Double Ninth Festival: Autumn Returns to Yunmeng Mountain – The Best Red-Leaf Spot Awaits Your Visit

A stranger in a strange land, on festivals I miss my family twice as much. From afar I know my brothers climb the heights, each wearing a sprig of dogwood—except for me.

The city of autumn is cool and beautiful; the heart of autumn is soft and warm. Today is the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, the Double Ninth Festival. The sky is high, clouds pale, mountains clear, waters bright. On Yunmeng Mountain, red leaves fill the sky. How I wish to climb high with my loved ones, gaze into the distance, stroll through the clear autumn, see autumn leaves filling the garden, sip the fragrance of chrysanthemum wine, wear dogwood and return home, honor the old and cherish the aged.

I stop my carriage, admiring the maple grove at dusk; the frost-reddened leaves are brighter than spring flowers. Time slips away quietly, and before you know it, it's the tail end of autumn. People put on long sleeves, eat warm candied chestnuts, and even the wind kissing your ears carries the unique scent of autumn. In Yunmeng Mountain, long known as the 'Little Huangshan' of the north, red leaves blanket the slopes, and the scenery is enchanting. This rendezvous with red leaves is a grand and beautiful affair waiting for you.

As a famous natural scenic area near Beijing, Yunmeng Mountain has always carried a veil of mystery and dreaminess. Although its scenery resembles Huangshan and Tianzhu Mountain, when you see the towering granite peaks piercing the clouds, the mist-wreathed sea of clouds, babbling mountain streams, and lush verdant forests along the path, you suddenly understand why it was anciently called 'Yunmeng Mountain' (Mountain of Cloud Dreams).

'Yunmeng Can Also Blush'

Some say autumn is a season for longing, but autumn is also a season for romance. When the autumn breeze just kisses October, Yunmeng Mountain blushes red. They say Fragrant Hills is a good place for red leaves, but in Yunmeng Mountain, the mountainside red can't be captured by oil painting; cameras seem dim here. You must step onto this mountaintop yourself to see this orange-red, tangerine-red, deep red staining the green hills. The autumn wind serves as a postman, and this picturesque scroll is Yunmeng Mountain's autumn tenderness to you.

Some people wander to the summit, carefully remembering every scene they pass; some love grandeur, overlooking the whole forest of falling red leaves and majestic peaks. Here, taking the cable car to the top is a pleasant surprise.

The joy at the top doesn't end here. The Miyun Reservoir, which is never fully seen, can be viewed in its entirety; the distinctive reservoir fish offers a fresh taste; even the 13 villa courtyards, inspired by unique architecture, each have different views, no two alike.

If you've made thorough travel plans or want to rest at the top, the mountaintop villa hotel at an altitude of 1314 meters confesses to you with China's unique numerical romance—'1314' meaning 'forever'—witnessed by red leaves.

'Yunmeng with Elves'

In Yunmeng Mountain, viewing red leaves brings an uplifted mood, not only because of the stunning scenery but also because 'there are always surprising encounters.'

As a World Geopark and forest park, Yunmeng Mountain has a cool and pleasant climate, vegetation coverage over 90%, extremely high negative oxygen ion content—6 to 12 times higher than in the city—excellent humidity and ventilation. Walking in the mountain not only refreshes the spirit but gives a comfort like staying in a summer resort. If it were a film set, it would be a favorite place for reclusive masters.

The high vegetation coverage includes hundreds of tree species like pines and cypresses, and occasionally antelopes, roe deer, deer, wild boars, squirrels appear, plus dozens of bird species like pheasants, rock partridges, turtledoves, magpies, mountain sparrows inhabit this picturesque 'fairyland.' It's like a dreamy elf world from a fairy tale, full of anticipation and yearning.

'Yunmeng Also Has Stories'

Yunmeng Mountain has red romance and red stories. It not only holds the tale of Yunmeng, the beautiful and kind daughter of Nüwa and Fuxi turning into a cloud dream, but also legends of the renowned strategist Guiguzi teaching here.

But the real red story is that during the War of Resistance Against Japan, as part of the Pingbei anti-Japanese base, Yunmeng Mountain was tested time and again, yet remained as firm as steel until final victory.

Yunmeng Mountain has beautiful stories and resilient spirit, dense forests and blooming flowers covering the mountain, peculiar pines and bizarre rocks, immortal caves, flying waterfalls, flowing springs, auspicious trees and precious herbs—every sight is a scenic wonder, every encounter a surprise.

Yunmeng Mountain combines the grandeur of Mount Tai, the steepness of Mount Hua, the uniqueness of Huangshan, and the elegance of Mount Emei. Its peculiar peaks, strange stones, pools and waterfalls, misty clouds, forests, and ancient sites constitute a unique 'Southern Landscape Panorama,' a supreme artistic gift from nature, refreshing the mind, inspiring awe, and making one linger.

On the Double Ninth Festival, with crisp autumn air, climbing mountains not only exercises the body but also lets you breathe fresh air at the top. This activity is especially suitable for elderly people who need proper exercise. Why not take some time to honor your parents, accompany them on a mountain climb, and enjoy this picturesque landscape.

October is slightly cool, autumn deepens, romance needs no brewing—let's go to Yunmeng Mountain for a red leaf rendezvous!