Hulunbuir launches autumn peak season as forests turn gold and crimson

Hulunbuir, home to what China National Geographic once called the country's "most beautiful autumn scenery", officially launched its peak tourism season on Sept 6 as the Greater Khingan Range begins its annual transformation into gold and crimson.

The best viewing period runs from early September to mid-October, with autumn colors gradually spreading from the northern forest areas southward into the grasslands. This year, Hulunbuir city has rolled out 15 cultural and tourism activities under the theme "40 days a year, limited oil painting autumn colors in the Greater Khingan Range".

To accommodate different traveler interests, organizers have designed four themed routes covering self-driving adventures, travel photography and sightseeing, folk culture immersion, and food and leisure experiences. A new autumn-themed special train, also named after the Greater Khingan Range, will connect the hubs of Hailar, Genhe, Mangui, Heishantou, and Manzhouli, offering travelers a scenic rail journey through the forested landscape.

The season's launch ceremony took place in Hulunbuir's Erguna city. The event began with a stage play titled Wedding Banquet on the Right Bank of the Erguna River, followed by a virtual-reality presentation that allowed guests to view real-time footage of the region's forest wetlands, with the imagery simultaneously displayed on a large screen. Performances by the Ulan Muqi troupe, featuring traditional instrumental music and song-and-dance numbers, followed.