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Huangshan (黄山; Huángshān; lit.: Yellow Mountain) is in Anhui Province in China. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

[edit] Understand

The distinctive peaks of Huangshan

Huangshan is a granite massif consisting of 36 separate peaks, rising above 1,800 metres. Famous throughout Chinese artistic history, Huangshan represents the typical mountain in Chinese paintings. Frequently shrouded in mist, the many peaks appear to float on clouds and have very fanciful names such as 18 Arhats Worshipping the South Sea, Lotus Flower Peak, Celestial Capital, Paint Brush etc.

[edit] Landscape

Jagged granite peaks clothed in uniquely shaped pine trees create a spectacular landscape of great interest to artists and photographers. The development of walking tracks and cable cars makes this landscape accessible to most active travellers.

[edit] Flora and fauna

Over 1,450 kinds of plant are found within the Park. The most spectacular tree is the unique Pinus huangshanensis which grows precariously clinging to rock faces. Many of the trees have names such as the Welcoming Guest and the Seeing-off Guest Pines. Carpinus, Cornus, Enkianthus, Fraxinus, Rhododendron and Weigelia are some of the species of flowering tree to be seen. 470 species of animal have been recorded. The most frequently seen ground animals are squirrels and small skinks.

[edit] Climate

Cold at night, think 1,800 meters above sea level. Dangerously slippery ice on paths in winter.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

The nearest domestic airport is at Tunxi, about an hour drive from the base of the mountain, the flight to Shanghai Pudong is less than one hour. Taxi from the airport to laojie in downtown Tunxi is ¥20.

[edit] By train

The nearest station is at the town of Tunxi, but the station is actually called Huangshan. There is an overnight train from Shanghai that takes about 13 hours, which is far longer than a direct bus, but it does save a night at a hotel, so it is a popular option.

[edit] By bus

Frequent direct buses run from Shanghai and Hangzhou.

[edit] Fees/Permits

An entry fee of ¥230 applies (off-season entry fee is ¥120, e.g. early December), a 50% discount is available for students with IDs and seniors. If you take the tram to the top, it costs ¥80 each way. Prices for food are about twice as high on the top as they are on the bottom (May 2007).

[edit] Get around

From the town of Tangkou, at the foot of the mountain, a shuttle service operates every 20 minutes to the Hots Springs Area; Yuping Cable Car and Xinyungu (New Cloud Valley) Cable Car. Tangkou is quite walkable but taxis are available to scenic spots around the foot of the mountain. Taxi from Tangkou to the cable car is ¥50.

Unfortunately, the town of Huangshan is not too close to the actual Yellow Mountain. Upon arrival at the train staion, airport, or long-distance bus station, the most convenient method of transportation is by bus to the small town of Tangkou. The bus ride to Tangkou takes about an hour, and offers great views of the rural Anhui Province. There are a great deal of buses located outside the train station, these should cost ¥18-20 for a one-way ticket.

Once at the Tangkou bus station, the entrance to the Yellow Mountain Park is quite accessible. Travellers desiring a longer hike up the face of the mountian can embark from the town of Tangkou. For those wishing to ascend the mountain more rapidly, there are tour buses that depart from Tangkou to the cable car lifts, these are easily booked for about ¥10.

The actual ascend starts from the entrance to Huangshan mountain. There is around 20 minutes bus ride from Tangkou town to the entrance (and this distance is not recommended for site seeing, if you are not interested in road construction), you can easily get a bus for ¥13 in Tangkou Town.

[edit][add listing] See

The main entrance to the ancient village of Hongcun

• Mount Huangshan. The main tourist destination is Mount Huangshan itself. From the Yuping Cable Car/Mercy Light Temple entrance the "Western Steps" lead up for about 14km over spectacular terrain. Allow 6-7 hours for the ascent. At present (2006) Lotus Flower Peak is closed for track maintenance. If you are fit and have a good head for heights the steep ascent to Celestial Capital Peak is rewarding. From the Yungu Cable Car carpark the ascent by the "Eastern Steps" is easier, taking as little as 2-3 hours. If you choose to descend by the Eastern Steps you can extend the hike by including the Nine Dragon Waterfall area (Jiulongpu) for an additional charge. Huangshan is most famous for its sun rise and sea of cloud at dawn. However, all these wonders are subject to weather condition. In off seasons, Mount Huangshan can be extremely foggy in the morning. Approach your hotel or hostel counters for some travel tips in this area, normally they are very experienced locals.  edit

