Complete Guide to Enjoying Maple Viewing in Songpinggou in Autumn

Maoxian Songpinggou Autumn Viewing Guide: Encounter the Colorful "Little Jiuzhaigou" Core Activities: Hiking + Sightseeing Bus, efficiently enjoy the highlights Recommended Route (Highly Recommended!) Hike up the mountain (highlight section) + take the sightseeing bus down, allowing you to deeply enjoy the beautiful scenery while saving energy. - Highlight section: Scenic area entrance → Cuizhu Valley → Diexi Haizi. This section is the peak of Songpinggou’s autumn beauty! With the babbling stream alongside, colorful forests reflecting in the blue lake, the colors are rich to the extreme. You can stop anytime during the hike to take photos and not miss any details. - Pitfall reminder: Don’t take the sightseeing bus directly to the mountaintop! By early November, the leaves in the Five-Color Pool and Changhai areas at the top have mostly fallen, leaving a bleak scene with only the rugged mountains and lake; hiking down from the top puts great pressure on your knees and you will miss the core colorful forest views below the mid-mountain. Season and Weather: Choose the right time for double the beauty Best Viewing Period The colorful forests from mid-mountain to the foot are best in early November (end of viewing period), with yellow, red, and green intertwined, paired with sunlight and lake water, as beautiful as a painting; if you want to avoid the end period, go 1-2 weeks earlier when the colorful forests are denser. Weather Key Sunny days are Songpinggou’s “beauty switch”! The lakes are jade-blue under the sun, and the colorful forests sparkle in the light and shadow; on cloudy days, the scenery is much duller. Be sure to check the weather forecast before your trip and prioritize sunny days. Transportation Guide: Worry-free driving/travel Location Diexi Town, Maoxian, Aba Prefecture, Sichuan, about 4 hours’ drive from Chengdu. Driving Route Navigate to “Songpinggou Scenic Area,” take the Chengdu-Du-Wen Expressway and Mianmao Highway. The mountain roads have many curves but are in good condition; drive carefully and slow down. Dressing Suggestions: Warm and photogenic Clothing Early November temperatures are low; wear warm clothes such as a windbreaker, fleece, and light down jacket; the mountaintop is windy, so hats and scarves are essential to avoid catching a cold. Shoes Wear comfortable, non-slip hiking shoes or sneakers to handle the scenic trails and gentle slopes. Color Tips Wear solid colors like white, red, or blue when taking photos among the colorful forests for strong contrast and excellent photo results! Practical Tips: Know your limits for a comfortable trip Altitude and Physical Strength The scenic area ranges from 2200m to 2900m in elevation. Hiking the entire route requires high stamina. The “hiking the highlight section + sightseeing bus” combo offers the best value and experience without forcing yourself to complete the whole trail.