Autumn is one of the best seasons to visit Shaanxi Province. Then what can tourists see in this season? Every year from late October to mid-November, from the mountain to the plain, all the layers of forests are dyed. And In some places, the picturesque ginkgo rain has started, and ginkgo leaves like a golden carpet under the tree. So if you plan a Xian tour in fall, do not forget to explore the beautiful natural scenery. Now, follow this article to see where we can enjoy such a healing journey.
As long as you are interested in ginkgo trees in Shaanxi , you can see it around different streets. But there is no doubt that the most popular ginkgo tree is in the Ancient Guanyin Temple!
The Ancient Guanyin Temple is one of the thousand-year-old ancient temples hidden in Zhongnan Mountain. The temple is backed by the Phoenix Mountain in the south. Within the ancient temple, there is a millennium ginkgo tree.
It is said that it was planted by Emperor Taizong Li Shimin and has a history of more than 1,400 years. Every winter, this old tree is like a golden armor, after the wind, the earth is golden and splendid.
It represents eternal love, or waiting for a life. The thousand-year-old trees is at ancient temples in deep mountains with winds and rains, the leaves are prosperous to see in spring and autumn.
In this place, you will keep calm as if all the troubles will dissipate when you are enjoying the leaves falling down.
Location: Luohandong Village, Dongda Sub-district, Chang ‘an District, Xi ‘an
Distance from Xian: about 50 kilometers
Ticket: Free, but you need to reserve online in advance
Best time to see: Late October – early December
Bus: Take the No. 916 bus in Xi’an, get off at Nanshicun Station, go straight to Sanchakou for about 10 minutes (walking), and there will be “Guanyin Temple” on the left.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
The Small Wild Goose Pagoda always gives people a feeling of quietness. Due to the towering old trees, the Small Wild Goose Pagoda is beautiful. Especially the ginkgo tree next to the tower is yellow and clear, it is very eye-catching.
Location: No. 74, Youyi West Road, Beilin District, Xi ‘an
Transportation: Take metro line 2 or 5 to the Nanshaomen Station
Ticket: Free, but you need to reserve online in advance
Best time to see: October
Xingqing Palace Park
The lakeside green willow tree will turn yellow, which is meaningful. The antique buildings hidden behind the autumn leaves are full of Zen.
When the leaves is falling down, the land is covered by yellow leaves, which let people want to lay down on it with shouting.
Location: No. 55, XianningWest Road, Beilin District, Xi ‘an
Transportation:Tourists can get there by metro line 6 and get off at Jiaotongdaxue Xingqinggong Station
Ticket: Free
Best time to see: Mid to late October -early to mid-November
Tang Paradise
The night view of Tang Paradise is beautiful, but in this Tang Dynasty theme park, there are two ginkgo forests on the east and west sides of Ziyun Building, and the autumn is full of charm. The eye-catching autumn yellow echoes the ancient architecture, and the vicissitudes and weights of history make people more interesting.
Location: No. 99, Furong West Road, Qujiang New District, Yanta District, Xi ‘an
Transportation: Metro line 4has a stop at Datangfurongyuan Station.
Ticket: CNY 120
Best time to see: Late October – mid-November
Historical Mausoleums & Ancient Sites to See Autumn Ginkgo
Duling Site Park
In the late Western Han Dynasty, the tomb of Emperor Liu Xun was in a highland. The two rivers of the Han and the Yi River passed through this place. The old name at that time was “Hongguyuan”, which was located in the south of Yanxiang Road, the south of Qujiang, Xi’an.
Location: No. 1, YanxiangRoad, Yanta District, Xi ‘an
Transportation: Take metro line 8 to Miaojiazhai and transfer to a taxi to the scenic area.
Ticket: Free
Best time to see: Late October – mid-November
Hanyangling Mausoleum
Hanyangling Mausoleum is a joint burial cemetery of Han Jing Emperor Liu Qi and his empress Wang. It is located in Xianyangyuan, across the Xianyang District, Xiangyang County, and Xi’an Gaoling District.
