The ultimate autumn travel guide! 6 secluded scenic spots with few people, plus outfit and photography tips

“Autumn scenery waits for no one, miss it and wait a year!” Every year from September to November, the whole country switches to “autumn palette mode.” But if you want to avoid crowds and capture stunning traditional Chinese-style photos that go viral on social media, choosing the right destinations and activities is key. This top-rated Trip.com guide selects 6 lesser-known autumn spots from north to south, covering timing, activities, outfits, and pitfalls to avoid, helping you experience travel like “walking in a painting.” 1. Northern Autumn Scenery: Rich and grand, every frame is a masterpiece of mountains and rivers Northern autumn is a “color carnival,” with golden birch, fiery red maple leaves, and vermilion ancient cities filling the view. It suits travelers who love majestic landscapes. Visit after the National Day holiday to avoid crowds and enjoy the full autumn colors. 1. Xinjiang - Hemu Village (late September to early October): A fairy-tale wooden house in northern Xinjiang Half as crowded as Kanas, with morning mist, golden birch, pointed wooden houses, and winding streams, it looks like a real-life Nordic fairy tale, also hiding a Chinese ink painting vibe. Top 3 must-dos: ① At 7 a.m., wait by the village stream to shoot mist-wrapped wooden houses, with smoke and sunlight weaving a magical scene; ② Hike to the mountaintop viewing platform to overlook the birch forest blanketing the valley; ③ In the evening, eat hand-pulled meat on the wooden house terrace and shoot “people + sunset + wooden house” silhouettes. Outfit: Light apricot new Chinese-style trench coat + white stand-collar shirt, tied with a black embroidered belt, warm against temperature changes and elegant. Tip: Book a wooden house with a terrace one month in advance to shoot the Milky Way at midnight. 2. Liaoning - Benxi Laobiangou (mid to late October): The pinnacle of northeast red leaves The entire valley is dyed fiery red by sweetgum and five-pointed maple, with streams flowing around red stone beaches. The red maples reflected in the water look like cinnabar in ink paintings. Top 3 must-dos: ① At 3 p.m., shoot light and shadow under the “Maple King” tree, using portrait mode on your phone to blur the background; ② Go to the red stone beach for close-ups of “red leaves + red stones + stream”; ③ Stay at a farmhouse, eat iron pot stewed goose, and enjoy red leaves under the starry sky at night. Outfit: Light gray improved Hanfu skirt (embroidered with maple leaves) + matching embroidered shoes, plain colors highlight the red leaves and enhance the traditional style. Tip: The red leaves peak at the end of October; wear anti-slip shoes on rainy days. 3. Shanxi - Pingyao Ancient City (all October): A living Ming and Qing dynasty painting Autumn in Pingyao is free from summer heat. The vermilion city gates and gray tile roofs glow warmly under the sun, like traveling back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Top 3 must-dos: ① At 6 a.m., climb the ancient city wall and shoot side profiles leaning against the wall, with light and shadow contrasts showing the passage of time; ② Visit Xietongqing Draft Bank to experience writing drafts and take “time-travel style” check-in photos; ③ In the evening, watch red lanterns light up in a teahouse and shoot close-ups of “lanterns + gray tiles.” Outfit: Dark navy Chinese-style cross-collar jacket + off-white turtleneck sweater + black cloth shoes, fitting the ancient city atmosphere. Tip: Stay near the South Gate inn and don’t miss the Yingxunmen light show at night. 2. Southern Autumn Scenery: Graceful and elegant, every step is a poetic ink painting Southern autumn is a “diffused ink painting,” with green, red, and yellow blending softly, streams and ancient bridges hidden within. It suits travelers who prefer delicate moods. Visit from late October to November to avoid autumn rains. 1. Zhejiang - Hangzhou Jiuxi Smoke Trees (late October to mid-November): Jiangnan autumn poetry Maple leaves turn red, streams are clear, tea gardens are green, and fallen leaves drift on stone bridges, like scenes from Bai Juyi’s Jiangnan poems. Top 3 must-dos: ① On cloudy days or evenings, hold a light brown oil-paper umbrella and shoot walking away on the stone bridge, capturing the skirt fluttering in slow motion; ② Visit Longjing Village for tea tasting and shoot panoramic views of “tea gardens + red leaves + farmhouse”; ③ In the evening, take group photos by the “Jiuxi Smoke Trees” stone tablet. Outfit: Light pink cotton-linen Chinese-style dress + light gray knitted cardigan, showing Jiangnan’s gentle charm. Tip: Visit on weekdays for fewer people and wear comfortable hiking shoes. 2. Jiangxi - Wuyuan Huangling (mid-October to early November): Folk autumn carnival In the Hui-style rooftops’ drying racks, red chili peppers, yellow corn, and orange pumpkins layer upon layer, with clouds drifting by like a folk painting. Top 3 must-dos: ① At 10 a.m., shoot upward at the drying square, holding red chili peppers against gray tiles and blue sky; ② Go to the terraced field viewing platform for panoramic shots of “clouds + ancient village + red leaves”; ③ Stay in a guesthouse and shoot night scenes of “lanterns + drying racks.” Outfit: Off-white Chinese-style stand-collar shirt + light khaki wide-leg pants, tied with an orange belt to echo the drying racks. Tip: The best light for shooting drying racks is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; try the drying rack feast. 3. Sichuan - Chengdu Qingcheng Mountain (October to November): Ethereal and serene autumn Ancient towering trees, ginkgo turning yellow, Taoist temples hidden in the forest, and morning mist swirling like a fantasy drama scene. Top 3 must-dos: ① Take a boat on Moon City Lake early morning and shoot “fairyland photos” looking out from the railing; ② Shoot scenes of walking under the thousand-year-old ginkgo at Tianshi Cave; ③ After descending, eat tofu pudding in Qingcheng Ancient Town and shoot “covered bowl tea + street scenes.” Outfit: Dark green Chinese-style Tang jacket + white T-shirt + anti-slip hiking shoes, fitting the mountain forest atmosphere. Tip: Shoot traditional Chinese-style photos on the front mountain; the back mountain is good for hiking. Bring a jacket for temperature changes. 3. Practical Autumn Travel Tips (Trip.com expert secrets) 1. Outfit tips: Wear low-saturation colors (white, gray, light apricot) in the north to avoid clashing; add a little bright color (orange, pink) in the south to brighten your complexion; choose cotton-linen and stand-collar styles for a Chinese feel. 2. Photography tips: In the north, shoot before 9 a.m. or after 4 p.m.; in the south, use diffused light on cloudy days; leave blank space in compositions, use streams and eaves to guide the eye, and bring oil-paper umbrellas and red leaves as props. 3. Itinerary suggestions: Northern route (Hemu 3 days → Laobiangou 2 days → Pingyao 2 days); Southern route (Jiuxi 2 days → Huangling 2 days → Qingcheng Mountain 3 days). Best to travel after National Day or at the end of October. The beauty of autumn is fleeting — the mist in Hemu, the red leaves in Laobiangou, the lanterns in Pingyao, the streams in Jiuxi, the drying racks in Huangling, the clouds in Qingcheng. Miss it and wait until next year. Take advantage of the perfect autumn light, bring this guide, and pack the mountains and rivers into your photo album!