Fallen Leaves, Tranquility, and the Sense of Time

Recommended Off-the-Beaten-Path Autumn Viewing Spots 1. The Romance and Solitude of the Old Town: A Dialogue Between Fallen Leaves and Western-Style Buildings The autumn scenery here is full of cultural atmosphere and historical sense, making it an excellent choice for photography and strolling. · Badaguan · Instead of going to the main roads of Princess Building and Flower Stone Building, venture into those inconspicuous side streets and alleys. Jiayuguan Road, Juyongguan Road, Linhuaiguan Road, etc., are now covered with thick fallen leaves of French plane trees or ginkgo. · Highlights: Step on the rustling fallen leaves and watch the sunlight filtering through the colorful leaves, casting mottled shadows on the walls of old Western-style houses. The autumn here is delicate and elegant. · Best time: Before 10 a.m. or after 3 p.m., when the light is soft and there are fewer tourists. · Alleys around Daxue Road and Yushan Road · Why off-the-beaten-path: Tourists usually leave after checking in at the red walls on Daxue Road, but if you turn into alleys like Huangxian Road, Longjiang Road, and Fushan Branch Road, you enter another world. · Highlights: This area has a stronger sense of life. In the courtyards of old residential areas, color-changing vines peek out, and the small cafes by the roadside look especially warm among the fallen leaves. Looking down from Fushan Branch Road, the red tile roofs intertwined with colorful leaves make it a favorite spot for photographers. · Signal Hill Park (Back Mountain Road) · Most visitors head straight to the rotating observation deck at the summit. But when descending, choose the back mountain trail or walk along the path around the mountainside. · Highlights: The maple and oak trees here change color intensely, and the fallen leaves cover the stone steps, creating an exceptionally quiet atmosphere. You can overlook the autumn scene of the old town through sparse branches, offering a unique charm. 2. Rich Autumn Colors in Parks and Forests: An Immersive Color Experience This is pure natural autumn scenery, allowing you to truly feel the urgency and grandeur of "catching the tail of autumn." · Zhongshan Park (Reverse Exploration) · Avoid the main axis area of the cherry blossom avenue and the Sun Yat-sen statue. Head straight to the Osmanthus Garden, Little West Lake, and the deepest part of the park, the peach and willow forest. · Highlights: There are many varieties of ginkgo, maple, and acer trees here, with extremely rich color layers. By Little West Lake, the weeping willows are still green, while the trees on the shore are golden, reflecting in the water like a poem and painting. The park’s deep areas are rarely visited, with fallen leaves left untouched, allowing you to fully enjoy the tranquility of autumn. · Zhanshan Temple · Combining the ancient temple with autumn colors creates an extraordinary artistic conception. · Highlights: The ginkgo trees in the temple are at their best viewing period now. The golden leaves contrast with the ancient eaves and curling corners, along with the rising incense smoke, full of Zen meaning. The autumn here carries a solemn and peaceful power. · Fushan Forest Park (A Local Treasure) · This is a huge urban ecological park that requires some physical effort to explore, but the reward is unbeatable autumn mountain and sea views. · Highlights: From any entrance, walk up the mountain along wooden plank roads or mountain trails, and you will see vast areas of yellow larch and red torch trees. Climbing to the top viewing platform, you can enjoy both the colorful mountains and the vast sea in the distance, a unique autumn view unavailable anywhere else. 3. An Exclusive "Fallen Leaves Avenue" · East Sea Road (West Section) and Taipingjiao First Road · What to do: Find a bicycle or simply walk, slowly ride along this coastal road. The roadside trees (mainly French plane trees) are shedding leaves, with a quiet villa area on one side and occasional glimpses of the sea on the other. The sea breeze stirs the fallen leaves, full of cinematic feeling. --- Three-Day "Chasing Autumn" Off-the-Beaten-Path Itinerary Suggestions Day 1: Old Town Autumn Charm · Morning: Start at the red walls on Daxue Road, then venture into the alleys of Huangxian Road and Longjiang Road, taking a break at a café. · Afternoon: Stroll to Badaguan, focusing on exploring side roads like Jiayuguan Road and Linhuaiguan Road, feeling the tranquility of fallen leaves. · Evening: Walk from Badaguan to Taipingjiao First Road, watching the sunset gild the autumn colors. Day 2: Heights and Zen · Morning: Head to Zhanshan Temple, experiencing the Zen autumn colors amid the temple bells and ginkgo leaf rain. · Afternoon: Walk from Zhanshan Temple to the back gate of Zhongshan Park, exploring the Osmanthus Garden and Little West Lake area. · Evening: Climb Signal Hill to see the panoramic view of the old town under the autumn sunset. Day 3: Forest and Wild Fun · All day: Choose Fushan Forest Park for a light hike. Bring some snacks and water, seek out the most intense autumn colors in the forest, and enjoy the exhilaration of climbing high and looking far. --- Travel and Dressing Tips · Weather: In mid to late November, Qingdao’s temperature ranges between 5-15°C, with strong sea winds making it feel colder. Be sure to bring fleece, a light down jacket, and a windproof coat. · Dressing: It is recommended to wear warm or neutral colors like beige, camel, gray, and white, which match the autumn scenery very well. Be sure to wear comfortable and durable shoes because our theme is strolling. · Special Experiences: · Drink a pot of warm tea: Sit by the window in a café or teahouse in the old town alleys and watch the fallen leaves. · Have a hot meal: At this season, Qingdao’s seafood is still delicious. Find a local small restaurant and enjoy a seafood hot pot or mackerel dumplings to warm up. · Collect fallen leaves: Pick a few leaves with special shapes and colors as travel souvenirs. I hope this guide helps you find the most touching and tranquil autumn colors in Qingdao this late autumn. Wishing you a wonderful journey amid the fluttering fallen leaves.