Huangshan Travel Guide: Your Complete Guide to the Yellow Mountains

Huangshan is not only majestic; its cultural status is also remarkably high.

As the traveler Xu Xiake sighed, "After ascending Huangshan, there are no other mountains in the world." Countless poets and scholars throughout history have left behind poems and inscriptions here. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism blend and coexist in harmony.

On the mountaintop of Huangshan, numerous stone inscriptions bear witness to the cultural accumulation of a thousand years. The weathered characters still retain their elegant charm. These engravings either praise the grandeur of the mountains and rivers or express the free spirit within.

They serve as witnesses to the fusion of nature and humanity. Standing among them, it's as if you can hear the ancients reciting poetry. Though emperors rarely climbed Huangshan, its fame has spread worldwide thanks to the admiration of literati and scholars.

I've only been to Huangshan once, but that single experience was absolutely fantastic.
I went there quite early, on March 14, 2014—it's been 11 years now. I remember using my iPhone 5s back then.

At that time, our trip to Huangshan wasn't just about the scenic area. Our first stop was downtown Huangshan City, where we visited Tunxi Old Street in Huizhou. The bluestone pavement reflected white walls and black tiles. The fragrance of tea wafted from carved wooden window frames. We wandered along the street, seeking out Huizhou ink workshops and tasting hairy tofu. We immersed ourselves in the blend of everyday life and cultural depth.

After Tunxi Old Street, we went to She County. There, we explored the ancient cluster of paifang archways and the ruins of the Huizhou Prefecture Yamen. We also visited an old bridge. I’ve forgotten its name now, but I remember the northern part was damaged. Some cultural relics won’t be around forever if we don’t see them now.

The next day, we climbed Huangshan.
We set off from the foot of the mountain after breakfast in the morning. Since we were staying overnight on the hill to watch the sunrise the following day, we had plenty of time. We weren’t in a rush.

The scenery of Huangshan is indeed stunning. Still, one thing left a profound impression on me: the public restrooms on Huangshan were extremely scarce, which was simply unbearable. For hours along the trail, you wouldn’t see a single restroom. Climbers had to seek out secluded spots in embarrassment. Keep in mind, Huangshan is world-famous and a 5A scenic area with massive visitor traffic. Yet, its infrastructure was so outdated—it really damaged its reputation. However, I’ve heard that there has been significant improvement now. Friends who went later told me so.

Huangshan is primarily composed of granite, its tough texture mirroring the cultural character of the Huizhou people—enduring storms without decay, at ease amid steep ridges.

Huangshan’s highest peak is Bright Summit (Guangming Ding), at 1,860 meters above sea level. At the summit, the sea of clouds surges like tides.

Huangshan’s sunsets are also stunning.
As the sun dips in the west, its afterglow sprinkles over the bizarre pines and strange rocks. Golden light intersects with the red cliffs, resembling a fairy tale.

On the second day, I did manage to see the sunrise, but the crowds were beyond imagination. I didn’t think I got up late, but I still ended up queuing near the back. In the end, though, I saw the sunrise. After that, we started descending the mountain. Huangshan is very high, and going down took quite a bit of effort.

I remember my friend and I climbed the whole way up without feeling too tired. We were young back then, in our 20s, and hiking was no big deal. If I went now, I’d definitely take the cable car. My stamina is far worse than it was.

Among the famous mountains in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, and Anhui, Huangshan stands out as top-tier.

However, Huangshan’s fame is so great that it overshadows the name of Huangshan City itself.

In reality, Huangshan City is full of unique charm.
It is one of the birthplaces of Huizhou culture, with a profound historical and cultural heritage. I especially love the style of Huizhou architecture—white walls and black tiles arranged in staggered elegance. Horse-head gables outline the skyline. Every detail condenses the ancients’ profound understanding of nature and humanity.

The villages at the foot of Huangshan, like Hongcun and Xidi, unfold like ink-painting scrolls amid green mountains and waters. They’re also well worth seeing.

In short, Huangshan City is a place worth savoring in detail.
If you learn a bit about Huizhou culture beforehand, your experience will be even deeper.

Finally, I wish everyone a wonderful time on their Huangshan trip!

Huangshan Landmark: Welcoming Pine, photographed in November 2013