Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Travel

Huangshan, the Yellow Mountain of Anhui Province, is a UNESCO cultural and natural World Heritage site whose gnarled pines, fantastical granite pinnacles and endless cloud seas have defined the Chinese idea of mountain beauty. The saying goes: "After seeing the Five Sacred Mountains, other mountains pale; after seeing Huangshan, even the Five Sacred Mountains pale."

Must-See Sights

The Welcoming Guest Pine (China's most famous tree), Bright Summit for sunrise, the West Sea Grand Canyon with its sightseeing monorail, Begin-to-Believe Peak, Flying-Over Rock, Lotus Peak (the highest summit), Celestial Capital Peak and the hot springs.

Classic Route

For the best experience spend a night on the summit: cable car up at Yungu Temple → Begin-to-Believe Peak → North Sea → West Sea Grand Canyon → sunset at Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion → sunrise at Bright Summit → Welcoming Guest Pine → cable car down at Yuping. Nearby Hongcun and Xidi are UNESCO Hui villages worth an extra day.

Getting There

High-speed trains serve Huangshan North station, with direct links to Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei and Nanchang; Wuyuan is just 30 minutes away. Entrance is RMB 190 and each cable car RMB 90 one way. Summit hotels sell out weeks ahead — book early and bring a warm jacket.