The 38th Beijing Xiangshan Red-Leaf Festival opened on October 16 and runs until November 15, according to the park's official announcements — but this year the summit cableway is suspended for system upgrades, so the easy ride up Incense Burner Peak is off the table for the whole festival.

Who this affects

Anyone planning an autumn foliage trip to Beijing in late October or the first half of November; travelers with limited mobility or knee trouble who were counting on the cableway; and weekend visitors who don't know about the temporary traffic controls around the park.

What changed

Per Xiangshan Park official channels (the park's WeChat account and Beijing municipal park announcements):

  • Festival dates: October 16 – November 15, 2026. Leaf color was around 10% at opening, with the park forecasting the best viewing from late October; peak color typically holds into the first days of November, followed by a leaf-fall phase.
  • Cableway suspended: the Xiangshan cableway is not operating during the system upgrade. The climb to Incense Burner Peak (Xianglufeng) is on foot only — allow 60–90 minutes up a steady staircase.
  • Entry: ¥10 full price, ¥5 concession; joint ticket with Biyun Temple ¥15. Tickets via the park's official WeChat channels; no reservation quota announced.
  • Crowd peaks: the park flags October 24–25, 31 and November 1, 7–8 as high-volume days, with afternoons worst.
  • Traffic controls on festival weekends on roads near the park (including Xiangshan Road and Xincun Street sections, roughly 07:30–17:30 on listed dates) — private cars are effectively a bad idea; the Western Suburban Line (Xijiao Line) metro to Xiangshan Station is the reliable route.

What to do

  1. Go on a weekday, before 08:00 if you can — the park opens at 06:00 in season and mornings are calm; the lower routes (Shuangqing Villa, Jingcui Lake area) color up beautifully without the summit climb.
  2. Skip the summit if you have knee or mobility concerns — with the cableway down, the mid-level gardens and Biyun Temple offer the festival experience minus the stairs.
  3. Arrive by metro Western Suburban Line, not taxi; weekend road controls turn the last two kilometers into a parking lot.
  4. Check the park's official WeChat "red-leaf index" the day before — color percentages are updated regularly and shift with the weather.

Last updated: 2026-10-21 · Confirm details with official channels before you travel.