With Guangdong officially stepping into autumn now, the province is entering its most comfortable period of mild sunshine and cool breezes. Here's a guide to enjoying the season's landscapes across Guangdong and exploring nature beyond downtown.
Persimmon groves
In Guangzhou's Conghua District, autumn romance unfolds among its quiet mountains. As the season deepens, hillsides fill with bright red persimmons hanging heavily on branches, creating postcard-worthy scenes. A visit to Guifeng Village, Shangluo Village, or Nanping Meditation Town offers rural calm, local cuisine, and the chance to pick fruit straight from the orchards.
(Photo: Guangzhou Conghua Fabu)
Recommended locations:
Guifeng Village (桂峰村): Lvtian Town, Conghua District, Guangzhou (广州市从化区吕田镇桂峰村)
Nanping Meditation Town (南平静修小镇): Nanping Village, Wenquan Town, Conghua District, Guangzhou (广州市从化区温泉镇南平村)
Shangluo Village (上罗村): Jiangpu Sub-district, Conghua District, Guangzhou (从化区江埔街上罗村)
Rice fields
Although most rice fields across Guangdong have been harvested, the paddies at Longping Academician Port on Changzhou Island in Guangzhou's Huangpu District are still shimmering with late-season color. The ongoing Rice Aroma Carnival, running until December 15, features giant straw sculptures, walking paths beside blooming cosmos flowers, coffee by the fields, and occasional open-air concerts—all against a backdrop of golden waves.
(Photo: Huangpu Culture Group Co., LTD)
(Photo: Guangzhou Huangpu Fabu)
Recommended location:
Longping Academician Port (隆平院士港): No. 330 Jinzhou North Road, Huangpu District, Guangzhou (广州黄埔区金洲北路330号)
Ticket to Rice Aroma Carnival: 5 yuan
Ginkgo forests
Hailed as one of the "top nine places to see ginkgo leaves in China", Nanxiong County-level City in Shaoguan is Guangdong's largest ginkgo growing region. It reaches its peak from late autumn to early winter, when centuries-old trees turn bright gold. At Maozifeng Tourist Attraction and across Pingtian Town's villages—such as Aobei (坳背村), Fengwu (冯屋村), and Pingtian (坪田村)—the golden leaves, old houses, and rural paths create a tranquil scene like an oil painting.
(Photo: Shaoguan Fabu)
Ginkgo scenery can also be found in Qingyuan and Meizhou, where fallen leaves blanket rooftops, creekside paths, and fields, adding a quiet touch of seasonal color.
(Photo: Qingyuan Municipal Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau)
Recommended locations:
Maozifeng Tourist Attraction (帽子峰旅游景区): Fangkeng Village, Maozifeng Town, Nanxiong County-level City, Shaoguan (韶关南雄市帽子峰镇芳坑村)
Pingtian Ginkgo Park (坪田银杏公园): Aobei Village, Pingtian Town, Nanxiong County-level City, Shaoguan (韶关市南雄市坪田镇坳背村)
Xiaojiang Ginkgo Garden (小江银杏园): Luohan Village, Xiaojiang Town, Yangshan County, Qingyuan (清远阳山县小江镇罗汉村)
Juntian Village (均田村): Meixi Town, Meixian District, Meizhou (梅州市梅县区梅西镇均田村)
Maple leaves
Maple forests in northern Guangdong take on rich shades of red. At Lingnan Red Leaf World in Shaoguan's Xinfeng County, more than 80,000 maple trees turn vibrant, accompanied by sweetgum and Chinese tallow trees that color the hillsides. Nearby, Yunji Mountain offers slopes of gradually shifting hues. Soon, the maple forests at Changtan Reservoir in Meizhou will also turn red, where visitors can take boat rides across emerald waters flanked by glowing mountains.
(Photo: Shaoguan Fabu)
Recommended locations:
Lingnan Red Leaf World (岭南红叶世界): Chadong Village, Huangqi Town, Xinfeng County, Shaoguan (韶关市新丰县黄磜镇茶峒村)
Yunji Mountain Scenic Spot (云髻山景区): Road X853, Xinfeng County, Shaoguan (韶关市新丰县X853)
Danxia Lingxi River Forest Resort (丹霞灵溪河森林度假景区): Zhoutian Town, Renhua County, Shaoguan (韶关市仁化县周田镇)
Changtan Tourism Area (长潭旅游区): approximately 500 meters south of the intersection of Road X972 and Mingxia Bridge, Changtan Town, Jiaoling County, Meizhou (梅州市蕉岭县长潭镇X972与明霞大桥交叉口南约500米)
Author | Huang Xinying
Poster | Lai Meiya
Editor | Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
