Best Places to See Red Maple Leaves in Hunan

The best time to see colorful fall foliage in the mountains in Hunan is coming. Here are four recommended places to enjoy maple leaves in Hunan.

Yuelu Mountain, Changsha

Best time to enjoy maple leaves: mid-November - early December

The photos were taken by Wang Yu on November 22nd, 2021.

Yuelu Mountain is known as one of the top four breathtaking spots for enjoying maple leaves in China. Red maple leaves here are gorgeous, attracting many tourists. However, now trees around Aiwan Pavilion in Yuelu Mountain, including an internet-famous maple tree, are still green. But, according to Zhou Ning, director of the Office of the Yuelu Mountain Scenic Area, this year, the maple trees will turn vibrant red color in mid-November through early December because of the hot weather.

Hengshan Mountain, Hengyang

Best time to enjoy maple leaves: mid-November - early December

The photos were taken by Zhou Xiangyu on November 3rd, 2022.

Maple leaves in Hengshan Mountain are stunning in fall. When ascending the Hengshan Mountain, tourists will see different colors ranging from red, yellow, and purple at different altitudes. “Though the charming and colorful fall scenery can be seen everywhere in Hengshan Mountain, we have to wait about one week to enjoy the most beautiful red maple leaves, “ said a reporter surnamed Zhou.

Badagong Mountain, Zhangjiajie

Best time to enjoy maple leaves: November-December

The photos were taken by Tong Di on October 25th, 2022.

Badagong Mountain is located in Sangzhi County, Zhangjiajie City. It features high peaks and deep valleys, while the fantastic karst landforms and red maples bring fresh experiences to tourists. A natural oil painting is unveiled with intertwining red, orange, yellow and green colors. The mountain is the best-preserved and most giant primordial mixed evergreen and deciduous broad-leaved forest in the subtropical zone. It is Hunan's first national-level nature reserve.

Red Maple Avenue, Yiyang

Best time to enjoy maple leaves: late October-November

Photo/Wang Yu

"Red Maple Avenue", located along the Yuxinghu East Road, Yiyang High-tech Zone, is an internet–famous site. Red maples on winding roads seem like paths stretching into a fairytale kingdom. With a length of 6.8 km, the “Red Maple Avenue” has nearly 6,000 maples planted in three green belts. Red maple leaves fall from the branches in breezes and blanket the ground quietly. When viewed from above, the maple forest is like a colorful picture that is mesmerizing.