Every year, at the beginning of November, it is the most beautiful time of ginkgo trees. At this time, the Hanyangling Mausoleum is charming in autumn, and hundreds of acres of the ginkgo forest are turned yellow. At first glance, it looks like the “Imperial City”.
Location: East Section of Airport Road, Jinghe Industrial Park, Weicheng District, Xianyang
Transportation: Take Xian metro line 2 or 4 to Xingzhengzhongxin Station D3, where has free shuttle bus to the scenic spot
Ticket: CNY 70 during March – November and CNY 55 during December to February.
Best time to see: Late October – mid-November
Shuangbaiguo Village in Da’an Town, Ningqiang
The ancient ginkgo trees in Shuangbaiguo Village and Huayansi Village of Da’an Town, Ningqiang County, are all covered with golden costumes. The golden light and colorful in the colorful sunshine attract many visitors.
These ancient ginkgo trees are located near the road between Da’an Town and Yumulin, 17 km from Da’an. According to the measurement, the double ginkgo trees in Shuangbaiguo Village are more than 570 years old, and their trunks are 8 meters long and 20 meters high. They are called the Ningqiang Ginkgo Tree King.
In spring, leaves are like jasper, charming and moving. In summer, the trunk is like an umbrella, cool and incomparable. In deep autumn, golden leaves is dancing like celescial beauty scattering flowers. In winter, the tree branches is still vigorous and straight while braving the wind and snow, it is the most beautiful scenery in the region.
Location: Da’an Town, NingqiangCounty, Hanzhong
Distance from Xian: about 400 kilometers
Ticket: free
Best time to see: Late October – mid-November
Hidden Sites in Qinling Mountains & Southern Shaanxi
Foping Xianguo Temple Ginkgo
The Xianguo Temple originates from the Sanjiao Temple, which is the combination of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Formerly known as the Sanjiao Temple, the old temple site is located in Xiqiaohe Town Center.
There is a hall in Xianguo Temple, which houses three statues of Jiadani, Laozi and Confucius. The Millennium Ginkgo tree is a unique landscape in the center of the square.
Because the architecture of the hall of Xianguo Temple is magnificent, the millennium ginkgo tree complements it, and the cultural heritage of the three religions makes the Xianguo Temple sing in southern Shaanxi.
Location: Xiqiaohe Town, Foping County, Hanzhong
Distance from Xian: about 200 kilometers
Ticket: free
Best time to see: Late October – November
Louguantai Laozi hand-planted ginkgo
On the Huanshan line of the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains, there is a Louguantai near to Xi’an. The ancient ginkgo tree is next to the site of the Sanqing Hall in the Zongsheng Palace on the west side of the Fudi Square. It is the time for the shiny sun to shine in the yellow color.
The legend is about when Lao Tzu was here to talk about it, a veritable old tree with a diameter of about 3 meters was fired and hollow inside. Only a few thicker bark were used to transmit nutrients.
However, the old tree has not been decadent, and it is still full of vitality and new branches. From afar, it looks like a crown, and it is full of history.
Location: Zhouzhi County, Xian
Distance from Xian: about 80kilometers
Ticket: CNY 40
Best time to see: Mid-November- early December
Hanzhong Liuba Jade Emperor Temple Ginkgo
In the Qinling Mountains, Shiyaoba Village, Yuhuangmiao Township, Liuba County, Hanzhong City, has an ancient ginkgo tree with a diameter of 4.4 meters and a height of about 26 meters.
According to the estimation by the forestry department, the tree is nearly 4,000 years old.
In the early winter, the golden ginkgo leaves fell to the ground with spectacular beauty. The ancient ginkgo tree has been with the mellow villagers for thousands of years, and it is a touching song of harmony between man and nature.
The 4000 years of ancient ginkgo leaves as if an amazing gold carpet. The ancient trees, after years of baptism, have absorbed the essence of the sun and the moon for thousands of years.
