3 Days Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) In-depth Hiking Tour - Full Mountain Hiking Route

Welcome to Huangshan, a city well-known for the Yellow Mountain! Upon your arrival in Huangshan, a local guide and driver will greet you at the airport/train station exit and escort you to your hotel for check-in in Huangshan City. (Tip: It is suggested to arrive before 14:00)

After resting at your hotel, take a relaxing stroll on the 900-year-old Tunxi Ancient Street. Tunxi Old Street is paved with maroon flagstones, over 1,000 meters long, consisting of a main street, three cross streets and 18 alleys. The buildings along the street have a distinctive local style known as Huizhou style, featuring white walls and black tiles, elaborate carvings. As you wander, you'll discover that many shops have been family-owned for over a century, offering a curious array of wares from inkstones and brushes to local teas and Mao badges. Don't miss the chance to savor local gastronomic delights like Mao Tofu (毛豆腐), Shaobing (烧饼), and the pungent Smelly Mandarin Fish (臭鳜鱼).

Located on the old street, the Tunxi Museum is a treasure trove that offers profound insights into the rich tapestry of Anhui's history. Here, you can marvel at a collection that spans Ming and Qing Dynasty furniture, delicate porcelain, and intricate Huizhou carvings. Special emphasis is given to the "Four Treasures of the Study" - the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone that are cornerstones of Chinese calligraphy and painting. Due to the long history and exceptional quality of these "Four Treasures" in Anhui, many scholars and artists prefer using them. These high-quality tools enjoy a great reputation not only in China but also internationally.

Your cultural exploration doesn't end here. Within a short distance, the Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory is one of the oldest and most prestigious inkstick producers in China, renowned for producing high-quality inksticks. Huizhou Inksticks (徽墨) have long been considered the highest grade among all kinds of inksticks. In fact, the ingredients of inksticks remain a mystery, known only to a few remaining manufacturers of this traditional craft. Here, you can witness the process of making inksticks, which still preserves the essence of traditional craftsmanship with a hand-operated soot collection (点烟). Moreover, the factory boasts an extraordinary collection of 7,800 precious inkstick molds created by famous artists from various dynasties since the Ming and Qing dynasties. If you're interested in Chinese art, culture, or the tools used in traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting, it can be a unique and enlightening experience.

Arrival Ideas: By Air: Huangshan Tunxi International Airport has domestic flights from major cities such as Beijing, Guanzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guilin, Chongqing, Chengdu and Xi'an, etc.

By Train: High speed trains are available from Shanghai (2.5~3.5hrs), Hangzhou (1.5~2hrs), Suzhou (2~3.5hrs),Beijing (5.5~7hrs), and Guangzhou (7hrs), etc.

Route: Yuping Cable Way - Greeting Guest Pine - One Hundred Cloud Ladder - One-Line-Sky - Bright Summit - Flying-over Rock - Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion

Walking Distance: about 11km/6 hrs

After breakfast, your guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel lobby and drive about 80 kilometers (approximately 1.5 hours) to the foot of Mount Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Five Sacred Mountains. Yellow Mountain is famous for its stunning natural scenery, which includes ancient pine trees, oddly-shaped granite peaks, winter snow, hot springs, and a sea of clouds that often envelops the mountain range, also known as the "Five Natural Wonders". Huangshan has been a subject of inspiration in Chinese art, literature, and traditional landscape paintings for centuries. More than 400 years ago, during the Ming Dynasty, Xu Xiake, a renowned geographer and traveler, visited Huangshan Mountain twice and uttered the famous phrase, "After visiting the Five Sacred Mountains, one does not need to see any other mountains; after visiting Huangshan, one does not need to see the Five Sacred Mountains." This illustrates the status and importance of Huangshan Mountain among the famous mountains in China.

To maximize your time and energy, you will be directly transferred from the foot of the front mountain to Mercy Light Pavilion. From here, board the cableway to Yuping Station (10 mins). As you ascend, give you breathtaking aerial views of the forests below—a canvas of endless green, with granite peaks and twisted pines veiled in mist.

After a few minutes of walking, you will reach the iconic Greeting-guests Pine symbolizing the warm welcome extended to visitors.. This uniquely-shaped pine tree is one of Huangshan's symbols. Take some time for photos and to admire the view. Then continue walking to the Lotus Pavilion and descend along the One Hundred Cloud Ladder to a lower valley. Next, climb up the steep path of One-Line-Sky to reach Turtle Fish Peak. The name "One-Line-Sky" comes from the narrow "line" of sky seen between the rocks while standing within the crevice. Walking through the narrow passage between rocks can be a unique and exhilarating experience. Turtle Fish Peak, as its name implies, resembles two turtles.

