Huangshan Mountain (Yellow Mountain)

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

Flying Over Stone

Lotus Peak

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.

Sea of Clouds

Sunrise

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.
 

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
 

Climbing the Mountain

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

 

→ Take a Shanghai to Huangshan high speed train to Huangshan North Railway Station, taking CNY191-206 with a duration of 3 hours. There are 16 train departures every day.
→ Beside the station square, there is a tourist bus station operating frequent buses to Huangshan Scenic Area, taking 1.5h and CNY30.
 → Take a  Nanjing to Huangshan high speed train to Huangshan North Railway Station, taking CNY238-328 and 3-4.5 hours, 11 departures daily.
→ Take a bus at the bus station beside the railway station to Huangshan Scenic Area: 1.5h; CNY30. The buses depart from 09:00 - 19:00 with an interval of 1.5-1h.
 → Take a Hangzhou to Huangshan high speed train to Huangshan North, taking 1.5-2h and CNY 82-120, about 30 departures.
→ Take a bus at the bus station beside the railway station to Huangshan Scenic Area: 1.5h; CNY30.
 → Take a Hefei to Huangshan high speed train to Huangshan North, taking 1.5-2h and CNY 140.5-160, about 30 departures.
→ Take a bus at the bus station beside the railway station to Huangshan Scenic Area: 1.5h; CNY30.
 → Take a Hangzhou to Huangshan high speed train to Huangshan North, taking 1h and CNY 43.5-50, about 30 trains daily.
→ Take a bus at the bus station beside the railway station to Huangshan Scenic Area: 1.5h; CNY30.
 → Take a Hangzhou to Huangshan high speed train to Huangshan North, taking 4h and CNY 197, only one departure at 12:39 daily.
→ Take a bus at the bus station beside the railway station to Huangshan Scenic Area: 1.5h; CNY30.
 From Huangshan Tunxi Airport, there are frequent buses taking passengers to the north and south entrance of Mount Huangshan Scenic Area, taking 1-1.5h and CNY70-125.

Or passengers can take bus no. 219 to Huangshan Bus Terminal Station first via 12 bus stops and taking 50 minutes, then transfer to the shuttle bus to Mount Huangshan at the bus terminal, taking 1.5-2h and CNY30-40.

 

West Sea Valley

West Sea Valley

		Jan. 21- Dec. 19	Dec. 20- Jan. 20
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

Note: Free for children below 1.2 meters (3.9 feet);
 

March 2 - October 31	Monday to Friday: 7:00 - 17:00
	Weekends and holidays: 6:30 - 17:30
November 1 - March 1	8:00 - 16:30
Recommended Time for a Visit	Two or three days

Note: 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. If you want to exit after the first day's visit and reenter on the next day, you need to register and obtain proof at the ticket office before leaving.

 Cable Car Hours

Cable Car	Time
Cloud Valley, Taiping, Jade Screen	Mar 2 - Oct. 31: 07:10 - 17:10 from Monday to Friday except public holidays 06:30 - 17:40 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Nov. 1 - March 1: 08:00 - 16:40
West Sea Valley	08:00 - 17:00; closed from December to March annually

 From Jan. 1 - 20, 2024, Taiping Cable Car way is closed for maintenance.

 Further Reading: Xidi, Hongcun, Shexian - The Town of the residential houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

You may like:
Top 9 Things to Do in Huangshan

Weekend Trips from Shanghai

8 Interesting Places in China for Outdoor Enthusiasts

15 Spectacular Natural Wonders of China