With autumn in full splendor, Beijing, capital of China, has rolled out new city viewing routes, forest trails, and a "leave the leaves" policy to make it easier for residents and visitors to enjoy the season's scenery.
At Beigong National Forest Park, some 30 species of colorful trees are putting on a show, drawing crowds even on weekdays.
"The autumn scenery here is really eye-catching -- great for photos. Seeing all these colors together just makes you feel happy," said a tourist.
The city has selected 16 autumn viewing spots, namely eight mountain lookouts and eight spots for forests and flower seas, and linked them into themed routes.
"We've integrated mountain tree-viewing with urban flower-viewing, and added hiking, family activities, and creative markets to create a high-quality micro-vacation experience," said Ma Hong, director, Park Management Division, Beijing Municipal Forestry and Parks Bureau.
Beijing also opened new forest trails this autumn, built with minimal disruption to nature.
"The trails are great -- plenty of mountain paths and unsurfaced roads. The autumn leaves are beautiful, the air is fresh, and it feels wonderful to walk and exercise here," said another tourist.
Around 400 kilometers of forest trails have been completed and opened to the public so far, covering the lower mountain areas of Fangshan, Mentougou, Shijingshan, Haidian, Miyun, and Changping districts.
Beijing unveils new autumn-themed routes, forest trails
