Huangshan Mountain (Yellow Mountain)
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| Tourist Map of Huangshan Mountain (Click to enlarge) |
Of all the notable mountains in China, the Huangshan Mountain, aka Yellow Mountain, is probably the most famous and can be found in the south of Anhui Province. It is famed for its stunning and peculiar natural sceneries composed of four wonders, namely unique guest-greeting pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and amazing hot springs, as well as high peaks, strange pines and glacial landforms.
The fairyland-like Huangshan national park occupying an area of 160.6 square kilometers (39,700 acres) boasts not only attractive scenery but also abundant resources and a great variety of zoological species, for which it has been listed as a World Natural and Cultural Heritage Site.
In different seasons around a year the mountain has various and unique beauty, such as the wild spring flowers, specular summer waterfalls, colorful autumn leaves and white winter rime. 
See also Best Time to Visit Huangshan Mountain
However, every year, from December to the following March, the West Sea Valley and Heavenly Capital Peak (Tiandu Peak) are closed for winter maintenance. Correspondingly, the West Sea Valley cableway temporarily stops receiving visitors. See also:
Huangshan Mountain Travel Tips
6 Tips on Tours to Huangshan in Winter
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More Highlights in Huangshan
Huangshan scenic area mainly consists of six particular areas. Inside the Jade Screen, you can catch sight of lofty mountains, precipitous slopes and antiquated stone carvings. The distinguished Guest-Greeting Pine can be found here, too. From North Sea to Pine Valley, not only the jungle-like steep mountains, but also the lush and verdant pines and cypresses would leave you with a deep impression. The gurgling spring water and imposing waterfalls in Hot Springs and White Cloud will feast your eyes on their distinct beauty and magnificence. With quiet environment and relatively flat paths, the secluded Cloud Valley is suitable for an easier Huangshan hiking.
The famed four wonders are 4 unique views belonging to Mount Huangshan, namely Strange Pines, Absurd Stones, Sea of Clouds and Hot springs respectively.
There are hundreds of rare pine trees in Huangshan. As one of the landmarks of Huangshan, the most famous Guest-Greeting Pine stretches out for about 10 meters (33 feet) from the sheer cliffs, like an usher in a respectful greeting gesture.
The absurd stones can be seen almost on every peak of Huangshan Mountain. From different viewing angles, the stones look like human beings, animals or other objects. Accordingly, they are given different vivid names such as Monkey Stone and Flying over Stone.
Sea of Clouds is known for its beauty, scarcity, marvelousness, and flexibility. You would be lucky to see this rarely seen scenery as it only occurs around 50 days in a year. The whole mountain is as pretty as a huge ink-wash painting when enveloped in the misty clouds. Looking at the floating clouds pouring down from mountaintops will highlight your Huangshan trip.
As one of the four wonders, the Hot springs keep an average temperature of around 42.5℃ (108.5℉) averagely all year round. Taking a bath in hot spring while appreciating the wonderful natural landscapes will not only refresh your body and mind, but also help get away from the fatigue after a tiring Huangshan hiking.
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Recommended Huangshan Hiking Trails
The Cloud Valley Temple of back Huangshan and Merciful Light Pavilion of front Huangshan are two starting points for a Huangshan hike respectively. In general, for saving physical strength, most tourists like to go up the mountain from its south gate in back part and leave from the north gate in front part.
1-Day Trip to West Sea Valley:
Zhaixi Transfer Center - Cloud Valley Temple - New White Goose Ridge Station - Black Tiger Pine - Harp Pine - Beginning to Believe Peak - Black Tiger Pine - North Sea - Unity Pine - West Sea - Cloud Dispersing Tower - Cloud Dispersing Pavilion - Northern Entrance of West Sea Valley – West Sea Valley Bottom - Sky Sea - Bright Peak Summit - Flying Stone - Bright Peak Summit - Legendary Turtle Peak - 100-step Scaling Ladder - Lotus Pavilion - Guest-Greeting Pine - Merciful Light Pavilion - Zhaixi Transfer Center
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| Climbing the Mountain |
2-Day Huangshan Trekking Route: (Accommodation: Bei Hai Hotel)
Day 1:
Zhaixi Transfer Center - Cloud Valley Temple - New White Goose Ridge Station - Black Tiger Pine - Harp Pine - Beginning to Believe Peak - Black Tiger Pine - Bei Hai Hotel - Unity Pine - Xi Hai Hotel - Paiyunlou Hotel - Cloud Dispersing Pavilion - Northern Entrance of West Sea Valley - West Sea Valley Bottom - Cloud Dispersing Pavilion - Bei Hai Hotel
Day 2:
Bei Hai Hotel - Refreshing Platform - Monkey Gazing at the Sea - Bei Hai Hotel - Bright Peak Summit - Flying Stone - Bright Peak Summit - Legendary Turtle Peak - 100-step Scaling Ladder - Lotus Pavilion - Guest-Greeting Pine - Heaven Capital Peak - Half Mountain Temple - Merciful Light Pavilion - Zhaixi Transfer Center
How to get to Huangshan Mountain
Visitors from Hefei, Nanjing and Anqing can enter the mountain via the north entrance through Taiping. Visitors from Shanghai and Hangzhou can go through Tangkou, the south entrance. As to Huangshan Cable Cars (cable car stations), Taiping Cable Car is close to the north entrance; Yungu and Yuping ropeways are closer to the south entrance. By Air
If visiting Huangshan by air, from Huangshan Airport, passengers can take bus no. 19 to the city’s Passenger Transport Terminal, also called Tunxi Bus Station located at no. 31 Qiyun Avenue. There are regular buses to the Huangshan Mountain scenic area and the bus fare is CNY 20/ person. From Huangshan airport, the taxi fee to the scenic area directly is around CNY 200. By Train
If arriving at Huangshan North Railway Station by bullet train, transfer to a tour bus or taxi in the front square of the station to the transfer center of Mount Huang. The tour buses depart from 08:00 to 20:20. You can also hail a taxi from the railway station to Huangshan, and it would cost around CNY 160. By Long-distance Bus
There are many regularly direct buses departing from most Chinese cities to Huangshan, so taking the long-distance bus would be one of the available choices to get to Huangshan Mountain.
