20,000 Steps in 8 Hours at Qixia Mountain: Crowd-Avoiding Photo Pose Guide

Autumn at Qixia Mountain is as beautiful as a painting, so there are many tourists! This time, I spent a whole day walking 20,000 steps and personally tested a route that perfectly avoids the crowds and captures stunning photos. All the best photo spots are covered—grab this guide now! 🌄【Exclusive Crowd-Avoiding Route Entering from South Gate】 Arrive at the South Gate before 7 AM to enter for free and save 80 RMB! Not only is there less traffic, but you can also secure photo spots before the crowds arrive and catch the lingering morning mist in the mountains along the way~ 👉Route: South Gate → Taixu Pavilion → Maple Forest Lake → Emperor Qin’s Riverside Spot → Red Leaf Valley → Thousand Buddha Rock → Qixia Ancient Temple → Relic Pagoda → West Gate Avoid the popular congested section near the West Gate. Entering from the South Gate, the main roads and paths are less crowded, so you can take photos without worrying about messy backgrounds. 1️⃣ Taixu Pavilion Bamboo Path Light filters through bamboo leaves onto the bluestone path, creating a full atmosphere. An old man sells delicious 5 RMB candied hawthorns here, which also make great photo props. 2️⃣ Emperor Qin’s Riverside Spot Overlooking the rushing Yangtze River with an extremely wide view, you can capture a majestic landscape painting. This is a high point on the hiking route and relatively less crowded in the morning. 3️⃣ Hushan Viewing Platform Use a telephoto lens to compress space and capture the layered autumn colors of the mountains. 4️⃣ Mingjing Lake Use the water’s reflection for symmetrical composition, with red and yellow leaves as a dreamy foreground. 5️⃣ Imperial Garden Home to various chrysanthemums in vibrant colors. 6️⃣ Qixia Ancient Temple - Thousand Buddha Rock Buddhist stone carvings from the Southern Dynasties, full of historical depth. The red walls of Qixia Ancient Temple are very photogenic, and there are fewer people near the red walls by the Relic Pagoda! Following my route, you’ll arrive around 3 PM when the sunlight slants, casting window flower shadows on hems. Lean against the wall and look up at the branches—photos come out straight from the camera. ✅ Best shooting times: 8-10 AM (slanting light enhances skin texture) or 2-5 PM (backlighting makes leaves translucent with golden glow) ✅ Outfit suggestions: White, beige, black, light blue for strong contrast with autumn scenery; Hanfu or qipao with the ancient temple’s red walls create a time-travel vibe. Wear comfortable shoes! The hike is quite long. ✅ Pose tips: Walking, brushing leaves with your hand, squatting on stone steps—these candid actions add storytelling to your photos. This in-depth route enters from the South Gate and exits at the West Gate, capturing red walls, ginkgo, maple leaves, and Yangtze River views all in one! Finally! Filter recommendations: Ricoh + Autumn Quest, with a bit of blue tone for a look closer to what the eye sees! 👀 Map reference is on the last page!