As late autumn paints the landscape in vibrant hues, now is the perfect time to explore the stunning seasonal transformation on two wheels. Grab your bike, call your friends, and set out on these picturesque routes.
Lingchuan’s Blazing Red Maple Leaves
In late October, the Lingchuan section of the Taihang No. 1 Tourist Highway comes alive with the fiery colors of poplars and maple leaves. The most breathtaking views can be found around Duohuo Ridge, where smoke trees, oak trees, and other shrubs undergo a striking color shift—turning first from green to yellow, then to deep crimson after the first frost. From the hilltops down to the valleys, the slopes are cloaked in brilliant red. When the autumn wind sweeps through, it sends waves of red foliage rippling across the hills like flowing flame or painted clouds. Riding through this sea of scarlet offers a truly immersive, almost poetic experience.
The Poplar Forests of Luntai
This route stretches from Qiemo to Luonannan County, crossing a vast desert landscape dotted with the golden splendour of Luntai’s Euphrates poplar forests. Cycling this 500-kilometer desert highway is a challenge many riders aspire to conquer. Along the way, you’ll witness scenes reminiscent of classic Tang dynasty poetry—“a lone smoke plume rising into the sky over the vast desert, and the grand river under the setting sun.” In autumn, the poplar forests are at their most beautiful. Visitors can take a scenic train ride through the poplar groves and feel as though they’ve stepped into a golden fairy-tale world.
Golden Ginkgo Forests in Lingchuan
By late October, the ginkgo trees of Lingchuan’s Haiyang Township glow with brilliant gold. Despite its name, which means “ocean,” this area is not coastal—instead, it boasts a dazzling “sea” of autumn foliage. The villages here are home to nearly 10,000 ginkgo trees, many of them centuries old, with several believed to be over a thousand years old.
Cycling enthusiasts should not miss classic leaf-peeping spots such as Xiaopingle, Huameinong, Beidaidi, Datangbian, and Tongmuwan. A recommended route begins in Guilin and leads cyclists to Haiyang Township. From there, riders can climb over Mazhi Ridge via winding mountain roads, visit Xiaopingle Village, and continue onward to Beidaidi, Huameinong, Sijiang, and the Sian River Reservoir. Ginkgo trees dot the hillsides along the way, and quiet stone paths wind through the layered, luminous woods—creating an unforgettable, three-dimensional autumn landscape.
Autumn offers some of the year’s most breathtaking scenery. We hope these three routes inspire you to plan your own fall adventure. If you have other favorite foliage routes, feel free to share your recommendations—we’d love to hear from you.
