The weather on Huangshan Mountain is changeable and the temperature difference between day and night is large. Bring lightweight and warm clothing such as a (outdoor jacket) and a fleece. Even in summer, it is advisable to bring a jacket.
Comfortable sports shoes or hiking boots to ensure easy walking and to prevent slipping.
Items
Bring a sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to protect against sunburn.
A hiking pole can save energy and help maintain balance.
Sufficient water and some high-energy, easily digestible food such as chocolate and beef jerky, as the prices of food on the mountain are relatively high.
A raincoat (umbrellas are not recommended as they are inconvenient and unsafe during the climbing process).
#Transportation Guide
External Transportation
Airplane
You can first arrive at Huangshan Tunxi International Airport. There are tourist shuttle buses from the airport to Huangshan Scenic Area (Tangkou Town). You can also take a taxi or an airport shuttle to the city bus station and then transfer to a bus to Tangkou Town.
Train
There are Huangshan Station and Huangshan North Station. Huangshan Station is relatively closer to Tangkou Town in Huangshan Scenic Area but may have fewer train services; Huangshan North Station has more train services but is about 50 kilometers away from Tangkou Town. After getting off the train, there are tourist buses to the scenic area or you can take a taxi or a car-hailing service.
Internal Transportation
Scenic Area Shuttle Bus
Take the scenic area shuttle bus at the transfer center in Tangkou Town to the mountain climbing entrances (Yungu Cableway Station or Yuping Cableway Station, etc.). Tickets can be purchased at the transfer center.
Cableways
Yungu Cableway: It starts from the north side of the Yungu Scenic Area and ends at the northeast side of Bai’e Ridge. Taking the cableway can save a lot of physical strength and time for climbing, and you can enjoy different beautiful views in the air.
Yuping Cableway: It goes from Ciguang Pavilion to Yupinglou. The scenery along the way is magnificent, and you can overlook the valleys and distant mountains.
Taiping Cableway: The upper station of the cableway is located on the right side of Paiyun Pavilion in the Xihai Scenic Area, and the lower station is located in Songgu’an in the Songgu Scenic Area. By taking this cableway, you can enjoy the distant view of Taiping Lake, etc.
#Recommended Climbing Routes
One-day Tour Route
Up from the back mountain and down from the front mountain
Take the Yungu Cableway up the mountain Shixinfeng Heihusong Beihai Hotel Xihai Hotel Paiyun Pavilion Xihai Grand Canyon (you can take the popular online small train) Tianhai Lianhua Peak Yupinglou Take the Yuping Cableway down the mountain
This route allows you to visit the main essence attractions of Huangshan within a day and is relatively easy, but the schedule is quite tight, so you need to manage your time well.
Two-day Tour Route
First Day
Take the Yungu Cableway up the mountain Shixinfeng Heihusong Beihai Hotel Houzi Guanhai Xihai Hotel Paiyun Pavilion Xihai Grand Canyon (you can walk down to the bottom of the valley and take the popular online small train up) Tianhai (stay at Baiyun Hotel or a hotel near Guangmingding). You can watch the sunset at Guangmingding.
Second Day
Get up early to watch the sunrise at Guangmingding or Liandanfeng Tianhai Aoyufeng Baibu Yunti Lianhua Peak Yupinglou Take the Yuping Cableway down the mountain
The two-day tour route has relatively more time, allowing you to enjoy the sunrise, sunset and the scenery changes of Huangshan at different times more leisurely, and also giving you more time to stay and play at each attraction.
#Attraction Introduction
Three Main Peaks
Lianhua Peak
It is the highest peak of Huangshan Mountain with an altitude of 1864.8 meters. The climbing path is 2.5 kilometers long. There are famous pines such as Feilong Pine and Daogua Pine and Huangshan Rhododendron along the way. Lianhua Peak is steep and towering with a majestic momentum. Because the main peak is prominent and surrounded by small peaks, it looks like a newly blooming lotus flower, blooming upwards, so it is named “Lianhua Peak”. Climbing to the top of Lianhua Peak, you can have a panoramic view of the magnificent scenery of Huangshan.
Tiandu Peak
Although the altitude of Tiandu Peak (1810 meters) is slightly lower than that of Lianhua Peak, it is even more precipitous. There is a saying that “even birds can’t land and monkeys are afraid to climb”. The part of Jiyu Bei (a narrow and dangerous path like a fish’s back) on both sides is an abyss, which is very thrilling. Tiandu Peak and Lianhua Peak implement a rotation system and are open to the public every five years in turn.
Guangmingding
Guangmingding has an altitude of 1860 meters and is the second highest peak of Huangshan Mountain. The top is high and flat, which is one of the best places to watch the sunrise and the sea of clouds. Here, the view is wide open, and you can see the East Sea, West Sea, South Sea, North Sea and Tianhai. The sea of clouds and the strange pines and rocks can be seen in a glance.
