Entering autumn is the best time for viewing maple leaves. Mount Heng (Nanyue) in Hunan Province, one of China’s Five Great Mountains, is one of the best spots for maple leaves viewing in autumn. Although the maple season at Mount Heng usually runs from mid‑November to early December, the optimal time is around late November. When I arrived in mid‑November, about half of the leaves had not yet turned red. In recent years, changes in weather may cause the viewing period to shift.
On this trip, besides visiting Mount Heng, I also made a side trip to Chibi City in Hubei Province (two days, one night) to see the site of the famous Battle of Red Cliffs from the year 208 during the Three Kingdoms era. A separate article will be written about the Red Cliffs journey.
Transportation
Depart from Shenzhen North station, you can take the high‑speed rail directly to Hengshan West Station, which takes a little over three hours. I visited Hengshan first and then went on to Chibi.
Viewing Areas
Mountain hiking, maple leaves, taking photos can take a whole day. Unless you arrive early in the morning, it is recommended to stay at a one night at the foot of the mountain on the first day, where accommodation and meals are lower price than the peak. On the second day, go up the mountain, leave your luggage at another hostel, and then continue sightseeing.
Basically, you can view maple leaves along the way, with the densest scenery starting from the Zhonglie Shrine section upward. In contrast, there weren’t many maple leaves to see at Zhuling Peak that day, perhaps because the weather wasn’t yet right. Although it was a bit disappointing that the mountain didn’t have many maple leaves at that time, I was pleasantly surprised to find a thousand‑year‑old ginkgo tree, which was truly beautiful.
Sunrise
Sunrise times at Mount Heng vary depending on the season. From the lodging area to the summit at Zhuling Peak takes about 2.5 to 3 hours, depending on walking speed. Around late November, sunrise is at about 6:30 a.m. We woke up at 2:30 a.m. to wash up and set off, aiming to avoid the crowds and secure a good viewing spot. However, when we arrived, many people were already there, with roughly four‑fifths of the spots taken.
You can choose to climb stairs or follow the winding road up, though the latter takes longer. Although many people hike up together for the sunrise, it’s advisable to bring a flashlight.
If you want to stand in the front row, you basically need to start climbing very early. Some people even camp on the mountain. The viewing area isn’t very large, so some stand on rooftops. On the left side, standing on the ground is better, but you’ll need to jump up and down carefully.
Remember to bring a jacket, water, and some snacks. At this time of year, the weather is getting colder, so mosquito repellent isn’t necessary.
You can check my IG profile or Facebook page to see that area.
Summit attraction — Zhuling Peak
Before setting off, I hadn’t realized that the highest peak of Mount Heng is called Zhuling Peak. The name is said to originate from the ancient battle between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou. Since Nanyue corresponds to the element of fire in the Five Elements, Zhuling was honored as the God of Fire. You can look up the full story online for more details.
This marks the end of the trip for Mount Heng.
Meals and Accomodation
At the foot of the mountain, there are many hostels, and you can simply walk in and ask for the price without booking in advance. Just find a reasonably priced room, usually around RMB 100 per room. There are also hostels on the mountain, about RMB 100–120 per night for a double bed. If you don’t want to set off too early to catch the sunrise, you can choose accommodation at a higher elevation. For me, climbing the mountain itself feels more meaningful.
Basically, hostels offer meals, and there are also food options at the summit, so you don’t need to worry about breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Other related article:
-> Wudan Mountain Trip
-> Zhangjiajie & Fenghuang Ancient Town Trip
Short Trip:
-> Kaiping Diaolou Trip
-> ShenZhen Fireflies Trip
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