World Cultural Heritage — the ancient town of Hongcun in its tranquility. [Photo by Pan Cheng]

On October 8 or 9 of the Gregorian calendar, Cold Dew, the 17th of the 24 solar terms, means the official end of the autumn season and the transition from cool to cold weather. After Cold Dew, the deep autumn turns the Huangshan or Yellow Mountain Scenic Area in east China's Anhui Province from green to red. The cliffs are painted green and scarlet; the streams chant verses of white clouds and red leaves.

Xu Xiake (1587–1641), famous geographer, traveler and litterateur in the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), wrote in his essay titled Journey to Huangshan Mountain that the Huangshan or Yellow Mountain in autumn is "like an embroidery work of maples of all colors."