Where to see ginkgo trees in Luoyang in autumn? How to plan a trip to the thousand-year ginkgo grove in Song County?

[Direct conclusion] The best window is from the middle of October to the first week of November, when the thousand-year ginkgo grove in Xiasi Village, Baihe Town, Song County turns fully golden and the fallen leaves carpet the ground. The grove itself does not charge a separate entrance ticket, so what you really need to arrange in advance is village accommodation, parking on weekends, and the two-hour mountain drive from the city. Key points to keep in mind: 1. Timing follows the temperature, not the calendar. Ask for the local autumn foliage bulletin a couple of days before you go. The leaves usually start turning in mid-October, peak in the last ten days of October, and thin out by late November. 2. Book early. Village farm guesthouses and county hotels are limited, and weekend rooms in peak season are usually gone half a month ahead. Day trips are possible, but leave enough time for the return drive. 3. Driving: it is roughly a two-hour ride from central Luoyang with many curves. A hired car or a shared ride is a better choice than driving this stretch yourself for the first time. 4. Photo timing matters. Morning light renders the canopy evenly; afternoon side light works best for the leaf carpet and portraits. Midday light is too fragmented for good shots. 5. Weekends are crowded. The same trees produce very different results on a weekday, and heavy foot traffic on weekends damages the leaf carpet you came to photograph. Q: Is there an entrance fee for the ginkgo grove? A: No separate ticket for the grove itself; the village charges a small parking and sanitation fee. Baiyun Mountain is a separate ticketed site and is not on the same route, so plan them as two different stops. Q: Is it suitable for elderly visitors and children? A: Yes. The ground under the trees is flat and the village paths are short, so no climbing is involved. The only caution is that thick fallen leaves make the ground slippery, and children tend to run, so sturdy non-slip shoes matter more than good-looking ones. Q: How long should the whole trip take? A: One full day is comfortable, including the drive each way. If you want to stay overnight and catch sunrise light, allow two days. Q: What else can be combined nearby? A: Song County also runs an annual ginkgo culture season with local produce fairs, mountain delicacies and calligraphy exhibitions, so a morning at the grove and an afternoon at the fair is a natural pairing.