Peking University, September 22, 2026: Beijing entered autumn five days early— the earliest since 2016. Yanyuan still wears lush green, its leaves untouched by golden hues.

Days shorten, shadows lengthen. Water birds glide across rippling lakes, silhouette of the Boya Pagoda dances on the water, and cool breezes sweep the pavilions. Sunlight filters through trees, casting dappled gold on stone paths. At dusk, the sky glows like orange candy, painting a brilliant early-autumn scene. As heat dissolves and autumn winds arise, the seasons turn in silence—and a new story unfolds.

Written by: Hoa Pham
Edited by: Wu Hiuman, Chen Shizhuo
Photo by: Guo Mengjiao, Huang Zhe, Chu Zhaohan, Li Jiayi