Freshly Released Ultimate Self-Guided Mount Huangshan Travel Guide (The Most Comprehensive Ever)

I. Overview of Mount Huangshan

Mount Huangshan, located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, spans across Yi County, Xiuning County, Huangshan District, and Huizhou District within the city, covering an area of 1,078 square kilometers. It serves as the watershed between the Yangtze River and Qiantang River basins. During the Tang Dynasty, it is said that the Yellow Emperor (Gongsun Xuanyuan) together with his ministers Rong Chengzi and Fu Qiugong came here to refine elixirs and eventually ascended to heaven. Based on this legend, in the sixth year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty (747 AD), Emperor Xuanzong renamed Yishan to Huangshan, hence the name. Huangshan is one of the Three Sacred Mountains among the Five Great Mountains. Its five unique wonders are oddly-shaped pines, bizarre rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow. Huangshan combines the majesty of Mount Tai, the steepness of Mount Hua, the mist of Mount Heng, the waterfalls of Mount Lu, the exquisite stones of Yandang Mountain, and the coolness of Mount Emei. The Ming Dynasty traveler and geographer Xu Xiake visited Huangshan twice and left the eternal praise: "After returning from the Five Sacred Mountains, no other mountains are worth seeing; after returning from Huangshan, no other mountains are worth seeing even among the Five." Mount Huangshan is a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site. (The South Gate of Huangshan is merely a geographical marker, not the actual place where tickets are purchased to enter the mountain.)

II. Weather at Mount Huangshan

Good weather brings good mood! Weather is the most important factor when traveling. Based on my observations at the foot of Huangshan, the website "Weather Online" provides relatively accurate forecasts for the mountaintop, and you can also check the weather for the next seven days. Of course, the weather on Huangshan changes rapidly, sometimes sunny and sometimes rainy, and is unpredictable. The weather forecast is only a rough reference. It is recommended that friends planning to visit Huangshan consult locals two days before departure. Generally, people think sunny weather is the best for visiting Huangshan, but actually it is not the best. Sunny weather is convenient and allows you to see many sights, but the scenery under clear skies appears "stiff" without dreamlike changes. Huangshan has many rainy days, but do not think that climbing Huangshan in the rain is boring. The rain on Huangshan is mostly showers; after rain, Huangshan looks more beautiful and vibrant, which is also the greatest charm of the dreamy Huangshan. After rain or during showers, the chance of a sea of clouds appearing is highest, and the scenery of Huangshan set against the sea of clouds is ethereal, ever-changing, like flowing landscape paintings. Huangshan has stunning scenery in all seasons; the landscape differs not only across the four seasons but even within a day, and the beauty of Huangshan lies in its endless changes that captivate visitors.

Spring scenery (April-June): Spring is charming, with golden rapeseed flowers in the fields along the roads leading to Huangshan and azaleas dotting the hills, intoxicating visitors even before arriving.

Summer coolness (July-September): In summer, the peaks are lush green, the deep valleys are densely covered, and birds sing in the forests, presenting a full summer scene.

III. Transportation to Mount Huangshan

Before coming to Huangshan, visitors need to understand [three place names]: Huangshan City (Tunxi), Huangshan District (Taiping), and Mount Huangshan Scenic Area (Tangkou).

Huangshan City: Includes Tunxi District, Huizhou District, and Huangshan District. Locals usually call it Tunxi; it is the political, cultural, and transportation center of the Huangshan area. Note that from Huangshan City (Tunxi) to Mount Huangshan Scenic Area (Tangkou) is about 70 km, and the expressway between them is now open. The Huangshan Railway Station and Airport are both located in Huangshan City.

Huangshan District: Locals often call it Taiping. It is the current North Gate of Huangshan Scenic Area, from where visitors can take the newly built Taiping Cableway up the mountain. From Huangshan District (Taiping) to Mount Huangshan Scenic Area (Tangkou) is about 60 km, and the expressway between them is also open.

Mount Huangshan Scenic Area: Refers to the part of Huangshan that tourists visit, specifically from the entrance of the scenic area, including the entire mountain range.

Tangkou: A major tourist town at the foot of Huangshan, serving as the location of the South Gate. It is a must-pass for visiting the scenic area. From here, you can take a bus to the back mountain (Yungu Temple) or front mountain (Ciguang Pavilion), then hike or take a cable car to start your climb. Currently, 90% of visitors enter the scenic area through the South Gate, which is the gathering point before climbing.

Tangkou has [3 transfer centers]:

Tangkou Dongling Transfer Center: Located in the center of Tangkou Town, the closest point to Huangshan, a 5-minute walk from Tangkou Water Street. If staying in Tangkou, walk or take a bus to this transfer center.

Zhaixi Transfer Center: Located in Zhaixi. If staying near the Zhaixi toll gate, walk or take a bus to this transfer center.

South Gate Transfer Center: If staying at hotels near the South Gate, walk or take a bus to this transfer center.

Usually, when we refer to Mount Huangshan, we mean the Huangshan Scenic Area. If you come by train or plane, you can only reach Huangshan City (Tunxi). From there, you need to take a shuttle bus to Tangkou Town at the foot of the scenic area, and then transfer to the "Xinguoxian" scenic area special bus to enter the scenic area.

B1. Accommodation on the mountaintop

Many visitors ask why the hotel prices on the mountaintop are so high. Not only are the prices high, but often even with money there is no vacancy. Let me explain the reasons:

1. The number of hotels in the scenic area is strictly limited to avoid damaging the natural landscape, so there are only a few hotels on the mountain, causing high room rates due to scarcity.

2. The holiday system in China creates uneven tourist flow; holidays and weekends are overcrowded.

3. The hotels are built on peaks above 1,600 meters above sea level. Thousands of tons of construction materials and daily necessities for operation must be carried by porters from more than ten kilometers down the mountain. Staff salaries are also higher than in the lowlands, so high operating costs lead to high room rates.

