When do the leaves change in Beijing Hills — Fragrant Hills?

The hills ringing Beijing turn crimson each autumn, from Fragrant Hills' smoke trees inside the city to the maple-lined ramparts of the Great Wall at Mutianyu.

A ginkgo tree in uniform butter-yellow autumn color
Autumn in Beijing Hills — Fragrant Hills· Photo: A.Savin / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

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Weather data for Beijing Hills — Fragrant Hills lands with the next model run. Meanwhile, explore the map.

Known for

  • Fragrant Hills (Xiangshan) smoke trees
  • Mutianyu Great Wall maples
  • Wuling Mountains color

Things to do in fall in Beijing Hills — Fragrant Hills

1 iconic stop — scenic drives, farms, haunts, and the views locals plan their October around.

Fragrant Hills Park

City park

Beijing's most crowded fall pilgrimage: smoke trees and maples blaze across this Western Hills park, viewed by cable car or on foot up to Incense Burner Peak. Color peaks in late October and draws immense weekend crowds.

Don’t miss: Incense Burner Peak · Cable car views · Twin Pagodas

Understand the season in Beijing Hills — Fragrant Hills

Short explainers on why and when the color arrives here.

Colorful songpyeon rice cakes prepared for the Korean Chuseok holiday

Traditions Around the World

Chuseok: Korea's Autumn Thanksgiving

Chuseok is Korea's biggest holiday: ancestral rites, half-moon rice cakes, and a nationwide trip home timed to the harvest moon.

2026-07-17 · 4 min read

Glowing paper lanterns hung for the Mid-Autumn Festival

Holidays & Celebrations

The Mid-Autumn Festival: Mooncakes, Lanterns, and the Harvest Moon

The Mid-Autumn Festival explained: why East Asia's biggest lunar harvest holiday centers on mooncakes, lanterns, family reunion, and the year's fullest moon.

2026-07-17 · 5 min read

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