Ya'an, a city in western Sichuan that is known as the "Rainy City", creates another beautiful picture with red leaves all over the mountains every autumn and winter. Thanks to the unique landform of the transition zone between the basin and the plateau, the mountains in Ya'an are undulating, and the rich vertical climate zones have bred a variety of red-leaf tree species such as cotinus, maple, and liquidambar form a natural fertile soil for the growth of red leaf landscapes.
As the temperature gradually cools, the mountains and forests in Ya'an are like a palette overturned by a painter. From light orange to dark red, different tree species change color in sequence according to the altitude difference. The red leaves in the low mountains are the first to be dyed, and then they are layered towards the high-altitude areas. The red leaves may cover the continuous ridges in patches, contrasting with the green mountains shrouded in clouds and mist; or they may be dotted on both sides of the streams, reflected in the clear water, forming a poetic picture of "tree shadows dancing in the water".
There are occasional houses with blue tiles and white walls hidden in the mountains, with smoke rising from the chimneys, which together with the red leaves and mountains and waters paint a vivid long scroll of western Sichuan scenery.
Here, just strolling in the mountains, you can immerse yourself in the autumn feast given by nature, appreciate the artistic conception of "stopping the car and sitting to enjoy the maple forest in the evening", and encounter the unique tranquility and romance of Ya'an in the flying red leaves.