Rolling out nature's red carpet
<center><img align="center" border="0" id="608651" sourcedescription="编辑提供的本地文件" sourcename="本地文件" src="http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/citylife/2007-10/25/../../images/attachement/jpg/site1/20071025/00096bbd06cd088a3ce901.jpg" style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 331px" title=""/></center><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px"> </p><center></center><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">The beauty of fall is best displayed in Beijing's mountains, where foliage turns colorful with the change of weather. Luckily, the season is also when Beijing turns out blue skies most frequently.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">The red leaves of the Fragrant Hills have become famous nationally, bringing many visitors to Beijing this time of year. That great reputation has also brought terrible traffic jams to the area. It is difficult for cars to even get close, and parking becomes impossible after 7am.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">Actually, Beijing has many more - less crowded - spots to behold the colorful foliage than just the Fragrant Hills. Local media report Beijing has more than 20,000 hectares of foliage in its surrounding mountains, spanning 230 kilometers. Yellow or red smoke trees pervade, and maple. This show of colors starts from the mountains to the northwest, and spreads to the plains of the southeast.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">Very close to Fragrant Hills, there is Badachu Park to the south, which has access to the same mountain range, with similar crimson views. Another choice not far from there is Baiwangshan Forest Park, just three kilometers north of Summer Palace.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">But you don't even need to head for the mountains for a seasonal treat. Beijing's suburbs proffer the richest variety of local produce in the fall. Besides the more ordinary apples, pears, grapes, jujube and sweet melons, there is persimmon, hawthorn fruit, chestnuts, walnuts, mushrooms, and freerange chicken eggs. You can enjoy hiking and sight-seeing, picking fruit along the way at local fruit gardens. There are plenty of inns to stay for the night, too.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">At Fragrant Hills, red leaves appear from late October to early November. In more distant mountain areas, where weather is colder than in Beijing, colorful foliage starts as early as late September and lasts till the end of October, depending><u>Badaling National Forest Park</u></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">Located beside Badaling Great Wall, spanning 65 hectares, there are more than 50,000 yellow smoke trees. The draw is the Great Wall adorned with red and golden leaves. The color has turned already as the area is 5 degrees cooler than in the city. Badaling Expressway-Shuiguan Great Wall exit.><u>Baiwangshan Forest Park</u></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">This is the nearest forest park to Beijing. Peak is 210 meters above sea level. Park covers more than 133 hectares. Three kilometers north of Summer Palace. 30min from Beijing.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px"><u>Jiufeng National Forest Park</u></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">The park is located northwest of Haidian District, 18 kilometers from Summer Palace. There is an ancient path winding its way to the peak, surrounded with red foliage such as red maple and sawtooth oak. The famous Dajue Temple, with a 1000-year-old ginkgo, is at the foot of the mountain. 45min from Beijing.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px"><u>Miaofengshan Mountain</u></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">Located to the northeast of Mentougou District west of Beijing, there are persimmon and hawthorn fruits in the area. Red leave trees include maple, yellow smoke trees, and persimmon.><u>Yunmengshan Mountain</u></p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">Dubbed "small Yellow Mountain," it is located between Miyun and Huairou. The mountains are deep, foliage of great variety. 80 kilometers from Beijing. 90 minutes.</p><p style="MARGIN: 0px 3px 15px">Other places to see red leaves include areas near Miyun Reservior in Miyun District, Hongluoshan Mountain north of Huairou District, Beigong Forest Park located in Changxindian Township of Fengtai, Jinhaihu lake east of Pinggu District, Labagoumen north of Huairou, Mangshan National Forest Park east of the dam of Ming Tombs Reservoir in Changping, and Shangfangshan National Forest Park in Fangshan District.</p>