Smoke leaves at Xiangshan, Fragrant Hills, west of downtown Beijing.  Little has changed since my first visit here two years ago: Xiangshan remains the one spot around Beijing where autumn foliage can be enjoyed.  Of course, every Beijing local knows this, and on autumn weekends many tens of thousands of them show up here.  It’s not exactly communing with nature, but at least a few nice photographs can be had.

Autumn came unusually late to Beijing this year.  These photographs of Xiangshan were taken in early November, yet the weather was so warm that butterflies were out and bees were collecting pollen.  The bees here were so thick that a loud buzzing drone could be heard around larger flower beds like this one.

Another butterfly at Xiangshan.

A hillside smoke tree.

Smoke leaves.

More autumn foliage beginning to turn at Xiangshan.  Paths wind throughout the Xiangshan mountainside, so it isn’t difficult to find a diversity of foliage.

Sumac, or at least the Chinese version of it, at Xiangshan.

More smoke leaves.

Gingko leaf at peak.

Gingko and smoke trees at Xiangshan.

Gingko leaves, not yet at peak, despite the November date.

A backlit smoke leaf.

More foliage in front of one of the Xiangshan buildings.

Smoke leaves in Xiangshan.