How to get to the Mount Huangshan from Nearby Cities
| By Air | By Train | By Bus |
|---|---|---|
| How to Travel from Shanghai to Huangshan | ||
| One flight at 13:15; Duration is about 1 hour. | Two bullet trains at 08:42 and 18:07; Duration is 4 - 4.5 hours. | Two direct buses departing at 10:27 and 14:49 from Shanghai South Bus Station; It takes about 6.5 hours and the ticket price is CNY 148 per person. |
| From Nanjing | ||
| No direct flight | Overnight trains K8419 (00:07 - 07:11) and K45 (01:32 - 07:32) from Nanjing Railway Station are recommended; Duration is around 7 hours. | Two buses at 07:00 and 10:50 from Nanjing South Coach Station; a bus from Nanjing East Coach Station at 14:10; one bus from Nanjing Coach Station at 14:30; Ticket fare: around CNY 100. Duration: about 4.5 hours |
| From Hangzhou | ||
| No direct flight | Two bullet trains at 09:49 and 19:13; The travel time is about 3 - 3.5 hours. | About 15 direct buses from Hangzhou West Bus Station daily from 06:50 to 18:20; It takes about 4 hours and costs about CNY 90 per person. |
| From Hefei | ||
| One flight at 14:40; Duration is about 1 hour | Over 20 bullet trains daily; The travel time is about 1.5 to 2 hours. | About 15 buses from Hefei Bus from 06:00 to 14:10; The bus fare is CNY 60 - 100; It takes around 4 hours. |
| From Thousand Islets Lake (Qiandao Lake) | ||
| No direct flight | About 10 high speed trains daily; The travel time is 35-47 minutes. | Five buses from Qiandaohu Central Bus Station from 07:10 to 14:30; Duration: about 3.5 - 5.5h; Bus fare: CNY 60 – 80. |
| From Wuhan | ||
| No direct flight | One bullet train at 11:17; The duration is about 4.5 hours. | No direct bus. |
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Ticket Price
| Jan. 21- Dec. 19 | Dec. 20- Jan. 20 | ||
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| Admission Fee | CNY 190 | CNY 150 | |
| Cable Car single trip ticket | Cloud Valley/Taiping | CNY 80 | CNY 65 |
| Jade Screen | CNY 90 | CNY 75 | |
| West Sea Valley | CNY 100 | CNY 80 | |
Opening Hours
| March 2 - October 31 | Monday to Friday: 6:20 - 17:30 | |
| Weekends and holidays: 6:00 - 17:30 | ||
| November 1 - March 1 | 7:20 - 16:30 | |
| Recommended Time for a Visit | Two or three days | |
Cable Car Hours| Cable Car | Time | |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Valley, Taiping, Jade Screen | Mar 2 - Oct. 31: 06:20 - 17:40 from Monday to Friday; 06:00 - 17:40 on weekends and public holidays Nov. 1 - March 1: 07:20 - 16:40 | |
| West Sea Valley | 08:00 - 17:00; closed from December to March annually | |
Further Reading: Xidi, Hongcun, Shexian - The Town of the residential houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties.
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0ReplyReply00Reply00ReplyTry to avoid weekends because it will be very, and I mean VERY, crowded.
Reply00Reply00Reply00ReplyReplyThanks
00ReplyReplyWe're actually in Hangzhou planning to go there in the next few days. Before starting making our way there, we will like to know if the attractions/hikes to do are still open regardless the corona virus situation.
Thank you.
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