Siming Mountains. [Photo by Tang Yan]
By Xu Zhuowei
Late autumn is a great time to go on day trips around the city. Ningbo has no lack of popular destinations. There are dozens of hiking trails, photogenic villages, and golden farms waiting to be discovered!
'Path of Gold' in the Siming Mountains
Late autumn is the prettiest time in the Siming Mountains.
The road to Tangtian Village in Simingshan Town of Yuyao are packed with cars as visitors flock over to walk down the beautiful "Path of Gold", nestled deep in the Siming Mountains. The name of the trail is Qixiakeng Historical Trail, part of an especially scenic region that had inspired some of the most famous poets of the Tang dynasty many centuries ago.
With the weather getting colder, the needles of the golden larch turn yellow, shining brilliantly in the sunlight. When the breeze blows, the needles fall and cover the trail below, forming a carpet several centimeters thick, hence the name "Path of Gold". Footsteps on the bed of needles are a soft, rustling sound.
To get to the trail, set幸福水庫(kù)("Xing Fu Shui Ku", or "Xingfu Reservoir") as the destination on your navigation app. The final stretch of paved road will end at a local orchard. Enter the orchard on foot, find the northward mountain path, follow it for 20 minutes or so over a hilltop and beyond, and you will reach the "Path of Gold", flanked by tall golden larch trees. Get ready to be amazed by the sight!
Rice Field Campsite
Autumn is harvest time in the golden rice paddies.
The Daoxiang Campsite near the Pond Cypress Viewing Area in Liangnong Town, Yuyao has become incredibly popular with day-trippers. Some sit under canopies, sipping tea and chatting. Some walk into the golden fields to take photos or simply savor the peace and quiet of the countryside.
There are water bamboo fields and farmers' fish ponds near the campsite. "Compared with other campsites, Daoxiang is more rustic." Ba Ren, the owner of Daoxiang, said that to add an extra touch of rural charm, he borrowed ten grey geese from farmers to keep in the fields.
Every once in a while, Daoxiang holds a music festival. Surrounded by rolling green hills, farmland, Siming Lake, and the pond cypress grove, Daoxiang is the perfect place to immerse yourself in the great outdoors and get close to nature.
Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Zhaobaoshan
The annual Chrysanthemum Exhibition at Zhaobaoshan, Zhenhai has started! A total of 11 installations have been put up along Yanjiang Road, at Zhenhai People's Park, and near Congyuan Road metro station.
At the entrance of Zhenhai People's Park, large chrysanthemums installations shaped like elephants, flower baskets, and towers have become the center of attention, sparking great joy in many young visitors. Their parents, equally impressed by the displays, snap photo after photo on their phones.
In the evening, ornamental lighting illuminates the flowerbeds and installations along Yanjiang Road in a multi-colored, dreamy glow. On the banks of the quiet Yong River, pale yellow chrysanthemums border the railings, ruffled by a gentle, cool breeze. Near bridges and around squares, countless pots of chrysanthemums have been artfully placed in huge arrangements.
This chrysanthemum exhibition opened on October 30 and will last until November 27. Definitely worth a visit!
Historical Village After Trendy Makeover
The fields near Zoumatang Village, Jiangshan Town are turning yellow once again. This village, a birthplace of many great scholars, is now a trendy destination with many boutique cafés and hip attractions.
Up until a year ago, Zoumatang Village's main attraction was its lotus pond and history of producing learned men. This year, through a rural revitalization project, the village transformed 16 unused residences and plots along the main road into modern attractions: cafés, campsites, fun farms, boutique hotels, restaurants, tea houses, bars, and libraries. The project revamped the village's style, giving it a brand-new look.
Nowadays at Zoumatang, you can often see fashion-savvy tourists sipping cups of coffee on wicker chairs next to the lotus pond, occasionally snapping selfies. Others prefer the fine-dining restaurant, with a spectacular view of the golden rice paddies that stretch to the horizon and beyond.