Golden Fall Color of West Sichuan refers to the yellow/golden color of the trees and forest of the alpine highland forest during autumn season mainly in October/November. Golden Fall Color has been a main drive of its visitors in this season. The golden foliage of west Sichuan is one of the best photo trips in China.
There are two types of trees you may see the yellow color. One is the Green Poplar trees and the other is Red Fir. The color is yellowish and depends on the season can be different levels of yellow color. It is a transitioning time of the trees through the year after its prime summer green and before the leaves fall off the trees. They often come as a cluster of trees and making themself look stunning especially in a sunny day.
Late October in Yading Pearl Lake of the Larch Tree Forest
The color change of foliage are mainly of two types of trees: poplar trees (Qing Yang) and Red Fir (Hong Shan). These trees are usually found in the following places: Bipenggou, Siguniang, Xinduqiao, Daofu, Ganzi, Daocheng Yading. These two different types of trees that provide yellow foliage that will reach its prime golden color in slightly different times.
Green Poplar Trees will start to have yellow color by as early as early October by around 10th October and reaches it's prime yellow color by around 20th to 25th October. In general the best time to see the Golden Color of Green Poplar Trees is by middle and late October. But it may still differ slightly each year due to temperature and weather difference each year. Green Poplar Trees grow at the elevation between 2500m and 3800m in general around West Sichuan mainly in Xinduqiao, Daocheng, Daofu, Ganzi.
Larch Trees (Larix potaninii, or Red Fir) is a conifer tree with needle leaves that it's tree color start to change by mid October and reaches its prime yellow color by end of October at between late Oct to early Nov in general. In different years the time of the prime yellow color may differ a little depending on temperature and due to climate change. The larch trees grow by the elevation between 3800m and 4100m in West Sichuan by Daocheng Yading, Bipenggou and Siguniang(Four Sisters Mountain).
Poplar Trees and Spruce grow by different elevation.
Red Color Forest
There is also another color change of forest in lower part of the mountains by East Qionglai and Minshan Range that the more lush forest will have green, yellow and red colors in October and November by lower elevation below 3000m. These places include Labahe, Micangshan, Tangjiahe, Longcanggou, etc.
Often the Golden Fall Color of West Sichuan acctually refers to the Green Poplar Trees around Daocheng Yading and Xinduqiao. (The trees inside Yading Park are actually Larch Trees and the Larch Trees yellow color comes often in a slightly different yellow color (more to orange-yellow color) and are usually later than the Poplar Trees.) Places to see the Poplar Trees include Xinduqiao and around, Daocheng and around, Daofu and Ganzi. All places to see these are alongside the drive way.
