Mount Huangshan

Why is Mount Huangshan So Special?

Mount Huangshan is known at “The most fantastic mountain in all the land ” in China, for its four wonders, they are the strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs. Mount Huangshan is also a 5A level scenic spot, the world geological park and it is also both the world cultural and natural heritage. 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. 

Where is Mount Huangshan?

Mount Huangshan is located at Huangshan City, Anhui Province, China. Mount Huaungshan lies about 300 km (200 miles) west of Hangzhou and 500 km (300 miles) southwest of Shanghai. The scenic area is about 50 km (30 miles) north of Huangshan City.

How to Get to Mount Huangshan?

Travel with China Dragon Tours (top recommended)

If you want to get rid of hustle of transportation and troublesome navigation, you can book a private tour package which covers visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local tour guide and driver will escort you to Guiyang Forest Park with speed and convenience, and take care of all the details. You just need to focus on travel.

Independent Travel

For independent travelers you can 

The usual way to get to the mountains is to first go to Huangshan City by bus, train or plane. A bus from the city to Huangshan Scenic Area takes about 1 hour.

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 Yellow Mountain.

Main Attractions in Mount Huangshan

The Strange Pines

Pines can be seen in every corner of Mt. Huangshan. You will be amazed by their vitality and strength .The pines grow very slowly due to the poor soil and climatic conditions.he pine of Mount Huangshan is also surprising in its unique natural shape. Every single tree is beautiful in different way. According to their different shape and characteristic, people give them special names, such as the Guest-Greeting Pine, is the representative of the pines of Mount Huangshan.

The Absurd Rocks

Spectacular rocky peaks will inspire your imagination. The absurd rocks can be seen everywhere in Mount Huangshan. And some stones are even very mystery. If the viewing position and angle changed, the appearance of the stone is also changed, you can see different things in a single stone, in Chinese, its called “一石二景or移步换景 ”. Such as “magpies on the plum” is also called “God shows the way”.

The Sea of Clouds

Mt. Huangshan is home of clouds and mists. Although you can see the sea of clouds in other mountains, none of them can match it in Mount Huangshan. The sea of clouds in Huangshan is so spectacular and changeable. It is why Mount Huangshan has another name called “the Yellow Sea” . Because in Ming Dynasty, a famous historian named Pan Zhiheng(潘之恒), lived in Mount Huangshan for decades, and he had wrote a book about Mount Huangshan, called “the Yellow Sea”. What’s more, winter is the best season for this spectacle. If you climb up the Lotus Peak, you will find yourself above the level of the clouds and they appear as a sea beneath you. All the colors seem more vivid in the sunshine. The clouds are forever changing, from being like a mirror when all is calm to rolling waves when the wind is strong.

Hot Spring

To be able to refresh yourself in the hot springs on  Mt. Huangshan must be one of the best ways of enjoyment  and relaxation. In ancient times, hot spring is called “Tangquan”(汤泉). The temperature of the water is kept at 42 degrees annually, and the quality of the water is also very good, it contains many mineral which good for human body. But the water is only for bath, not for drink. It is said that Emperor Huangdi, the ancestor of the Chinese nation, Bathed here for 49 days before he ascended to heaven and became immortal.

Hiking Roads:

The Yellow Mountain can be divided into front and back parts. The front mountains are steep and difficult to climb, but Chinese tourists like to go up from the front part. The hiking route we highly recommended is taking the Yungu cable car up to the back mountains, and then visiting the North Sea Area and the West Sea Area. There are three reasons: Firstly, the scenery in back parts is concentrated, which is more suitable for viewing. Secondly, this is a good a way to avoid crowding among Chinese tourists. Thirdly, best hotels on the top of the mountain are very close to the Yungu cable car station. The above is just a suggestion. We can arrange more reasonable hiking routes according to your time, budget, energy and specific interests.

Route 1: From the Yungu Cableway — Highly Recommended

Route 2: From the Yuping Cableway — the Crowded Classic

Route 3: Northern Morning Walk with Asia’s Longest Telpher

Useful Travel Tips

  1. Bring a daypack for mountain walking and things for a day or two’s stay at mountain hotels in a backpack. The rest (cases, etc.) should be left at a hotel in Huangshan City or at the bottom of the mountain.
  2. Generally, the ticket is valid for one entry with an unlimited stay length. So if you want to spend more than one day there, you can camp or lodge in a hotel within the scenic area.

Nearby Attractions

Edited by Emily Wang/王海玲