Tianping Mountain in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province in eastern China has hit its peak maple moment as red maples, ginkgo and cedar swell into autumn color. Trails are carpeted in crimson and gold while hikers and photographers stream up the slopes to take in the scene.

On the mountain, 121 Chinese sweetgum trees—each more than 400 years old—form the largest ancient sweetgum stand in East China and help make Tianping one of the country’s four top maple-viewing destinations. Along Baiyun Pond, more than 80 percent of the leaves have already changed, weaving green, yellow, orange, purple, and red into a vivid patchwork.

The multicolored stand and its mirror image in the clear pool create a striking “five-color maple” vista that feels like a painted landscape come to life.