Other Famous Attractions
Shixinfeng
It gathers many famous Huangshan pines, such as Heihusong, Lianlisong, Longzhaosong, Wolongsong, Tanlaisong, etc. On Shixinfeng, you can appreciate the various postures of the pines and experience the unique charm of Huangshan pines. Moreover, you can overlook other peaks and scenery of Huangshan here, and the scenery is picturesque.
Xihai Grand Canyon
The canyon is deep and the scenery is magnificent, known as the “Dream Scenic Area”. There are a large number of stone pillars, strange peaks and rocks in the canyon, standing or lying, curved or straight, with different shapes. Tourists can walk along the trails through it, as if in a natural landscape painting. Riding the popular online small train (Xihai Grand Canyon sightseeing cable car) through it is a unique experience, which can not only save physical strength but also appreciate the beauty of the Grand Canyon from different angles.
Houzi Guanhai (Monkey Watching the Sea)
Located on Lion Peak of Huangshan Mountain, there is a stone that looks like a monkey squatting there, quietly watching the rise and fall of the sea of clouds, so it is named “Houzi Guanhai”. When the sea of clouds appears, the monkey seems to come alive in the sea of clouds, and the landscape is extremely wonderful. If there is no sea of clouds, the monkey watching Taiping (Taiping County at the foot of the mountain) is also quite interesting.
Yingkesong (Guest-Greeting Pine)
It is the iconic landscape of Huangshan Mountain. It stands upright on Wenshudong on the east side of Yuping Peak. It breaks through the rock and has a lifespan of over a thousand years. Its posture is vigorous, its branches and leaves are flat like a cover, and its two large side branches stretch out obliquely in the air, like extending arms to welcome guests with a beautiful posture. It is a representative of Huangshan pines.
#Accommodation Arrangement
Accommodation on the Mountain
Beihai Hotel, Xihai Hotel, etc.
The conditions are relatively good but the prices are higher. However, the location is convenient, making it easy to visit the surrounding attractions. For example, near Beihai Hotel, there are attractions such as Shixinfeng and Lion Peak, and Xihai Hotel is close to Xihai Grand Canyon.
Baiyun Hotel, Guangmingding Hotel, etc.
They are popular accommodation options for watching the sunrise and sunset. For example, Guangmingding Hotel is right on Guangmingding, and Baiyun Hotel is not far from Guangmingding. It is convenient to go to the viewing spots early in the morning. But the rooms need to be reserved in advance.
Multi-person dormitory with shared bathroom and camping
Tourists with a limited budget can choose a multi-person dormitory with a shared bathroom, which is relatively inexpensive. In addition, you can also bring your own tent and camp in the designated camping area, but you need to understand the relevant regulations in advance and make good preparations.
Accommodation at the Foot of the Mountain
Tangkou Town
There are many types of hotels and homestays with a wide range of prices. You can choose according to your budget. And it is close to the transfer center of Huangshan Scenic Area, convenient for taking the scenic area shuttle bus to the mountain.
#Food Recommendation
Food on the Mountain
Huangshan Sesame Seed Cake
This is a special snack of Huangshan Mountain. Although the price on the mountain may be a bit more expensive than at the foot of the mountain, the freshly baked sesame seed cake is crispy and delicious, and the filling of dried plum vegetables and pork is fragrant, which is a good choice to replenish energy during the climbing process.
Bamboo Shoot and Pork Stew
Huangshan is rich in bamboo shoots. This dish of bamboo shoot and pork stew has a fresh and tender taste. The dried bamboo shoots absorb the oil of the pork and become more mellow, and the pork doesn’t seem greasy because of the addition of bamboo shoots. It is a typical Huizhou cuisine dish.
Huangshan Double Stones
That is, stone frog stewed with stone ear. The stone frog is a unique frog species in Huangshan Mountain with tender meat, and the stone ear is a fungus growing on the cliffs, rich in nutrition. This dish is delicious but the price is relatively high.
Food at the Foot of the Mountain (Tangkou Town)
Stinky Mandarin Fish
As one of the representative dishes of Huizhou cuisine, it smells bad but tastes good. The mandarin fish is specially pickled, and the fish meat is in the shape of garlic cloves, with a rich and mellow taste. It is a must-try dish when coming to Huangshan.
Hairy Tofu
It was featured in “A Bite of China”. The tofu is artificially fermented, and a layer of white fur grows on the surface. After frying in oil, it is eaten with chili sauce and other seasonings, having a unique flavor.
#Travel Tips
Huangshan tickets can be reserved in advance on the official website or major travel platforms to avoid wasting time queuing up to buy tickets on site.
Pay attention to the weather forecast of Huangshan Scenic Area and choose a suitable time to climb the mountain, and try to avoid bad weather such as heavy rain and strong winds.
When playing on the mountain, follow the regulations of the scenic area, do not leave the tourist trails at will, and pay attention to environmental protection and do not litter.
