Trees along the banks of the Longtan River in Nanyang City, in central China's Henan Province, are resplendent in their late autumn foliage, with leaves turning a myriad shades of red, gold and green.

The river meanders gracefully through the colorful foliage, reflecting the vibrant hues of the trees, the blue sky, and scudding white clouds above.

On the water’s surface, mandarin ducks and other birds bring signs of life to this serene landscape.

The river passes through Tongbai County, which is situated on the border between Henan and Hubei provinces in the transitional climate zone between northern and southern China.

Thanks to ongoing ecological protection and restoration efforts, forests, which support over 1,500 species of flora and fauna, cover nearly 60 percent of the county.