(BEIJING, October 24) -- Climb to an altitude of 100 meters in the northern mountainous areas, and enjoy some of the most spectacular autumn scenery in the Olympic City.

The trees in these mountains, especially in the renowned Xiangshan, or "Fragrant Mountain," are mostly Shantung maples (Acer truncatum Bunge) and smoke trees (Cotinus coggygria var. pubescens Engl.), and their leaves turn red in colder temperatures.

In general, the temperature falls below five degrees Celsius in October in Beijing, which presents favorable weather for the leaves to change color. The average temperature in October 2006 was 2.7 degrees higher than the annual average and remained at eight degrees Celsius in November 2006.

This month's temperatures, however, have dropped rapidly, especially at night, creating the ideal conditions for a sea of red leaves. At present, 80 percent of the leaves in these areas have turned red.