Autumn in Southern Anhui: A Slow Moment Stepping into God's Palette

Autumn in Southern Anhui: A Slow Moment Stepping into God's Palette Autumn in Southern Anhui is like God's spilled palette—Chinese tallow trees blaze with fiery red, ginkgo leaves shine bright yellow, and when the morning mist rises, it looks like a breathing oil painting. To see the richest autumn colors, you must visit between late October and mid-November. By 6 a.m., the Taichuan viewing platform is already crowded with cameras, but don’t squeeze into the crowd! Walk 200 meters up the Xieli Ancient Trail, where the mist winding around the horse-head walls is even more stunning, and you can enjoy the entire maple forest in solitude. In the afternoon, find a farmhouse restaurant by Qishu Lake, where chestnut chicken stew bubbles on a traditional stove. The owner casually points to a wild path; stepping on the rustling fallen leaves to the end, you suddenly encounter an old house hung with red persimmons—this kind of surprise is more powerful than any travel guide. Autumn Tips: · 🚗 Recommended to drive yourself; roads connect every village, forming a golden corridor · 📍 Hidden gems: Xieli Ancient Trail, deep inside Qishu Lake, wild paths around Hongcun · 📸 Photography: Best light from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m., chance encounters with grandmas drying autumn crops make the best shots · 🍁 Must-try: Osmanthus sugar lotus root, freshly roasted wild chestnuts, chestnut chicken stew cooked on a traditional stove The most beautiful autumn colors aren’t on the viewing platforms but in those unexpected corners—you might catch a sudden shower of ginkgo leaves or a warm sweet potato handed to you by a farmer. Slow down, and Southern Anhui’s autumn will give you the gentlest embrace.