Wuxie in Autumn and Winter is Amazing! Waterfalls, Zen Temple, and Golden Avenue

Wuxie in Autumn and Winter is Amazing! Waterfalls, Zen Temple, and Golden Avenue 🍁 Wuxie in Zhejiang during autumn and winter is simply divine! As a "Wuxie autumn/winter regular" for two consecutive years, today I'm sharing all my private tips + hard-earned lessons to ensure you avoid the crowds and fill your phone with amazing photos 📸! 🌟 Three Must-See Highlights in Autumn/Winter 1️⃣ Five-Tiered Waterfall Group: Nature's 'Performance Artists' Wuxie Waterfall is divided into five tiers from the mountain top to the foot, each with a distinct style! The Fifth Tier, 'Dragon Emerging from the Sea,' has a drop of 31 meters with thunderous water sounds; the First Tier, 'Moon Veiled in Gauze,' is as gentle as silk~ I hiked upstream to check them out and got sprayed in the face by mist at the Third Tier, almost ruining my makeup (⚠️ waterproof cosmetics + quick-drying clothes are a must!). The water volume is still abundant in autumn and winter, and even more spectacular after rain. A casual shot from the viewing platform turns into a masterpiece 💦. 2️⃣ Ginkgo and Red Maple Limited Edition: An Overturned Palette Starting from mid-to-late November, Wuxie transforms into a world of oil paintings! The thousand-year-old ginkgo trees in front of the Zen temple shed a 'golden rain,' the red maples in Xiyuan Valley are like fire, and the rustling sound of stepping on fallen leaves is super therapeutic 🍁. I managed to get there at 6 AM for an 'empty field,' and the Tyndall effect of sunlight passing through the maple leaves was absolutely divine for social media! (Crowd-avoiding secret: The fewest people enter before 10 AM on weekday mornings~). 3️⃣ Zen Ancient Temple + Lake and Mountain Scenery Take a painted boat across Wuxie Lake, and the clear waters and green mountains feel like stepping into a wuxia film! After disembarking, explore the Tang Dynasty Wuxie Zen Temple, listen to the bells under the thousand-year-old ginkgo trees, and try the vegetarian meal for 20 RMB/person (the osmanthus rice cake is sweet but not greasy, highly recommended!). As a corporate slave, I sat here for half an hour, and my anxiety level dropped to zero 🙏. 🚡 Personally Tested Route to Avoid Pitfalls (Lazy-Friendly Version) - Day 1 (Classic Route): South Gate painted boat lake tour → electric car to Zen Temple → hike upstream to enjoy the Fifth to First Tiers → Xiyuan Valley hike. - Day 2 (In-depth Route): Hongfengling camping and photography → Shisidu Ancient Village to make Xishi Tuanyuan Cake → overnight stay at Qisu B&B to stargaze. (✅ B&B averages 200+ RMB per person, recommend "Qisu," converted from an old schoolhouse, with window views directly facing the mountains!) 🍜 Foodie's Guide - Xishi Tuanyuan Cake: Crispy outside, tender inside, a must-try intangible cultural heritage food from Shisidu Village! - Ciwu Damiàn (Hand-pulled Noodles): The "Yuji" handmade noodles in the city are chewy, and the dried bamboo shoot and river shrimp topping is incredibly delicious~ - Zen Temple Vegetarian Meal: 20 RMB/person, requires advance reservation, the Luohan Zhai (Buddhist vegetarian dish) is light and warming. (Avoid: Food in the scenic area is a bit pricey, bringing your own dry food is more economical!) 💡 Hard-Earned Lessons Summary - Ticket Savings: Hangzhou/Shaoxing residents get free admission (boat ticket 20 RMB is a must-buy), online purchase saves 10 RMB. - Packing List: Non-slip athletic shoes (stone steps are steep!), thermos (hot water is a lifesaver in cold weather), hand warmers (windy on the mountain top). - Crowd-avoiding Mantra: Enter before 8 AM or after 3 PM to avoid tour groups; waterfalls are more spectacular after rain. Photos can only capture 1/10 of Wuxie's beauty! The true sound of the water, the scent of fallen leaves, the warmth of the vegetarian meal... you can only understand it by experiencing it yourself. This autumn and winter, why not escape the crowds and become a mountain and water hermit for a day~ ✨