Nanmachang Reservoir

Here spring can go green, autumn can enjoy red leaves, every autumn, the yellow leaves on the mountain around the reservoir become red, the red leaves are very spectacular, is one of the best viewing points of Xiangshan red leaves. The reservoir is built on the mountain, with clear water and green mountains, fresh air, beautiful environment, willow trees in the water, reflection in the water, some dreamy feeling.

It is estimated that all the major mountain passes in Beijing will be crowded with people who want to see the red leaves tomorrow, so I deliberately came to see the red leaves a day in advance to avoid the crowds of people who have the same idea as me, and I also chose a slightly less popular place, the Nanmenkou Reservoir. It is separated from Xiangshan by a mountain, and the difficulty is relatively low. You can walk through the Ghost Laughing Stone directly to Xishan Forest Park. If you want to overlook the lights of Beijing at night, it is a very good choice. Xiangshan, separated by a mountain, is said to have a red leaf rate of 60%, but Nanmachang seems to have just reached 30%. Maybe it is because it is too close to the water, or it may be because Xiangshan + Xishan wraps it in a relatively warm place. It feels that there is still a lot of green, but when I looked up at the sky on the trestle, it is indeed boundless fallen leaves, and it is estimated that it will only be green for a few more days. The best thing about this place is that not many people know about it, so you can see a lot of wild animals, such as this mountain cat that just finished fighting spicy strips, and you can also see squirrels that are rushing to stock up on food on the treetops. It is one of the best shooting places for wild photography enthusiasts. Although it is relatively pristine, the roads have been well-traveled by hikers who pass through it all year round. Shijingshan District has also thoughtfully put up a map of the area on the side of the road for people to check at any time to prevent them from getting lost.

This is a free attraction. From Shijingshan, you can drive to the fire escape below the reservoir and then slowly climb up. It's not far. You can also go here from Xishan Forest Park. There are also roads to Badachu and Xiangshan. The reservoir is not big. Although it is free, there are also good plank roads around the mountain. There is also a small shop next to the reservoir.

Since I knew about this reservoir, I have been wanting to come here every day. It is rare to find such clean water in a noisy city. The reservoir is surrounded by endless mountains, which perfectly interprets the beauty of lakes and mountains.

I wanted to go to Nanmachang Reservoir to see the red leaves, but unfortunately I came a little late this year. Although it was early November, after two strong winds, the red leaves on the mountain had basically fallen off. Moreover, the village entrance is under construction, and there is some dust. The few remaining red leaves are also a little dirty and earthy. Now cars can only drive to the village entrance and park on the roadside. It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the reservoir. The scenery of the reservoir under the blue sky is still very beautiful. If there are red leaves all over the mountains, it should be more amazing. It is recommended to take the steps on the left side of the fork to go to the reservoir. It is closer and the scenery is better. You can get close to the reservoir. The road on the right is the original avenue for cars. Go along the wooden plank road beside the reservoir. If you want to take pictures of the water, there is a short section of the road that is not easy to walk. It is recommended for the elderly and those with children to take the wooden plank road. It is really not recommended to go here by bus. It is very far from the bus stop to the reservoir, and it is estimated to take more than 50 minutes to walk. You can park for free by car on the roadside, but the road is narrow and has many bends and uphills. It is not recommended to go here if you are not good at driving or if there are many cars on weekends.