• Zhuhai, (Buses do not run at night though, so if you want to go after 5PM, get a cab for ¥100-200.). Do not miss this nearby gorgeous valley covered with a bamboo forest. Some very nice restaurants and rustic inns you can stay in (preferable to Tunxi). ¥30.  edit

• Hongcun, (Buses do not run at night though, so if you want to go after 5PM, get a cab for ¥100-200.). Water village. Hongcun is slightly prettier than Xidi, but much more crowded; if pressed for time, you do not need to see both villages. Some very nice restaurants and rustic inns you can stay in (preferable to Tunxi). ¥80.  edit

• Xidi, (Buses do not run at night though, so if you want to go after 5PM, get a cab for ¥100-200.). Water village. Some very nice restaurants and rustic inns you can stay in (preferable to Tunxi). ¥80.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

[edit][add listing] Buy

An English language map is available in Tangkou and is worth purchasing as signage can be confusing. Many local couples buy padlocks and inscribe their names on them, then lock them to various places on top of the mountain. Others buy medals commemorating their successful summit of the peak.

In Tunxi, the most cited tourist destination is Laojie (old street with lots of souvenir shopping). This street is over commercialized and has little to offer over the more authentic ancient towns nearby (Hongcun, Xidi, both on the UNESCO World Heritage list). But it is near the airport and train station, and can be entertaining if you need to kill time before leaving town. The Laojie is a great place for buying high quality red, black and green tea at reasonable prices. Also worth a try is the tea tofu.

[edit][add listing] Eat

Food options are limited on the mountain. There are (expensive) restaurants in all the hotels but it is hard for a solo traveller to find cheap food. There are several small grocery stores selling snacks & drinks. Stinky tofu of a particularly stinky variety seems to be popular as well. On top of the mountain in peak season, water was ¥6-10, beer ¥10, meat sticks 3 for ¥10, instant noodles ¥10, cucumbers 2 for ¥6.

• Large Restaurant, (Across Laojie in Tunxi). With examples of the food so you know what you are ordering. Not high cuisine, but not bad, and predictable!  edit

• Ying Yang, 44 Laojie (At the other end of Laojie in Tunxi). Western style cafe.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Take plenty of water as the price rises steeply on the mountain (up to ¥10 per 600ml bottle). Local beer costs ¥10-20.

[edit][add listing] Sleep

On Huangshan, most tourists choose to stay overnight at one of several hotels in the Beihai region of the mountain to watch the sunset and sunrise. In Tangkou there are a lot of cheap hotels available for around ¥80. And there are also some options in Tunxi.

• Huangshan Koala International Youth Hostel, 266 Laojie. Decent looking hostel.  edit

• Huangshan International Youth Hostel, Tangkou. Their food is not very good, but the rooms are cheap and clean with warm water and western toilets. They arranged various tours for us and were generally good. Rates start at less than ¥100 and peak out at ¥300 for a private room in peak season.  edit

• Beihai Hotel. Expensive hotel. Also has small tents where you get an airmatress, a filthy sleeping bag and an extra blanket, but no pillows, and there are no facilities, except for a public toilet, if you want a shower you can get one for extra money. ¥200-2,000.  edit

• Shilin Hotel. Also has a bunkhouse with very primitive facilities. ¥200-2,000 for doubles, ¥150-200 for dorms.  edit

• Huangshan Tangkou Hotel, Tangkou (10 minutes by car from Huangshan South Gate), ☎ +86 559 5563366, [1]. Upmarket with comtemporarily furnished room. The place to stay if you want something classier and cleaner than your average china-run hotels. In house reasturant with good food also. They have packaged deal that includes three nights of accommodation, airport pick up, free breakfast, and one complimentary lunch/dinner.  edit

[edit] Camping

[edit] Backcountry

[edit] Stay safe

[edit] Get out