An unanticipated first snowfall has descended on Mutianyu, draping the Great Wall in a veil of pure white.

The red leaves have yet to bow out when the new snow arrives right on cue. The mountainside's crimson and amber hues have not yet faded, while a light dusting settles gently on the colorful foliage of the Mongolian oak.

On one side, a vibrant, passionate autumn; on the other, a crisp, pristine winter — colliding along the Wall's ridgeline into a rare two-toned landscape.

Grey brick crenellations cradle a soft layer of white. Snowflakes settle among the crimson branches and leaves: red foliage edged in snow, white snow set off by crimson.

The winding Great Wall lies across the Yan Mountains. Autumn colors linger in the woods, while winter snow has already settled on the battlements. Two seasons, captured in a single frame.

Walk along the Great Wall — the bricks cool beneath your feet — and look up to find the mountainside woven in red and white. Autumn's lingering splendor and winter's first stillness are all held within this encounter at Mutianyu.

As autumn's glow fades and winter's season begins, Mutianyu's mountains always hold unexpected, moving moments as the seasons turn.

Photos by Bu Xiangdong, Tian Zhenhui, Song Guidong