Who Sends a Letter from the Mount? It’s a Fall Leaf from Nanjing

Seasons change, and with each turn comes a new story. Right now, Zhongshan Mountain is quietly unfolding its grand autumn.

Along Lingyuan Road, plane tree leaves drift like delicate stationery; on Shixiang Road, zelkova trees glow in shades of orange; on Linggu Road, osmanthus flowers fill the air with their sweet scent. Every tree, every flower, every falling leaf seems to be waiting for the perfect encounter — waiting for someone to notice its beauty, to read its message, to receive this “autumn letter” sent across mountains and seas.

From early September, when golden rain trees burst into clusters of tiny yellow blossoms that drift down like golden snow, to early December, when sweet gums set the forests ablaze, autumn in Zhongshan is anything but brief. It’s a three-month feast for the eyes. Here you’ll find Nanjing’s most beautiful colors, and a heartfelt promise shared with countless “autumn collectors.” This year’s “Send Autumn from Zhongshan 2.0” comes filled with new surprises and warm invitations for everyone to enjoy.

Last year, we made a promise to send Nanjing’s autumn to you. A leaf imbued with the season, a hand-written letter in classical prose, a small booklet stamped with seals — all set out from Zhongshan and traveled across 23 provinces, 5 autonomous regions, 4 municipalities, and 2 special administrative regions, sharing the spirit of Nanjing’s autumn nationwide.

The responses were heartwarming. Some pinned the letters above their desks; others tucked the leaves into journals. Some brought them into classrooms, while others carried them to local parks — sharing the colors of their own autumn with us.

This year, “Send Autumn from Zhongshan 2.0” returns, upgraded with the creative touch of the Shanshan team, hiding even more small, Zhongshan-exclusive surprises: two traditional handicrafts now form part of the package, adding the extra warmth of time-honored craftsmanship to autumn.

{Plane Tree Paper: Leaves Turned into Art}

The plane trees here have stood through centuries of change. Today, their fallen leaves are reborn as handcrafted Xuan paper, made through 72 meticulous steps of soaking, steaming, pulping, and pressing. Each finished sheet carries a subtle woody fragrance and a soft yet resilient texture — perfect for the dance of brush and ink.

{Autumn Koi: Traditional Scented Charms}

Limited-edition osmanthus-scented charms, crafted in the shape of golden koi, capture the fragrance of autumn. Every whiff feels like receiving a fall blessing from Zhongshan: may your autumn be full of joy and good fortune.

{From Seed to Fruit: Experiencing Growth}

New this year is a blind box, containing fruit from our ancient trees — a pine cone, or acorns. Hold one in your hand and feel the quiet magic of nature’s rhythm — flowers in spring, fruits in autumn.

{Autumn You Can Hear}

Can’t make it in person? Scan the QR code to listen to forest sounds and watch virtual reality videos of the trees, immersing yourself in Zhongshan’s autumn from anywhere.

{Sending Autumn Back: Like an Old Friend}

This year, we added something new — an interactive exchange. In early September, we invited last year’s participants to “send autumn back” to Zhongshan, hoping they would share what autumn looks like in their hometowns. Their words, images, and videos — every scene and every thought — moved and delighted us.
From Guizhou, little Yaoyao captured a golden sunset over reeds in the park. From Türkiye, a friend sent sunrise photos from Antalya, writing, “There are no plane trees here, but every sunset reminds me of the fallen leaves I once stepped on in Zhongshan.” Between the lines, you could feel the longing. Autumns from Kunming, Xi’an, Hong Kong, Changchun, and Tianshui — all these distant autumns add warmth to Zhongshan’s story.

{Share Your Autumn Stories}

Now, Zhongshan’s autumn is gradually reaching its peak. Share your own autumn stories in the comments—leaves you’ve stepped on, the sounds you’ve heard, or unique scenes from your hometown.

This month marks the ninth installment of our bilingual series. We’ll choose the nine commenters whose posts receive the most likes, and they will each receive the “Send Autumn from Zhongshan 2.0” package. Comments must be submitted by 12:00 PM on October 20 to be eligible.

“Who sends a letter from the mountains? It’s an autumn leaf from Nanjing.” This fall, there’s no need to regret missing Zhongshan’s colors, nor to lament distance. We’ll gather the leaves as letters and send Zhongshan’s autumn to you—while keeping your autumn in Zhongshan, part of our shared story. Every bit of care and love for the season can meet here.

The best autumn is never experienced alone — it is meant to be shared: a leaf with someone, a moment of autumn together.

Source：english.nanjing.gov.cn