Autumn flames in downtown Shanghai! The red maples in Gongqing Forest Park are at their peak

Hidden in Yangpu District, Shanghai, Gongqing Forest Park is the largest "urban lung" in the city. It’s accessible by walking from Xiangyin Road or Shiguang Road stations on Metro Line 8, so you don’t have to travel far to encounter the richest autumn atmosphere. When the temperature drops and brushes past the branches, nearly a thousand red maples here quietly don their splendid attire, dyeing the entire park into a flowing warm-colored painting. 🍁 Qiulin Aiwan is the core secret spot for maple viewing, where vast patches of red maples intertwine with golden ginkgo trees. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows. The wooden boardwalk winds through, making you feel like you’ve stepped into an oil painting. The leaves gradually change from light orange to bright red, layered densely on the branches. When the wind blows, they rustle softly, and occasionally a few fall, forming a soft "red leaf carpet" that crunches underfoot. 🌊 The maple scenery at the Water Forest Wetland is naturally poetic. The red maples reflect on the clear lake surface, complementing the dawn redwoods along the shore. Every snapshot is a beautiful scene that needs no filter. Near the south gate by the pond is also a treasure photo spot, where orange-red maple leaves hang toward the water, and occasionally birds fly by, filling the scene with autumn’s charm. 🚶 The park’s trails are flat and easy to walk, with wooden benches every 200 meters for resting. When tired, you can find a tea house for a hot drink or spread out a picnic mat on the lawn, enjoying slow moments surrounded by red leaves. There’s no need to rush to check in at specific spots; strolling along Ying Lake, the red maples, water, and stone bridges complement each other, creating healing scenery everywhere. The red maples here are not as delicate as spring blossoms but carry the unique passion and calmness of late autumn, hiding the tenderness of time in their veins. Walking into this maple forest, seeing the red leaves dye the sky and hearing the autumn wind whisper, you’ll understand why it’s said that half the poetry of Shanghai’s autumn is hidden in Gongqing Forest Park.