From Turtle Fish Peak, an even path leads you to the rest station of today - Baiyun Hotel. After a short rest, continue hiking about 500 meters to Bright Summit Peak, the second highest peak on the mountain (1860m). From this vantage point, you can see other notable peaks like Celestial Capital Peak (Tiandu Peak), Lotus Peak, and Jade Screen Peak. Then, walk for 20 more minutes to get to the famous Flying-over Rock. It's fascinating to see how a 12-meter-high giant rock has been standing still on a flat but small stage of stone for millions of years. Lastly, keep walking for about 45 minutes to the Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion to admire the sunset. After sunset, head to the hotel on the top of the mountain for overnight.

Good to know:

1.Travel light! There is a lot of walking involved on the mountain, so it's recommended to carry only essential items and pack light. Alternatively, you can store your luggage at the mountain's base.
2. For environmental protection, some hotels on the mountain do not provide disposable toiletries, so it's advisable to bring your own.
3. Staying on the mountain allows you more time to appreciate additional scenic views of Huangshan, especially sunrise and sea of clouds. However, due to the high transportation costs on the mountain, hotel facilities may be limited. The star-rated hotels might not be up to the standard of those in big cities like Shanghai. Due to the moist weather on the mountains, the rooms could be a little humid. Despite the lack of choice, we will select a relatively comfortable hotel for you.

Route: Sunrise - West Sea Grand Canyon - Lion Peak - Begin-to-Believe Peak - Yungu Cable Way

Walking Distance: about 7km/5 hrs

Today begins in the dark, pre-dawn hours (usually around 5 am to 6 am), as you'll want to catch the awe-inspiring sunrise that Mount Huangshan is celebrated for. Make sure you're dressed warmly and adequately - mountain temperatures can be surprisingly chilly in the morning. As the sky gradually lightens, you'll witness one of nature's most glorious spectacles: the sun rising over the fabled peaks and valleys of Mount Huangshan. With hues of orange, pink, and gold illuminating the sky, it's a moment so sublime that it has been the muse of countless poets and painters for centuries. After the sunrise, get back to your hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, it’s time for the grandeur of the West Sea Grand Canyon. Walking into the Xihai Grand Canyon is like stepping into a Chinese ink painting, with numerous peculiar rocks and towering stones standing before your eyes. The scenery is magnificent, and the Huangshan pine growing on the rocks takes on myriad poses and postures. The hike can be tailored to your energy level and time constraints; a 2-hour round-trip will get you to the 1st ring, while a 2.5-hour expedition will take you to the 2nd ring. (Please note: The thrilling and rugged trails make this activity challenging and physically demanding. Also, the West Sea Grand Canyon is usually closed during cold weather and heavy snow.)

Then proceed to Lion Peak (1690m) to see the Dawn Pavilion, Refreshing Terrace, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea, and various shapes of pines and rocks along the route. Lion Peak, as its name implies, really looks like a crouching lion. "Monkey Gazing at the Sea" is an evocative rock formation that resembles a monkey contemplating the ocean of clouds below. It's a visual treat that also offers the perfect photo opportunity.

Continue your hiking to the poetic Begin-to-Believe Peak. Huangshan is famous for its ancient and oddly shaped pine trees. En route, you'll admire several like Black Tiger Pine, and Harp Pine, each with its unique shape and character. When you reach Begin-to-Believe Peak, you'll understand how it got its name. The stunning vistas, which include a mixture of cliffs, valleys, and uniquely shaped rocks, will make you begin to believe in the mystical aura that Huangshan is famous for. Afterward, walk to the White Goose Ridge Cable Station to take the Yungu cableway (8 mins) down the mountain. Your driver is ready to pick you up and transfer you back to your hotel in Huangshan City.

Lastly, you will walk back to White Goose Ridge Station and descend the mountain by Yungu Cable Way. Our driver will be ready wait for you at the foot of mountain and and transfer you to catch your flight/train to the next destination. ( (Tip: It is suggested leave after 16:40.)

Thank you for choosing Asia Odyssey Travel for your China tour, and we are always here working for you and hope to see you again for your next trip to China/Asia. Safe journey!