AUTUMN is just around the corner in Shenzhen, and the city’s parks are beginning to shift into their most photogenic season. From vast fields of sulfur cosmos to pink muhly grass and turning bald cypress trees, here are seven parks worth adding to your autumn itinerary. Most parks are free to enter.

Qingcaopai Park

If you are looking for the quintessential “autumn field” photograph, Qingcaopai Park in Bao’an District is currently the place to be. Roughly 66,000 square meters of sulfur cosmos are in full bloom, painting the terraced landscape in warm orange and gold — a scene that feels like an autumn pastoral oil painting. The flowers are at their peak now, so go soon. The park is free with no reservation required, and it is also a pleasant spot for cycling and picnicking.

Metro: Line 13 to Shiyan Station (石岩站) or Shangwu Station (上屋站), then transfer to the T222 holiday bus

Fenghuangshan Talent Forest Park

Tucked at the southern foot of Fenghuang Mountain, this park offers a quieter autumn escape. The terraced fields of zinnias are already in full bloom, creating layers of color that are expected to last through mid-to-late November. Meanwhile, the bald cypress trees along the lake are slowly turning yellow. The large lawn is ideal for picnics and setting up a canopy, and you can easily combine a lakeside walk with a hike up Fenghuang Mountain — a top pick for a short autumn outing in Bao’an.

Metro: Line 11 to Fuyong Station (福永站), then a roughly 10-minute taxi ride

Lianhua Hill Park

For a central-city autumn outing, Lianhua Hill Park remains hard to beat. The lawn is perfect for picnics and kite flying, while the summit offers panoramic views over the Futian CBD. Later in the season, the bald cypress trees around Yangri Lake and Lianhua Lake will gradually turn yellow, creating striking reflections on the water. Right now, visitors can also enjoy the goldenrain trees, whose red seed pods have become a social-media favorite, along with bougainvillea in bloom.

Metro: Line 3 or 4 to Children’s Palace Station (少年宫站), Exit F1

Shenzhen Bay Park

A 13-kilometer coastal greenway offers a perfect route for walking or cycling, with mangrove wetlands on one side and the Nanshan skyline on the other. With the summer heat gone and the sea breeze crisp, autumn is the ideal time to visit. Migratory birds are beginning to return — the first batch has already arrived — and the sunset paints the water in shades of orange. For flower lovers, the pink paper bush flowers at Liuhua Hill are currently in bloom and are expected to remain viewable through mid-November.

Metro: Line 9 to Shenzhen Bay Park Station (深圳湾公园站); or Line 13 to Talent Park Station (人才公园站), closer to Liuhua Hill

Fairy Lake Botanical Garden

Often described as Shenzhen’s best autumn destination, Fairy Lake Botanical Garden in Luohu District truly comes into its own from November onward. The bald cypress trees around Suoluo Lake and the aquatic plant area shift from green to gold and red, framed by the lake and the distant Hongfa Temple, creating a scene that feels almost painterly. Beyond the cypress, the park also boasts rich collections of palms and ferns. For now, the standout photo spot is the seven-story parking garage at the south gate, where bougainvillea has cascaded down the walls in a spectacular display of purple and pink.

Tickets: 15 yuan (US$2.23); free entry between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m.

Metro: Line 2/8 to Xianhu Road Station (仙湖路站), Exit C2

Honghu Park

Honghu Park in Luohu offers a more tranquil autumn experience. The bald cypress grove along the eastern lakeside will gradually turn yellow, and the wooden boardwalk that circles the lake provides a peaceful route through the trees. Beyond the cypress, there are lotus ponds and reeds to explore, making it a quiet autumn hideaway in the city. The park is also home to a number of friendly stray cats, which have become something of a local attraction.

Metro: Line 7 to Honghu Station (洪湖站), Exit A

Moshanghua Park

Moshanghua Park in Bao’an is a favorite for autumn flower fields. From mid-to-late October through November, pink muhly grass and cockscomb create layered terraced displays. The park also has large lawns suitable for picnics and tents, plus a lakeside route for cycling. Right now, the pink muhly grass has turned its signature soft pink and the cockscomb flowers are in full bloom.

Metro: Line 6 to Guantian Station (官田站), Exit D; then transfer to bus M257 or M310 to Moshanghua Park Station(Tang Li)