Huangshan Mountain: How to Visit & Top Highlights
If you want to experience something truly breathtaking on your vacation, Huangshan Mountain is a splendid choice. Also known as the Yellow Mountains, this epic granite range in southern China is known for its four wonders: the sea of clouds, unique rock formations, hot springs, and twisted pine trees. Learn all about visiting this magical place in our comprehensive guide.
The sea of clouds in Huangshan
Basic Facts of Huangshan
Panoramic view of Huangshan
Location: The Huangshan Scenic Area's South Gate is 58 kilometers (36 miles) from Huangshan City. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get there by car.
Highest Elevation: 1,864 meters
Ticket Price:
- Entrance: 190 RMB (peak season), 150 RMB (off-season)
- Yungu Cable Car: 80 RMB (peak season), 75 RMB (off-season)
- Xihai Cable Car: 100 RMB (peak season), 80 RMB (off-season)
- Yuping Cable Car: 90 RMB (peak season), 65 RMB (off-season)
Recommended Duration: 2 days and 1 night
Best For: Nature lovers, hikers, photographers, and anyone who enjoys stunning mountain views.
Top Highlights of Huangshan Mountain
Mt. Huangshan is a sprawling place that's broken up into three main areas, each with its highlights. The Front Mountain includes Jade Screen Scenic Area and the Yuping Cableway. The Back Mountain encompasses the Yungu Cableway and Beihai Scenic Area, and the West Sea Grand Canyon has the Xihai Cable Car.
Most people enter Huangshan through the South Gate, although it does have four main entrances. Depending on what you'd like to see first, we can let you know the best route to take with a personalized itinerary.
Flying-over Rock (Feilai Stone)
Flying-over Rock in Huangshan Mountain
- Location: Front Mountain
This prominent boulder is a fantastic optical illusion, appearing to fly right off the side of the mountain. It's a great place to take pictures and is located near Bright Peak, another highly scenic area. You can also get great pictures of Flying-over Rock from many nearby trails, especially on a clear day.
West Sea Grand Canyon
- Location: Xi Hai Canyon
West Sea Grand Canyon is one of the most interesting areas of Yellow Mountain, located on the western side of the park. You'll find plenty of viewpoints and winding trails that give you an incredible view of the steep granite walls on either side. The West Sea Grand Canyon trail is extremely narrow and steep, so we recommend hiking from the top down, then taking the cable car back up. The cable car takes 3 minutes to reach the top rather than 2.5 hours to hike up to the summit. Tickets are 100 RMB, and we advise that you make your reservation in advance.
Bright Summit (Guangming Ding)
Our customers are enjoying the view at Bright Summit
- Location: Front Mountain
If you're looking for panoramic pictures of Huangshan, Bright Summit is an excellent place to do it. It's also one of the best places to view the "sea of clouds" and offers hiking trails along the ridges of the Front Mountain area.
Lotus Peak (Lianhua Feng)
- Location: Front Mountain
Lotus Peak is the highest spot in Huangshan Mountain, so you'll get stunning views of the surrounding peaks when you're up there. It's also the end point of a difficult but rewarding trail. Like Bright Summit, Lotus Peak is an excellent place to witness the "sea of clouds".
Guest-Greeting Pine
Guest-Greeting Pine
- Location: Front Mountain
Huangshan Mountain is full of twisty pine trees that look like they're growing straight out of the granite rocks, but the Guest-Greeting Pine is something truly special. This tree spreads out horizontally and is located near Lotus Peak and Bright Summit. It's a great place to get photographs.
Stone Monkey Watching the Sea
- Location: Back Mountain
The Stone Monkey Watching the Sea is one of the most iconic spots on Huangshan's Back Mountain area, and is a rock formation that looks like a monkey perched on the cliff's edge looking over the sea of clouds. You'll enjoy panoramic views of the sea of clouds from this spot.
Best Time to Visit the Yellow Mountains
Huangshan Mountain is a magical place any time of year, but depending on when you go, you'll enjoy different activities and natural phenomena.
