October at Siguniang Mountain: The Whisper of Colorful Forests and Snowy Peaks

Passing through the Balang Mountain Tunnel, the wind suddenly carries the crispness of the snowy mountains. Turning past the Maobixiang Viewing Platform, four snowy peaks unexpectedly come into view—Yaomei Peak wears a silver crown, looking even more sacred under the blue sky. This is the first gift that October at Siguniang Mountain offers me. The autumn in Shuangqiao Valley is like an unfolding oil painting. The sightseeing bus takes us to the redwood forest at an altitude of 3,840 meters, where golden conifer needles cover the boardwalk, rustling underfoot. The stream winds through the valley bottom, embracing the blue sky, colorful forests, and distant snowy mountains. Occasionally, rafters drift downstream, adding lively touches to the scene. When reaching Budala Peak, the autumn wind sweeps across the meadow, yaks graze quietly in the distance, and the movement and stillness together create the most vivid autumn landscape. Hiking in Changping Valley is a deep conversation with the snowy mountains. Starting from Lama Temple, the wooden plank road extends along the stream upward. The trees along the way are undergoing seasonal transformation: birch trees at lower elevations turn bright red, spruces higher up remain green, and the golden hues in between seem like nature’s carefully blended palette. At the Dead Tree Beach, the twisted branches in the water reflect the colorful forest on the shore. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows that make you want to slow down. If you still have energy, consider horseback riding to the Muliaozi Camp. Sitting by the tents on the alpine pasture, watch Yaomei Peak’s snowy summit gradually darken in the dusk, as the starry sky slowly unfolds from the mountain top. The wilderness of Haizi Valley holds the most original autumn charm. There are no neat boardwalks here, only horse trails winding through the meadows. Golden grass waves ripple with the wind, as if telling the story of autumn. From a height, the colorful forest forms a brocade belt on the mountainside, and the snowy peaks draw silver lines on the horizon. The spectacular “half mountain colorful forest, half mountain snow” scene is fully displayed here. Occasionally, Tibetan herders pass by with their horses, and the crisp sound of bells mingling with the wind becomes the most touching melody of the plateau. Returning to town at dusk, the yak soup pot in the Tibetan-style guesthouse is steaming hot. Outside the window, the setting sun gilds Siguniang Mountain with warm golden edges, and the crispness of the day melts into softness in the heart. October at Siguniang Mountain is never a single scenery; it is the leisure of Shuangqiao Valley, the depth of Changping Valley, and the wilderness of Haizi Valley. Under the watchful gaze of the snowy mountains, the charm of autumn is hidden in every breeze.