China is at its best in Autumn. And the following places will be good choices when you are travelling in China in September.
Top 1: Kanas Lake, Xinjiang
Located in Bu’erjin County of Altai Prefecture in northern Xinjiang, the Kanas Lake is one of top five most beautiful lakes in China, and is called the “Switzerland of the Orient” and the “heaven for photographers”. “Kanas” is a Mongolian word meaning “lake in the canyon.” The lake is famous for its fantastic natural landscape and mysterious local legend. It is surrounded by thick layers of forest, and the color of the water changes according to different seasons, weather and depth. When September comes, Kanas enters a golden season. The plants covered by the golden sunshine, the lake in the near distance, the snow-capped mountains in the backdrop, the small wooden houses and the strolling herds of cattle and sheep, create a fairytale view.
Top 2: Eerguna, Inner Mongolia
Eerguna is a wetland area straddling the China-Russian border in the northeast of Inner Mongolia. It is located on the west side of the north of the Greater Xing’an Mountains, which are famed for their stunningly colorful autumn scenery. September is the best time to visit Eerguna. The afternoons give you the most amazing scenery in the Moerdaoga National Forest Park, when the whole forest is covered in golden sunrays. White Deer Island is the best place to go and see the red leaves. The rivers that run through the grasslands are also charming, like painted belts winding down the forest.
Top 3: Changbai Mountain, Jilin
Changbai Mountain in southeastern Jilin Province is located on the border between China and North Korea. Considered as the most famous mountain in northeast China, Changbai Mountain is well-known for its snowy scenery, cool summers and an abundance of mineral springs. With an average altitude of 2,000 meters, Changbai Mountain has rich biodiversity. The centerpiece of Changbai Mountain is the spellbinding Heaven Lake (Tianchi).
Top 4: Hulunbuir Grassland, Inner Mongolia
Located in northeastern Inner Mongolia, the Hulunbuir Grassland is considered the “most unsullied grasslands” in China. Named after the Hulun and Buir lakes, the grassland features forests, rivers and lakes. After May, the green grassland is dotted with colorful flowers, birds, and cattle and sheep scattered among the grasses. There are also various local activities, including horseback and camelback riding, horse racing and wrestling.
Top 5: Shigatse, Tibet
Shigatse, the second largest city in Tibet, sits at the junction of the Yarlung Tsangpo River and the Nyangchu River and is the most colorful area in Tibet. To its south stands the world-known Mt. Qomolangma. Shigatse has vast grasslands, fertile river valley fields, flourishing semitropical jungles and snowfields. Famous attractions include Xiqin Spring, Yatung Spring, Yongzelucuo Lake, Palkor Monastery in Gyantse, Sakya Monastery, Pingcuolin Monastery, Juenang Monastery, Pala Manor and Tashilumpo Monastery.
Top 6: Huangguoshu Waterfall, Guizhou
Located in southwest Anshun, Guizhou Province, Huangguoshu Waterfall is the largest waterfall in China and Asia, as well as one of the famous waterfalls in the world. With splendid scenery, the waterfall was included in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s largest waterfall group in 1999. It is 77.8 meters high and 101 meters wide, with 17 smaller waterfalls. As the roaring water runs down through the rocks, it sends up myriad of sprays, which glitter like rainbows in the sunlight. Huangguoshu Waterfall Festival is celebrated in September every year.
Top 7: Bashang Grassland, Hebei
The climate and location at the junction of the North China Plains and the Inner Mongolia Grasslands give Bashang its unique natural landscapes and make it a popular destination for tourists and photographers. Weichang Bashang (Mulan Weichang), 450 kilometers northeast of Beijing, is perhaps the most beautiful part. Travelers can ride horses, camp, watch local wrestling competitions, or stay in Mongolian yurts.
Top 8: Red Beach, Liaoning
The red leaves form a popular attraction during China’s autumn, but have you ever seen the season’s red waters? The sea blites living in the mud flat of Panjin, northeast Liaoning Province, start to grow every April or May. They’re green at first, but then gradually turn red. By September, they will have become a carpet of vivid red, stretching out across the whole beach. The mornings of sunny September days are the best time to enjoy the spectacular views of the Red Beach. You may stand on the bridge extending onto the sea or paddle a boat to enjoy this 6,000-hectare- wide “red carpet.”