Autumn (September to November)
We recommend visiting during this time of year because the weather is pleasant, there are fewer crowds, and it's a great time to see the "sea of clouds," enjoy the changing of the leaves, and get some great pictures. It's a good idea to pack layers, as evening temperatures can get very chilly.
Spring (March to May)
Spring brings warmer temperatures and plenty of green growth, so hiking is very pleasant. You'll also see plenty of mountain flowers, like magnolias, which make fantastic backdrops to your panoramic photos. It can get rainy during the spring, and trails may be muddier, so bring waterproof layers and good boots.
Summer (June to August)
Sunrise in Huangshan Mountain
Summer is an excellent time to enjoy epic sunrises and sunsets and take pleasant hikes during the evening hours. There are bigger crowds during the summer, but the days are longer this season, so it's a great time to take epic photographs of the landscape.
Winter (December to February)
Winter is the off-season, so you'll have fewer crowds and more of the mountain to yourself. It's a fantastic time to photograph the twisty pines against the white snow, but several popular areas like West Sea Grand Canyon, Celestial Capital Peak, and Lotus Peak are closed during this time. Pack warm clothes and waterproof shoes, especially if you plan on hiking.
Travel Route (How to Visit)
Huangshan map
Huangshan Mountain is vast. We recommend that you spend at least one night on the mountain so you can experience the most iconic mountain views. Some scenic spots may close temporarily due to weather, our local guide will flexibly adjust the travel route based on crowd levels and weather conditions, to ensure you experience all the key highlights.
Leisure Route for All Ages:
The easiest and least physically intense way to visit Huangshan is by taking the Yungu Cableway up and down. It's less crowded than other routes and still covers all the major highlights, perfect for seniors and families with young children.
Start by taking the Yungu Cableway to appreciate the Beihai Scenic Area(Back Mountain area) first, then walk to the Xihai Grand Canyon. Stay overnight on the mountains, watch the sunrise in the morning, visit Flying Stone, climb Bright Summit, take the Yungu Cableway down the mountain. After lunch, you can also visit the UNESCO-listed Hongcun Village.
Best Route for Hikers: If you want to get a workout in, start at Yungu Temple and hike to Bright Summit for sunset views. Spend the night on the mountains, then head to West Sea Grand Canyon. From there, hike to Guest-Greeting Pine before descending by Yuping Cableway.
How to Get to Huangshan
Most people go to the Huangshan Scenic Area from Shanghai, and you have plenty of options for traveling between these two spots.
- Train: A fast train runs between Shanghai Hongqiao station and Huangshan North station, taking approximately 3 hours. Once you arrive at Huangshan North, you'll take a shuttle bus or taxi to the park.
- Air: Fly from Shanghai to Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (1 to 1.5 hours), then take a shuttle or taxi to the scenic area.
- Once inside the scenic area, you can hike or use cable cars to get around.
Recommended Tour Itinerary
Travel Tips
Make the most of your time in Huangshan Mountain by following these helpful travel tips. We're always available to give you more personalized advice if you need it.
- Huangshan Mountain has trails for all fitness levels and needs, and places like Lotus Peak can be difficult to get to. However, there are cable cars to most of the popular spots.
- Pairing your trip to Huangshan Mountain with other local attractions will enhance the experience. We recommend Hongcun Village, a UNESCO site; Wuyan, a beautiful village with Hui architecture; and Wangxian Valley.
- Remember to bring hiking poles and good shoes with you, especially if you plan on hiking to some taller peaks.
- Remember to stay on the marked trails and use caution near scenic viewpoints and cliff edges.
Explore the Wonders of Huangshan Mountain
There's something for everyone at Huangshan Mountain, and once you visit, you'll understand why it's one of China's top destinations. Email us at trip@odynovotours.com or visit our contact page and get started today.
Related Posts You May Like
What Our Clients Say
"Great Customized Service", "Trip of A Lifetime", "Exceed All Expectations"
