Huangshan, the Yellow Mountains, are China's most painted peaks — granite summits rising from a sea of clouds, hung with twisted pines. At their foot lie the white-walled, black-tiled villages of Huizhou that inspired Ming-era architecture.
Why visit Huangshan
Huangshan, the Yellow Mountains, are China's most painted peaks — granite summits rising from a sea of clouds, hung with twisted pines. At their foot lie the white-walled, black-tiled villages of Huizhou that inspired Ming-era architecture.
Top highlights
Yellow Mountain peaks — Ride the cable car up and walk the ridgelines to Lotus Peak and the wind-carved Welcome Pine.
Sea of clouds — Wake at a summit hotel for sunrise over a rolling ocean of cloud that swallows the valleys.
Hongcun & Xidi — Step into the UNESCO villages whose crescent ponds and horse-head walls shaped classical Chinese design.
Hot springs — Soak in the mineral springs at the mountain's foot after a day of hiking.
Granite peaks of Huangshan above the clouds.The Welcome Pine on a sea of cloud.The crescent pond of Hongcun village.Huangshan hot springs at dusk.
Stay overnight on the summit to catch sunrise without the cable-car queue, and avoid the Labor Day and National Day holidays when trails are packed.
Suggested itinerary
Day 1 — train to Huangshan, afternoon in Hongcun village. Day 2 — cable car up, hike the West Sea Canyon to a summit hotel. Day 3 — sunrise at Bright Summit, descend via Hot Spring Valley, evening train out.
