Niushoushan in Nanjing Opens Autumn Trail and Free AI Guide System

Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone, a cultural tourism destination in the heart of Nanjing (also known as Jinling), China, is welcoming visitors to its autumn nature and heritage festival from 21 October 2026 onwards. The event aims to blend the tranquillity of mountains and rivers in the Eastern tradition with age-old cultural heritage, creating a space for rest alongside learning amid the cool weather. Visitors can walk through the autumn foliage and take part in academic activities throughout the season, while making free use of the smart tour guide system around the clock.

Nature Trail and Mind-Body Wellness Activities in the Mountains

The autumn trail begins at the foot of the mountain along Tianque Road, filled with the scent of sweet osmanthus blossom throughout the forest. Travellers climb in elevation past Foding Palace, the Foding Sacred Realm and Foding Temple, surrounded by the colours of changing autumn foliage and streams winding along the hillside. Rest points along the trail allow visitors to sit and take in elevated views or explore the forest freely.

In addition to the natural scenery, the area also hosts wellness and relaxation activities among the trees for visitors. Highlights include singing bowl sound therapy and Baduanjin Qigong exercises, helping participants experience tranquillity and restore bodily balance.

Academic Talks and a Global Photography Competition

This season, Niushou Mountain will serve as an outdoor classroom through the Niushou Mountain and Dunhuang Culture Week. The event is honoured by the presence of Fan Zaixuan, a mural restoration expert from the Dunhuang Academy, who will share the background to preserving ancient art in the desert. At the same time, the Niushou Twelve Lectures series will feature Peng Kaiping speaking on caring for the mind and emotions of modern people through positive psychology, alongside scholars of history, literature and philosophy who will rotate through to share their perspectives on life.

For photography enthusiasts, the project has partnered with 500px by Visual China to hold a global photography competition titled One Mountain, One World: Capturing Niushou Through Light and Shadow, inviting entries capturing morning light over Foding Pagoda and the atmosphere beneath the shade of sweet osmanthus blossom. There is also an immersive and interactive activity called Seeking Autumn in Eastern Chan, following ancient sites on the mountain to let participants learn about the culture up close. During the Double Ninth Festival, visitors can also hike the 3.6-kilometre foliage trail to take in elevated views of Nanjing's autumn scenery.

Free 24-Hour AI Tour Guide Service

To make things more convenient for travellers, Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone offers a free audio tour guide available all year round, simply by scanning the QR code at various points. There is also a smart tour guide, Niu Xiaochan, which uses AI and a large language model to connect the stories of key sites together. This service covers everywhere from the Foding Foreground, the Eastern Chan Spirit Path and Foding Temple to Foding Pagoda, and is available free of charge every day, 24 hours a day, with no advance booking required.

This news is useful for travellers planning their own trip to see the autumn foliage in China, as well as event organisers in arts and culture looking for a model for outdoor activities. It is also useful information for hotel and tourism professionals studying how AI can be used to enhance tour guide services alongside the preservation of cultural heritage.