The Best Season of Luoyang Baiyun Mountain Has Arrived: The Ginkgo Forest Stuns in Autumn; Miss It and Wait Another Year

Baiyun Mountain, a peak of great renown, can be said to have one in everyone's heart because there are many mountains with this name across the country, no fewer than 50. However, few are truly famous nationwide, and only two are national AAAAA-level tourist attractions. One of them is the main peak of the Funiushan Mountains in Henan—Luoyang's Baiyun Mountain.

Luoyang Baiyun Mountain is located in the primeval forest area deep in the Funiushan Mountains in southern Song County. It is not only a national AAAAA-level tourist attraction but also holds national titles such as a World Geopark and a National Science Education Base, covering a total area of 168 square kilometers, with 204 animal species and 1,991 plant species, and a forest coverage rate of over 98.5%. Baiyun Mountain has 37 peaks above 1,500 meters in elevation, among which Yuhuangding at 2,216 meters is the highest peak of Baiyun Mountain and also the highest peak in the Central Plains, bearing the symbol of the Central Plains' summit.

Luoyang Baiyun Mountain features mountains, water, and stories. Besides the highest peak in the Central Plains, Yuhuangding, it also has the Jiulong Grand Canyon with eighteen connected waterfalls, as well as lake landscapes like Baiyun Lake and Yuhuang Lake. Moreover, it is the place where Zhang Liang, a founding hero of the Han Dynasty, once lived in seclusion—truly a historic and beautiful famous mountain in the Central Plains.

Autumn is the most beautiful season of Baiyun Mountain. Climbing high and looking far, leaning on the railing and gazing into the distance, among the mountains of the Funiushan range, the lush vegetation has been dyed by the autumn wind: deep red, light red, pale yellow, dark brown, dark green... colorful, with layers of forests painted in hues.

However, what this article introduces is not a famous scenic spot of Baiyun Mountain, but a set of photos taken in front of the hotel where we stayed. This place is called Central Plaza, and at both ends of the plaza are two long rows of ginkgo forests, which have now reached the most beautiful season of the year.

When we were on Baiyun Mountain, the weather was excellent. The sunlight poured down, and the ginkgo leaves shimmered with golden light. From a distance, it was a sea of gold. Breathing the fresh mountain air, basking in the warm sun, and standing among them, it felt unreal, like an autumn fairy tale.

Baiyun Mountain has a high altitude and low temperatures, so the ginkgo turns yellow earlier. These days are the best time to appreciate them. Almost all the leaves have changed color, autumn has swept through, and fallen leaves drift everywhere. Soon, a golden carpet spreads on the ground. Whether tourists or cute little dogs, strolling among them, they are reluctant to leave.

The ginkgo trees amaze with their stunning beauty, outshining the mortal world. Vast expanses of gold form an unparalleled picture, creating a strong visual impact—a paradise for tourists and a favorite of photographers. Looking up, with the blue sky as a backdrop, sunlight spills on the ginkgo leaves, and the veins under backlighting are clear and very beautiful.

The ginkgo trees pay tribute to autumn with their most golden hue, allowing beauty seekers to capture the most brilliant colors. Under the ginkgo forest, patches of golden ginkgo leaves fall and cover the ground, indescribably beautiful! As we strolled among them, an autumn breeze suddenly came, shaking the golden leaves down, swirling in the air. Raising our cameras and pressing the high-speed shutter, we captured the beautiful moment in the photo above.

Surrounded by such a beautiful autumn landscape, everyone wants to take a photo of themselves—sitting, standing, jumping, or cheering. Everyone has their own way of recording, just wanting to blend into this most beautiful autumn scenery and enjoy the happiness within.

Writing this article, I am not telling you how beautiful the ginkgo forest in Central Plaza is. What I want to express is that beauty is everywhere on Baiyun Mountain in autumn. You don't even need to deliberately visit any scenic spot. Even at the hotel entrance, there are charming views that make you linger and unwilling to leave.

The viewing period for ginkgo trees is not long. When all the leaves turn golden, it signals that the appreciation period has entered a countdown. After a few days, the leaves will all fall off. Miss it, and you have to wait another year. Fortunately, there are many ginkgo forests on Baiyun Mountain—both on the mountain and at its foot. When the ginkgo leaves on the mountain are all gone, the ginkgo forest at Baima Temple at the foot of the mountain is just entering its viewing season. Moreover, these ginkgo forests are thousand-year-old ancient ginkgo trees, with the oldest being over 2,600 years old. Most of these ancient ginkgo trees are still green, but some have turned golden. When you read this article, coming within half a month should not be too late. You can catch the most beautiful annual splendor of these ancient ginkgo trees.