Wonders of Wuyuan

Fed up with the dismal weather that enshrouds Beijing every November? Why not escape to a place where there are clear, blue skies as well as colorful, spectacular scenery? Wuyuan, a county in Jiangxi Province, while already famous for its boundless fields of golden canola flowers in spring, is increasingly becoming renowned for another of its natural beauties: the blush of red maple leaves in autumn.

Scenes of cloud and mist

Unlike the intense golden red color of the maple leaves that adorn Fragrant Hill in Beijing every October, the maple leaves one encounters in Shicheng village of Wuyuan are of a paler shade, closer to scarlet or claret-red.

Smaller in size, these maple leaves are at their most beguiling around at sunrise, seen against the backdrop of the morning mist and the first tender rays of sunlight.

The villages at the foot of the mountain are also an indispensable part of the scenery. Shrouded by the mist, the ash-colored contours of those houses create a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of sentiments expressed in ancient Chinese poems.

Brought to public's attention by a group of photography enthusiasts in 2009, the maple leaves in Wuyuan, like the canola flowers in the region, have quickly gained a reputation for their unique beauty. These days, those familiar with Wuyuan all sing a common refrain: go in the spring for the canola flowers, and in autumn for the red maple leaves.

If you also happen to be a shutterbug, and are hoping to snap a picture at the precise moment that the first radiant rays of light illuminate the crimson leaves, bear in mind that securing an optimal place on the mountains before 5 am for that perfect shot is crucial. After that, the place becomes a heaving mass of photographers with their hulking equipment.

Whether you decide to spend the night on the mountains or get up early to secure your spot, the perfect way to cap off your morning of photo-taking is by enjoying a delicious breakfast.

Just make sure that you're well-prepared and bring your own food. Apart from a few local snacks like pancakes, most of the food served by the local villagers (who are the only people from which one can procure food in Shicheng) there are a scarcity of options for those in search of a breakfast buffet.