Discover 7 Hidden Autumn Gems in Hangzhou to Escape the Crowds

Explore 7 Hidden Autumn Spots in Hangzhou to Escape the Crowds

Last fall, I almost got discouraged by the crowds at Manjuelong, so I just drove out of the city. I scouted around and found these 7 almost empty spots to enjoy the autumn scenery. There were no photography groups with big cameras, no waiting in line for half an hour at trendy cafes, just the sounds of pine needles falling on stone slabs and the smell of rice husks wafting from the fields. I retraced my steps and noted down details like where to park, the best time for lighting, and which bowl of noodles is the most satisfying, so you can just copy my homework.

Chanyuan Temple: A Hidden Autumn Temple

I woke up naturally that day and left the west side of the city at 9 AM. The GPS directed me to "Chanyuan Temple," and after 1.5 hours of driving on elevated roads and mountain paths, I arrived smoothly. The temple is tucked away in a valley at the border of Anji and Yuhang, with just a single lane for cars at the entrance. On weekends, only about a dozen cars can park, so you don’t have to worry about finding a spot.

The entrance fee is 20 yuan, which is a donation, and the lady only takes cash, so remember to bring some change. To the left when you enter is the Golden Pine Avenue, which turns completely yellow by late November. When the wind blows, it feels like gold is falling; to the right, there’s a group of ancient trees from the Ming Dynasty, and the biggest ginkgo tree can only be hugged by four people. I strolled around the temple for about 40 minutes, and the steps are not too many, so even you can walk in sneakers.

At 11:15 AM, I returned to the dining hall, a meal costs 10 yuan, and you can refill cabbage, tofu, and seaweed soup as much as you want. The lady saw that I cleaned my plate and gave me an extra spoonful, saying, “Don’t waste.” After eating, I sat on a long bench at the temple entrance to soak up the sun; my phone had no signal at all, which was actually nice.

Yongfu Temple: Beautiful Red Leaves in the Morning Light

If you want to see red leaves in morning light, you have to get there before 6 AM. I got out of the car at 5:40 AM from Lingyin parking lot, and the air was so cold that my mask was full of moisture. Yongfu Temple is just 100 meters ahead of Lingyin, and you can swipe your Hangzhou park card directly, or pay 45 yuan if you don’t have one.

Don’t rush to take photos as soon as you enter; head straight to the innermost “Fanlai Hall” first. There’s a row of red maples facing east, and at 7 AM, the sunlight comes through the eaves, making the leaves glow. I squatted there for 20 minutes, and only the janitor walked by; it was quiet enough to hear the sound of the shutter. After 8 AM, the tour groups start coming in, so if you want to take empty shots, you have to get there early.

There are many steps in the temple, so it’s best to wear non-slip shoes; there are no breakfast stalls, so bring your own hot water and bread. I brought a thermos and rice balls, and after eating under the maple tree, my fingers finally warmed up.

Xihu Fish Paradise: Enjoy the Autumn Colors of the Water Pines

I went there on the first weekend of November; it’s free, just plug “Xihu Fish Paradise” into the GPS. The water pines stand in a corner of West Lake, with wooden houses right by the lake, and their shadows falling on the water, creating a symmetrical painting. The light is soft around 3 PM, so photos of leaves in the light and shadows against the light both look great.

The park isn’t large; you can finish walking around in 20 minutes, but since there are few people, I spread out my picnic mat and watched ducks swimming by, while the lady next to me knitted. No one rushed me to give up my seat. There’s no small shop nearby, so bring your own drinks; the restroom is right at the entrance and is cleaner than most tourist attractions in the city.

Rice Field Metro Station: The Comfort of Golden Rice Fields

At the metro line 3 “Wushan Qian Village” station, Exit A leads straight to the rice fields. In early November, the rice is all golden, and when the wind blows, it rustles softly, like natural white noise. I went there one Friday afternoon, and the whole field was just me and a kid flying a kite.

100 meters to the right from the exit is the “Rice Field Noodle House,” with lamb noodles for 28 yuan. The four seats by the window face the rice fields, and I snagged one at 11 AM. They’re generous with the lamb, and the broth has a slight milky scent, so don’t forget to add a spoonful of the boss's homemade chopped chili, it’s just spicy enough. After eating, I bought a bottle of iced Coke and sat on the ridge; the smell of rice husks mixed with sunshine almost made me fall asleep.

Little "Duck River" in Hangzhou: An Autumn Reflection of Zhejiang Countryside

Just search for “Ancient Camphor Tree in Xita Village,” and you can park right at the village entrance for free. A 300-year-old camphor tree stands at the edge of the field, with a trunk so hollow that it can hide three people. The rice fields are divided by a small creek, and the water is so clear you can see little crucian carp swimming.

I brought a folding chair and a book, and I sat from 2 PM to 5 PM, only encountering a couple of foreign cyclists. The grass by the creek is flat enough, and you can set up a tent anywhere you like, just remember to take your trash with you. At sunset, the sun shines on the camphor tree, and the leaves look like they’re covered in a layer of copper powder; my phone shot some really great photos.

Guozhuang: A Beautiful Maple Garden with Few Visitors

On the last Saturday of November, I arrived at the gate at 8:30 AM, with a ticket costing 10 yuan, or free with a park card. After entering, I turned left and walked 30 steps to find red maples by the lake; the trees aren’t tall, but the branches stretch over the water, with a fake mountain and louvers behind them, making me feel like I had traveled back in time to Suzhou.

I squatted there for an hour, and there were only about 10 other visitors in total, so I could freely snap pictures. The tour groups only started arriving after 10 AM, so if you want to take empty shots, go early. There’s no dining in the garden, but Starbucks is a 5-minute walk away at “Yanggongdi,” which makes it convenient to grab a quick break.

Longjing Village: A Hiking Journey through Tea Mountains

The Shilianglang Paifang is just behind the Longjing Village bus stop, and the parking fee is 20 yuan for the whole day. I hit the trail at 9 AM, taking 2.5 hours to slowly get to the peak on stone and dirt paths. The way up is filled with a mix of golden pines, ginkgos, and tea trees, creating an explosion of yellow and green that’s richer than a color palette.

At the top, there’s a viewing platform where you can overlook West Lake and Qianjiang New Town. I brought instant coffee and bread, and enjoyed sipping my drink while gazing at the city skyline, with the mountain wind making my ears red from the cold. On the way down, I took the path past Longjing Tea House, and around 11 AM, I reached the village’s well, where dragon well water can be refilled for 2 yuan. I filled my thermos to bring back to the car.

Quick Reference: 7 Spotting Tips

My Packing List (Prepared As Soon as I Get Out of the Car)

• 20 yuan cash (Chanyuan Temple only accepts cash)
• Thermos + rice balls/bread (Food is unstable in the mountains and villages)
• Non-slip athletic shoes (Wet paths in Yongfu Temple and Longjing)
• Folding chair or picnic mat (For chilling in Xita Village and Fish Paradise)
• Power bank + data cable (No shared power sources in the mountains)
• Trash bags (Bring your own since there’s no cleanup in quiet places)

Last year, I finished this route, and nobody in my circle believed it was Hangzhou when I posted photos. This year, I plan to explore the same route again, so if you see someone wearing a gray fisherman’s hat, sitting under the camphor tree sipping coffee in November, come say hi, and I’ll share half of my orange with you.