No need to fly to Kyoto! Tianyu Mountain in Qiandao Lake hides the wildest autumn sea of red leaves in Jiangnan

Qiandao Lake in Chun'an County, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, is never just a monotonous scene of water and islands—Tianyu Mountain viewing platform holds the ultimate autumn romance of Jiangnan. You don’t have to travel far to Kyoto’s Arashiyama to encounter the spectacular red leaves dyed in layers of forest here. 🍂 The 3-kilometer hiking trail has become a natural red leaf tunnel, with maple leaves fading from light orange to deep red. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows, and the fallen leaves rustle underfoot. Every frame looks like an oil painting hand-painted by nature, and every shot is a no-filter masterpiece. ⏰ Remember the best viewing period: mid to late November through early December is when the red leaves are most brilliant. It’s recommended to start at 7 a.m. to avoid crowds and enjoy the quiet moment when morning light flows over the red leaves and onto the lake, with the air filled with the fresh scent of plants. 📸 Don’t miss these five stunning photo spots: • Third level of the waterfront viewing platform: the golden angle where red leaves and the blue lake frame together, mountains and water complement each other, creating a full atmosphere; • Corner of the hiking trail: maple leaves naturally form a frame, enclosing the distant lake and mountain scenery, giving the composition a high-end feel; • Sunset coffee terrace: shoot against the light at dusk, where red leaves turn into gentle silhouettes paired with the gradient sunset sky for outstanding shots; • Cable car descent section: aerial view of the entire colorful forest, with red, yellow, and green weaving into a carpet, grand and healing; • Mid-mountain wooden plank trail: fallen leaves form a soft autumn carpet that rustles underfoot, offering an immersive autumn experience. 🚌 Super convenient transportation: • Drive directly to “Tianyu Mountain Viewing Platform,” parking fee is 10 yuan/hour, and you can catch glimpses of red leaves outside the window along the way; • Take bus K007 from Qiandao Lake Town, get off at the “Tianyu” stop, very cost-effective; • If you like hiking, it’s about a 40-minute climb from the visitor center, breathing fresh air all the way while slowly unlocking the autumn scenery. Autumn at Tianyu Mountain is a mutual embrace of red leaves and lake water, a double pleasure of hiking and sightseeing. No need to deliberately check in, just slow down and you can tuck Jiangnan’s autumn into your memory.