In Linqu county, Weifang, Shandong province, about 200 hectares of smoke trees (Cotinus coggygria) carpet the slopes and ravines of Shimenfang. As autumn deepens, the leaves shift from orange-yellow to deep crimson, contrasting with rock faces and dark green pines and cypresses to create layers of autumn color across the mountains.
Along the mountain paths, Tang Dynasty (618-907) cliff carvings and Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) stone pagodas appear among the trees, adding a sense of history to the autumn scenery.
Shimenfang has long been known as the "Crown of Red Leaves in Shandong", and is a popular destination for autumn foliage, alongside Beijing's Fragrant Hills and Nanjing's Qixia Mountain. Here, autumn color is found not only in the red leaves covering the hills, but also in the weathered rock that bears the marks of time.
Travel with ease in China, and with meaning.
