Ceylonese Talk
As autumn deepens in southwestern China, the famed Guangwu Mountain in Sichuan province is once again awash in fiery crimson and gold foliage. The 23rd Sichuan Guangwu Mountain International Red Leaf Festival has opened, inviting tourists from home and abroad to stroll what is billed as Asia’s largest natural “red carpet”.
Organised by local authorities in Bazhong city, the festival carries the theme “Guests Come from Afar, AI Lights Up Guangwu Red” — a nod to the blending of nature’s spectacle with new-age experiences.
A Torch Relay Across Cities
At the launch ceremony, ten torch-bearers from the Bazhong region carried a specially designed “red-leaf torch,” inspired by the scarlet beech and oak leaves of Guangwu. The torch is set to travel next to Beijing, Shanghai, Anji (Zhejiang) and Dingzhou (Hebei), lighting up the festival’s cultural footprint.
More Than Just Leaf-Viewing
While the vast forest corridor of 680 km² offers a panoramic spectacle of autumn colour, organisers have expanded the experience with new thrill rides, aerial tours and immersive tech features. Highlights this year include a mountain coaster, glass-water slide, helicopter red-leaf flights and drone-enabled photography sessions for visitors to capture the canopy from above.
Hiking options range from two moderate 6.5-km trails to an 11-km advanced route, with completion rewards such as customized medals and collectible points—those topping monthly leaderboards can win cash and prizes.
Smart Viewing, Effortless Travel
To help guests plan their visit, the attraction publishes daily “red-leaf index” updates and real-time social-media posts, using data analytics and field observations so that travellers “don’t arrive to leaves that haven’t turned”. An exoskeleton-assist device, worn by some visitors during uphill treks, promises to reduce physical strain by up to 70%.
Stay Longer, Experience More
The region’s hospitality providers are working hard to convert day-visitors into overnight guests. A network of upgraded lodgings now offers smart-device accessories and better facilities, with new night-time programming such as outdoor cinema, fire-pits and live music themed around red-leaf season. A multi-destination ticket policy ties together 31 scenic sites and 18 cultural museums in the Bazhong region, promoting longer stays and greater economic benefit from autumn tourism.
Visitor Tips
Three recommended leaf-viewing routes are offered:
“Peak Red Carpet” (Guangwu Mountain main scenic zone)
“Romantic Red Leaf Journey” (Micang / Mi-cang Mountain zone)
“Fairy-Pool Red Leaf Trail” (Shibayue / “Eighteen-Moon” Pond zone)
Parking, cable-cars and shuttle services are available; but given strong weekend demand, securing accommodation in advance is advisable.
As China’s forests turn their autumn hues, Guangwu Mountain leverages a mix of natural splendour and technology-enhanced tourism to capture attention from global travellers — a model of how heritage, nature and innovation may drive local regeneration.