions: · White and beige clothes stand out best in colorful forests · Bring scarves, hats, and accessories to enhance the atmosphere · Comfortable hiking shoes are a must! --- 📝 Practical Tips 1️⃣ Transportation: About 3.5 hours driving from Xi’an, recommend leaving before 7:00 AM to avoid morning rush hour 2️⃣ Weather: Large temperature difference in autumn (8-22°C), bring a lightweight down jacket 3️⃣ Gear: Power bank, spare camera batteries, thermos, sunscreen 4️⃣ Reservations: Popular viewing spots are best visited early to avoid crowds --- 💫 My Ramblings On the last morning in Liuba, I sat on the guesthouse terrace, watching the sunlight slowly dye the mountains opposite red. Suddenly, I understood why the ancients said "Autumn days surpass spring mornings." This small town hidden deep in Qinling uses its most brilliant colors to give us a reason to forget our worries. This autumn, why not clear your phone’s photo album and fill it with a whole year’s worth of beauty in Liuba! 📸 [Follow me to unlock more secret autumn landscapes!] --- This article is based on the blogger’s on-site experience; attraction opening times are subject to official announcements. Original content, reproduction requires authorization.