Changsha Yuelu Mountain Autumn Travel Guide

In Changsha, autumn, especially December, is the most colorful time of the year for Yuelu Mountain, when many places have already entered the cold winter. If you happen to come to Changsha in this season, don't miss the opportunity to visit Yuelu Mountain to enjoy the autumn scenery. The scenery here is as beautiful as described by Mao Zedong: "The mountains are all red, and the forests are all dyed." ## Travel Tips ### Three-hour itinerary 1. **Starting point**: Enter the park from the Dongfanghong Square (South Gate) of Hunan University, and walk for about 10 minutes to reach Aiwan Pavilion. 2. **First stop**: After visiting Aiwan Pavilion, climb up the mountain road behind it for about 20 minutes to reach the ancient Lushan Temple. This temple, with a history of more than 1,700 years, is not only ancient but also has a delicate temple gate. 3. **Second stop**: After leaving Lushan Temple, turn left through the back door and continue up the mountain. After walking for about 10 minutes, you will reach Chuanshi Po Lake, where you can enjoy the tranquil and beautiful lake and mountain scenery. ### Half-day itinerary - After completing the above short trip route, you can choose to go directly to the top of Yuelu Mountain, where you can overlook the magnificent scenery of the whole Changsha city. - When going down the mountain, it is recommended to walk along the mountain trail to the east gate exit. - If time permits, you can also visit Yuelu Academy near Aiwan Pavilion to experience the strong cultural atmosphere. ## Photography Guide - **Best time**: Now is the best time to take pictures of the maple leaves around Aiwan Pavilion, but due to the large number of tourists, it is recommended to use a telephoto lens to take pictures from a distance to avoid the crowd. - **Composition skills**: Try to use the surrounding trees as the foreground to block some of the crowd, so that the picture is more focused on the main landscape. - **Lighting conditions**: Around 10:00 am or 3:00-4:00 pm on a sunny day is the ideal time to get the best light and shadow effects. ## Notes - Admission: It is recommended to take a taxi directly to Dongfanghong Square to start your journey; or take the subway to "Hunan University" station and walk there. - Fee information: Except for Yuelu Academy, which requires a ticket, all other attractions are open to the public for free. This guide is designed to help every visitor fully experience the unique charm of Yuelu Mountain in autumn.