Autumn in Beijing, it's so good to live it again

Autumn in New York, why does it seem so inviting? Autumn in New York. It spells the thrill of first-nighting Autumn in New York, it's good to live it again.

These lyrics to Vernon Duke's 1934 bittersweet ode to fall in the Big Apple could also certainly be said about Beijing in September and most of October.

Although April is my favorite time in the city, mainly because of the spring flower blooms, autumn here ranks a very close second. It offers a welcome change from my least favorite season in the capital - summer.