Location: ShiyaobaVillage, Yuhuangmiao Town, Liuba County, Hanzhong
Distance from Xian: about 300kilometers
Ticket: free
Best time to see: Late October – mid-November
Essential Travel Tips for Visitors
Peak Viewing Time:Besides autumn, spring is also a golden period for a tour in Shaanxi.
Day Trips from Xi’an:The most classic side trip from Xian is the Terracotta Warriors and Huaqing Palace. If you have enough energy and are fond of natural scenery, Mt. Huashan is also quite worth visiting.
Multi-Day Trip/Remote:3 – 5 days is chosen by the most tourists. Below is a brief itinerary for your reference.
Day 1: City Wall – Bell and Drum Tower – Muslim Quarter
Day 2: Shaanxi History Museum – Big Wild Goose Pagoda – Datang Everbright City
Day 3: Terracotta Warrior – Huaqing Palace
Day 4: Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xian Museum – Tang Paradise
Day 5: Mt. Huashan
Photography Tips:To take a panoramic photo of the city center, ascend City Wall or Bell Tower. The best tourist attractions for the night landscapes will be Bell and Drum Tower and Datang Everbright City. If you want to take memorable photos of yourself, it is strongly recommended to try on traditional Chinese clothes when going sightseeing at the historic scenic spots.
FAQs about Places to See Autumn Ginkgo in Shaanxi
When is the absolute peak viewing week for ginkgo leaves in Shaanxi, and how much can this change year-to-year?
The best viewing period for ginkgo leaves usually ranges from mid to late October to mid to late November, and the most golden week is usually in mid-November (Nov. 10 – 20). Due to the change of temperature, this time may be one week earlier or later every year.
What are the opening and closing times for the most popular parks, like the Duling Site Park and Xingqing Palace Park?
The opening hours of Duling Site Park are about 09:00 – 19:00. Xingqing Palace Park is open at 06:00 and close at 22:00.
Which ginkgo locations are easiest to reach using Xi’an’s public transportation system?
Both Small Wild Goose Pagoda and Xingqing Palace Park can be reached by metro directly. The transportation to Duling Site Park is also relatively convenient, tourists can take a metro first and then take a taxi.
What is the best time of day to visit spots like the Small Wild Goose Pagoda to avoid the biggest crowds?
Usually, it is advised to arrive there at 09:00 when the scenic area is just open, because the majority of tourists and tour groups have not arrived at this time. Another recommended period is the late afternoon. In addition, the number of tourists is much less on weekdays compared with weekends. Another tip is to enter from the west gate.
Are there any specific photography restrictions inside the temples or mausoleums?
In most cases, tourists are allowed to take photos of the outdoor buildings and scenery when touring a temple. But photography of status inside the hall is strictly prohibited. So just remember with your eyes and heart. The most important matter during a tour in mausoleums is that never take a photo with the tombs, tombstones or coffins as the background, which is regarded as a disrespectful behavior.
Plan Your Golden Shaanxi Journey with China Xian Tour
For tourists interested in Xian and Shaanxi Province, autumn is definitely the top season to go sightseeing. And the golden ginkgo leaves is an unmissable scenery in the season. We can plan a city tour based on your needs to cover the scenic spots which is popular or you like, meanwhile including the ginkgo into the tour reasonably. So during the travel with China Xian Tour, you can enjoy the highlights of the city in one tour. Contact our travel consultant right now to know more about your golden Shaanxi journey.
Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses, Bell and Drum Tower Square, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty Show, Shaanxi History Museum, Ancient City Wall, Yangling Mausoleum of Han Dynasty
Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Xian Museum, Muslim Quarter, Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Xian Ancient City Wall
Accept & Continue
We use cookies to improve user experience, enable social media functions, analyze data, and fulfill other marketing purposes as described in our cookie policy.
Send us a quick inquiry
A TripAdvisor award-winning China travel agency organizing diverse private and mini-group China tours. We offer in-depth experience, free cancellation, flexible & safe trips.
