Red Leaf Valley is located in the southern mountain area of Jinxiu Chuan Township, Jinan City. The entire valley is primarily dominated by the wild smoke tree, a species of tree valued for its ornamental qualities. In autumn, from a high vantage point, one can see the entire mountain covered in red leaves, with each layer of the forest painted in vibrant colors, making for a spectacular view. Of course, Red Leaf Valley is not only for appreciating red leaves in autumn; the valley also experiences the four seasons, each with its own beautiful mountain scenery. Visitors mainly arrive on foot, and the scenic area provides sightseeing vehicles for convenient exploration of the valley.
Upon entering the scenic area’s gate, one can see a group of buildings modeled after the Tang Dynasty. Climbing 69 steps leads to the ticket booth. To the south of this location is a long corridor, which serves as an excellent spot for visitors to view the scenery and rest. After the ticket booth, visitors reach the Lily Garden, a park themed around lilies. Every year, in July and August, a Lily Flower Festival is held here.
Continuing on, one arrives at the Xuanqiu Lake, a central scenic spot within the area. There is a pavilion in the lake, and during autumn, visitors can enjoy the red leaves covering the mountains and reflected in the water from the pavilion, creating a very splendid scene. Beyond Xuanqiu Lake, one can enter the Shangbala Leisure Valley, which features an 8-meter-wide waterfall. In front of the waterfall, a stage is built against the mountain, and during festivals, visitors can watch ethnic song and dance performances here.
Moving into the Bamboo Valley, one finds lush and towering bamboo forests, giving a feeling of being in an idyllic paradise. Heading south from Bamboo Valley leads to Xingjiao Temple, one of the earliest temples in Shandong, originally built during the Western Han Dynasty. Visitors can experience the tranquility of the temple here. The temple also has a spring called Shengshuquan, which originates from the natural cliffs on the mountain. The spring water flows from the crevices in the rock walls, gathering into pools that never dry up, and it is also one of the 72 famous springs of Jinan.
Heading north from Bamboo Valley, one can visit the Tianqu Garden, where there is a canopy of green trees and many birds are freely raised, including white swans, black swans, mallards, geese, and egrets. Visitors can also witness the sight of cascading waterfalls. After Tianqu Garden, one can proceed to the Rose Garden, which is filled with cherry blossoms, roses, and other plants from the rose family, interspersed between two sets of buildings in the garden.
Red Leaves Valley is an ideal place to escape the summer heat. The Wan Ye Tower, located south of Xingjiao Temple, is a scenic tower that offers a panoramic view of the entire park. Operating hours are from 07:30 to 20:00 from October 1st to November 30th; and from 08:00 to 16:30 from December 1st to September 30th.
Concessions: Children under 1.4 meters (not included) enter for free; those between 1.4 meters (included) and 1.6 meters (not included) and under 18 years old enjoy half price. Seniors aged 60 (included) to 69 (included) with ID or senior citizen card enjoy half price; those aged 70 (included) and above enter for free with ID or senior citizen card. Full-time students (excluding adult education and postgraduates) with student ID enjoy half price.
Military personnel with military officer or soldier ID enjoy a 30% discount. Disabled military personnel with a military disability certificate enter for free. Tourism law enforcement personnel with a tourism law enforcement certificate enter for free. Journalists with a press card (issued by the state news agency) enter for free. Groups of 16 or more with a letter from the organization enjoy a 20% discount. Disabled individuals with a disability certificate enter for free. Retired personnel with a retirement certificate enter for free.Service Facilities: Parking lot: [Red Leaves Valley Parking Lot], reference price: small cars 20 yuan/day, large vehicles 30 yuan/day; Address: Red Leaves Valley Parking Lot; Spaces: Not available.
Restrooms: There are restrooms located within the scenic area, near Mei Garden, Visitor Center, Shambhala Leisure Valley, Wan Ye Tower, Rose Garden, Lily Garden, and Lover’s Valley, all marked with conspicuous signs.
