Huang Shan, also known Mount Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), is one of China’s most beautiful natural attractions. It is located near Tunxi in southeast Anhui Province, eastern China, and is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Huang Shan is an artist’s dream, a beautiful granite massif featuring dozens of sharp peaks often clad with mist. All types of flora and fauna reside on the mountain, including a spectacular pine tree and all types of squirrel. Huang Shan is just an hour from Tunxi, where there is a small airport.
Those into hiking will really enjoy Huang Shan as there are several established tracks accessible by cable car. The Western Steps takes in one of the longest hikes, taking in 14kms of unbelievable terrain by Via Ferrata-like walkways. The ascent takes about six hours, while the east steps takes half as long.
Celestial Capital Peak is only really for the very fit, being particularly precipitous. The Nine Dragon Waterfall (Jiu Long Pu) can be walked to on descending the Eastern Steps. Whatever direction you take, getting up Huang Shan for a sunrise can be mesmerizing in season although out of season there’s a good chance of it being foggy.
Nearby Tunxi is worth a few hours for Laojie Street, an old street with some natty shopping.
Getting There & Away
Tunxi Airport is the most convenient gateway to Huang Shan; it’s a 40-minute flight from Shanghai Pudong Internatonal Airport. Hangzhou is a good 3-hour drive away. Huangshan train station in Tunxi receives overnight services from Shanghai in about 13 hours.