As autumn colors spread across Shandong in recent days, the year’s most intense viewing season has quietly arrived. From the shores of Jiaozhou Bay to the Yellow River estuary, from the foot of Mount Tai to the ancient canal town, the land of Shandong is filled with autumn’s gifts—golden ginkgo, red leaves across mountains, migrating birds and pink muhly grass like mist. Many scenic areas have successively entered their best viewing periods. Autumn here is short but intense, unfolding its seasonal painting in the most concentrated way. This autumn, Shandong is extending an invitation to travelers from around the world.

　　Jinan’s autumn unfolds around Hongyegu, or Red Leaf Valley. The 26th Red Leaf Festival at Hongyegu has entered its best viewing period, with more than 4,000 mu of smoke trees presenting a spectacular scene of mountains ablaze with red and forests dyed in layers. According to the scenic area, smoke tree leaves generally undergo three stages of change: in early October, they turn from green to yellow, with light red interwoven; from mid-October to early-to-mid November, they turn red en masse, appearing from afar like raging flames; in mid-November, after turning fully red, they fall with the wind, creating a scene of “myriad leaves drifting like cinnabar.” Ascending Wanye Pagoda, visitors can overlook the rich layers of autumn colors across the valley. Meanwhile, Mount Tai has also entered its best autumn viewing period, with red maples, smoke trees and green pines setting each other off, creating distinct layers of color on the mountain. At the Zhoudian Street Corner Park at the foot of the mountain in Tai’an, pink muhly grass is blooming in patches, adding a soft touch to the historically rich mountain city.