Complete Guide to Enjoying Autumn Leaves at Tanxi Mountain, Shandong

Parents bringing kids to Tanxi Mountain in Shandong to see the autumn leaves, take note! This place is truly the hidden top spot for family autumn outings in northern China! Every step up the mountain feels like walking into a colorful fairy tale kingdom, with kids excitedly screaming all the way—here’s our super detailed family route! 🌳 Great value tickets: Entrance fee is 40 RMB per person, free for children under 1.2 meters! We recommend buying the "Glass Walkway + Legend of the Star Cave" combo ticket for 99 RMB. For kids over 4 years old, try the high-altitude rafting combo ticket for 169 RMB (kids love it!). Note that ticket checking stops at 4:30 PM, so it’s best to start early to have enough time to explore. 🚌 Tips for hiking with kids: Strongly suggest taking the shuttle bus to the mid-mountain (save your energy!). For the hiking section, choose the gentle route from Crocodile Ridge to Dragon and Phoenix Terrace. Along the way, there are viewing platforms with railings perfect for taking photos of your kids. The yellow hornbeam leaves are fully red, and the Japanese maple is turning golden. On sunny days, the light and shadow are as beautiful as an oil painting. 🍂 Family-exclusive route plan: After getting off the shuttle bus → Beauty Cave (fun cave exploration) → Sanjiao Temple (rest and snack) → Sky Bridge section (hold your child’s hand and walk slowly) → Dragon Ridge Peak (densest area of red leaves) → finally take the rafting down the mountain (5 minutes of excitement but safe!). The whole trip takes about 3 hours, just right for kids’ stamina. 🧥 Practical tips: Last year, the peak autumn leaves were in late October! Now the Zibo mountain area is starting to turn red, so it’s recommended to go before the end of October! The temperature drops by 10 degrees at sunset on the mountaintop, so be sure to bring a down vest and scarf! There is a hot drink station at the entrance, and remember to prepare gloves for your kids.