In a thousand peaks of central Shandong, autumn colors are hidden at every step

Autumn in central Shandong begins with the first red leaf on the cliff. At first, only scattered specks of crimson dot the gray-green rocks. After a few autumn winds sweep through, the color spreads fiercely across the entire cliff face. Even the mountain streams catch the red tint, flowing down the valley with a delicate murmur of autumn, slipping over the moss-covered stone slabs and brushing past the yellow wild chrysanthemums on the slopes. There is no need to search for autumn deliberately — just walk along the mountain paths, watch the red leaves mirroring the mountain light, and the streams entwining with the forest shadows. You will know that the full essence of autumn in central Shandong has already unfolded gracefully across every inch of the wilderness.