A seriously underrated treasure ancient town in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai!! Detailed guide included!

The whole Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Shanghai region has been waiting for the millennium-old ginkgo trees, and the best viewing period has finally arrived! The trees are covered in golden leaves, filling the sky, paired with ancient buildings featuring white walls and black tiles—every photo looks like wallpaper. You can rush there this weekend; don’t wait until the leaves fall and regret it! Trust me, just navigate directly to Puyuan Ancient Town’s Fushan Temple! After entering the scenic area, follow the main street to the deepest part, where two millennium-old ginkgo trees stand steadily in front of the temple square, one male and one female, guarding the ancient town for over a thousand years. Just standing under the trees and seeing their lush branches and leaves feels full of stories~ Let me share some golden shooting times I personally tested, remember them well: From 8:00 to 9:30 in the morning, there are very few people, and the light is soft like a veil. Occasionally, morning mist drifts by, making the ginkgo trees appear faintly in the fog—it's like a real-life fairyland; From 3:00 to 4:30 in the afternoon, the side light shines on the leaves, each ginkgo leaf glowing with light. Portrait photos come with a natural soft light filter, making skin look amazing; The best is after 6:00 in the evening, when the lights turn on, the golden leaves are warmly illuminated, overlapping with the outlines of the ancient buildings, so dreamy you’ll want to spin around on the spot! I’ve marked the must-shoot spots for you, follow these to get great shots: Stand under the ginkgo tree and shoot upwards, the screen filled with golden yellow against the blue sky, any snap is a phone wallpaper; Find a temple gate to frame the shot, shoot the ginkgo through the door frame, instantly bringing out the ancient style, like stepping out of a painting; Stand on the stone-paved road and shoot from afar, capturing the ginkgo along with the flying eaves and white walls of the ancient town—this is the peak moment of Jiangnan autumn scenery; Crouch down to shoot close-ups of fallen leaves, the ground covered in gold looks like a carpet, and stepping on it makes a rustling sound, instantly boosting the atmosphere~ Some outfit tips: light colors are always the best! Off-white, apricot, light coffee—gentle and sophisticated, perfectly matching the ginkgo; wearing Hanfu or new Chinese-style clothes is also amazing, standing under the tree feels like stepping out of an ancient painting; just don’t wear yellow tones, or you’ll “match” the ginkgo and the photos will lack depth~ Let me share my travel route, personally tested with no backtracking: Enter from the visitor center, first stroll through Siwan Street (the main storyline location, very lively), then visit Xufang Zen Garden (the evening light show is so beautiful it makes you want to cry), next head straight to Fushan Temple to see the ginkgo, then go to Pufu (where you can have tea and chat with “Master Pu,” very immersive), then visit Guandi Temple and Yefeng Camping Site, check in at Yunxiang Yishang and Coca-Cola Experience Center, finally visit Pusang Guild Hall and the Yue Family’s Three Scholars Residence (don’t miss the puppet show here, the old artist’s skills are amazing), and on the way, stop by the Wool Workshop and Beigeng Tower. A full day well spent~ Special praise for the night tour! It’s truly stunning: Three immersive scenes + nearly 100 NPCs, from Siwan Street to Pufu, you’ll meet “drama queen” NPCs every few steps—peddlers, ladies, merchants—all in ancient costumes. Interacting with them can trigger hidden quests, like playing a real-life script murder game; Siwan Street recreates a hundred-meter-long Song Dynasty-style street, where you can play with replica Jiaozi coins in games like touhu (pitch-pot), archery, and cuju (ancient football), and taste osmanthus cake, Dingsheng cake, and roasted lamb. The aroma alone will captivate you from afar; There are continuous performances—string puppets, acrobatics, Song-style dances… especially the puppet show at the Yue Family’s Three Scholars Residence, where the old artist’s fingers fly and the puppets come alive. I was completely mesmerized! Finally, a little tip: from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, the main storyline is most intense, so don’t miss the interactive experience; remember to exchange some Jiaozi coins—winning games can get you small gifts, maybe even “turning a bicycle into a motorcycle”~ This weekend, grab a buddy and head to Puyuan Ancient Town for a Jiangnan autumn date under the millennium-old ginkgo trees! If you’ve been, feel free to share your photo tips in the comments~