It's autumn, and sources say that this is the ideal time of year to pick fruit. Climatological and saprozoic experts all cite statistics proving this is Beijing's "golden season", in the sense of leaf color etc.

Insiders told Beijing This Month a second, colder season may be only "a matter of months" away, leaving a "limited window" of advanced scientific cliches to use before "Old Man Winter" bites.

Thus it is an inalienable fact that November is the ripest month for outdoor fruit picking, and Professor Wang Yuke, doctor of hypotonics at a rheumatological department of a Beijing university, also recommends "fresh air".

In English, here's a list of useful autumnal places to enjoy wholesome outdoor fun with big bags of fruity goodness:

Yellow Gingko Leaves

1.Dajue Temple

The best in the suburban area. The oldest gingkos are here.

Address: Beianhe Village, Haidian District, very north of Summer Palace
Transportation: 346 from east gate of Summer Palace, get off at Zhoujiaxiang.
Tel: 6256-6162

2.Sanlihe Lu
Address: east of the Diaoyutai State Guest House

This street really rules gingko-wise, but it's fiddly describing where it is. Lately cleaners have been sweeping the place up in the early morning.
Transportation Bus 114 from Purple Bamboo Park to Jingweihui, getting off at Diaoyutai. Bus 320 from Beijing West Railway Station to Zhongguancun Dongzhan, getting off at Daioyutai.

3.Capital Hotel, Chongwemen Xidajie

Address: Inside the hotel yard

4.Guo Moruo Former Residence
Address: 18 Qianhai Xijie, Xicheng District
Hours: 9am--4pm(closed on Monday)
Tel: 6618-1650, 6618-2789

Farm Work

Fenghuang Ling (Phoenix Mountain)

1. Fruit picking

Time: until end of November
Fruit: apple
Admission: 8 yuan entrance (including picking of wild walnut and dates in the valley); 15 yuan to pick apples of 2-3 kilograms, according to quality.
Other facilities: Trout fishing and barbecue, shooting range, mountain climbing, mutton barbecue and Mongolian yurts restaurant
Tel: 6245-5933

2. Plant roses

For 50 yuan, plant roses. They will blossom in 2001, about 150-200 roses every cluster every year. You then have five years' free picking of the roses you planted in the garden. Instruments provided.

Time: Until Nov. 15. Planting only on Fri, Sat.,Sun.
Tel: 6245-5933, 6245-9492
Public transport: Bus 346 to the last stop. Or suburban tourist train No. 5/6
By car: Take Yiyang Road, about half an hour's drive from Summer Palace to north. Look out for the road sign to turn and drive a further 5 minutes.

Fragrant Hills Fruit Basic Science Popularization Garden

Apple picking, an "explanation of fruit scientific knowledge", cutting of garden plants, class and on-the-spot making of skewered hawthorns coated with sugar and cards made of leaves and flowers.

Public transport: Bus 360 from the Summer Palace, east gate, and get off at Duanwangfen
Tel: 8259-4959

Mountain Climbing

Fragrant Hills
As you have probably read everywhere else, leaves are what make this place so popular this season. This is the nearest mountain to downtown, about 20 kilometers from Tiananmen.
Hours: 8am-5pm
Bus: 318 from Pinguoyuan, 333 from Yuanmingyuan, 360 from Beijing Zoo
Tel: 6529-1155

Badachu Park (Eight Scenes Park)
The name is from the eight ancient temples. More than 97 percent of the mountains in the park are covered with trees. There are even wild flowers, but don't pick them.
Bus: 389 from Yiquanlu or 347 from Beijing Zoo, get off at Badachu
Tel: 6887-5221

Baiwangshan
The closest forest park to Beijing and a popular place to see the leaves. Address: 3 kilometers north of Summer Palace
Bus: 330 from Summer Palace east gate and get off at Heishanhu Beikou
Tel: 6288-4345

Mangshan National Forest Park
The largest forest park in Beijing. Highest peak 659 meters.
Transportation: Occasional bus 912 from Andingmen and get off the Shisanling Reservoir. Then walk across the dam.
Tel: 6976-3818

Silver Mountains and Pagodas
Green pines and cypresses. The most fetching scene is the Buddhist pagoda and many other unattended old pagodas.
Bus: 345 from Deshengmen, 912 from Andingmen, 919 from Deshengmen, get off at Changping and then take a taxi to Yin2 Shan1 Ta3 Lin2.
By car: Asian Games Village -- Lishui Qiao -- Xiao Tang Shan -- go north.
Tel: 6172-1426

Songshan Forest Tourism Area
Northwest of Yanqing County, 90 kilometers from Tian'anmen. The best-protected natural ecological system.
Transportation: 920 from Deshengmen to Yanqing
Tel: 6914-8436

Baihua Mountain
West of Mentougou District in west Beijing. 110 kilometers from Tiananmen. CCTV and Jingguang Center can be seen from the 1,991-meter peak.
Transportation: 307 from Qianmen, 336 from Fuchengmen, get off at Hetan and change bus for one of the frequent unmarked minibuses or an illegal taxi to Baihua Mountain.
Tel: 6981-6659

Wohu Mountain
At the west bank of Chaohe in Gubeikou Town of Miyun County. 13.6 kilometers of ancient Great Wall on the mountain, with about 20 watchtowers.
Transportation: Bus from Dongzhimen to Miyun and then change a taxi or bus to Gubeikou . Very early morning trains 557, 559, 649 from Beijing North Railway Station.

Yunmengshan Mountain
In Miyun County, 85 kilometers from Beijing. Highest peak 1,414 meters high. Great clouds, flowers and colors.
Bus: 936 from Dongzhimen, get off at Yunmengshan.