4. All hotel room prices in the scenic area are uniformly set by Huangshan Tourism Co., Ltd., with no competition and monopoly operation, and no discounts for small groups or individual travelers.

Therefore, rooms and beds on Mount Huangshan need to be booked in advance, whether in low or peak season. Generally, one or two days ahead in low season, but one or two weeks ahead in peak season!

Huangshan is divided into five parts by region: East, South, West, North, and Tianhai. Each area has accommodation facilities.

1. Beihai Scenic Area hotels: Beihai Hotel, Shilin Hotel are 15 minutes walk from Yungu Cable Car, 30 minutes from Yungu New Cable Car. Beihai is the scenic area with concentrated attractions, surrounded by Lion Peak, Qingliang Terrace, Shuguang Pavilion, Shixin Peak, Sanhua Bay, Dream Writing Brush. You can watch sunset at Lion Peak and sunrise at Qingliang Terrace.

2. Donghai Scenic Area hotel: Bai'e Villa near the top of Yungu Cable Car - Bai'e Ridge. Surrounding attractions: Shixin Peak, Bright Summit, Bai'e Ridge. You can watch sunset at Bai'e Ridge and sunrise at Bright Summit.

3. Xihai Scenic Area hotels: Xihai Hotel, Paiyun Lou, Danxia Hostel, Reservoir Hostel are entrances to the Dreamy Scenic Area. Surrounding attractions: Paiyun Pavilion, Flying Stone, Danxia Peak, and the mysterious West Sea Grand Canyon. You can watch sunrise and sunset at Danxia Peak.

4. Tianhai Scenic Area hotels: Baiyun Hotel, Tianhai Villa. Tianhai is the center of Huangshan and also the exit of the Dreamy Baiyun Scenic Area. Surrounding attractions: Bright Summit, Haixin Pavilion, Baiyun Scenic Area. You can watch sunrise and sunset at Bright Summit or Aoyu Peak.

5. Nanhai Scenic Area hotel: Yuping Lou Hotel.

Simple description of hotels on the mountaintop:

1. Paiyun Lou Hotel (4-star): Rooms: 2-3 bed standard rooms, deluxe suites, 6-8 bed rooms with private bathroom.

2. Baiyun Hotel (3-star): Rooms: 2-3 bed standard rooms, deluxe suites, 6-8 bed rooms with private bathroom.

3. Xihai Shanzhuang (3-star): Rooms: 2-3 bed standard rooms, deluxe suites, 6-8 bed rooms with private bathroom.

4. Beihai Hotel (4-star): Rooms: 2-bed standard rooms, deluxe suites, Shuguang Villa standard rooms.

5. Xihai Hotel (4-star): Rooms: 2-bed standard rooms, deluxe suites.

6. Beihai Hostel: Rooms: tents.

Simple description of hotel rooms on the mountain:

There are mainly these few hotels on the mountaintop, all uniformly managed by Huangshan Tourism Co., Ltd., a monopoly business. The accommodation prices are basically the same, so there is no need to compare prices; just compare which location is more convenient.

*** It is recommended that you choose private bathroom beds (best value for money) as much as possible. Standard rooms are too expensive, and shared bathroom conditions are too poor. If your budget allows, try not to sleep in shared bathroom rooms. Don't save a few dozen yuan on accommodation. Climbing is very tiring; being able to take a hot shower and have hot water supply can quickly restore your energy, making the next day's tour more enjoyable. Private bathroom rooms have the same facilities as standard rooms, the only difference is the number of beds. But private bathrooms are separated by gender. If a couple or family comes and does not want to sleep separately, and the financial condition is good, consider sleeping in a standard room. For student couples with average financial conditions, it is generally recommended to share a private bathroom room with other tourists or stay in tents.

Standard rooms: two to three beds, private bathroom, 24-hour hot water, bed linens changed per guest, winter provides down jackets.

Private bathroom rooms: six to eight beds, bunk beds, private bathroom, 24-hour hot water, disposable toiletries, bed linens changed weekly.

B2. Food on the mountaintop

All food items on Mount Huangshan are carried up by porters, so prices are relatively high. A bottle of pure water may cost 10 yuan, sometimes even 15 yuan, and a cucumber 5-8 yuan. Meals in the mountaintop hotel restaurants are also very expensive; a simple stir-fried green vegetable costs 30-40 yuan, tomato and egg soup about 30 yuan, the cheapest meat dish 60 yuan, and expensive ones over a hundred yuan. Therefore, it is recommended that self-driving tourists bring their own dry food up the mountain. Nothing much to say, it's surprisingly expensive. There are no restaurants on the mountain; to eat, you have to go to a hotel, where the buffet is 80 yuan per person. If you order dishes, almost every dish is more expensive than the buffet. The supermarket on the mountain is also extremely expensive: mineral water 5 yuan/bottle, sausage 2 yuan/piece. The most exaggerated is that if you have instant noodles but no hot water, even the hot water for soaking noodles costs 5 yuan!! When visiting Huangshan, you will definitely be on the mountain trail at noon, with no place to eat. So it's best to prepare two days' worth of dry food before going up. It is recommended to bring high-energy foods such as: instant noodles (dinner and breakfast), bread or small steamed buns from a hotel at the foot (lunch), chocolate, beef jerky (essential for energy replenishment), luncheon meat, sausages, or packaged braised dishes (a few meals without meat, bring some meat to stimulate appetite), and mineral water. In Tangkou, there are Lianhua and Hualian supermarkets from Shanghai, Suguo supermarkets from Nanjing, and the newly opened foreign-invested Trust-Mart. You can buy these items in Tangkou; the prices are similar to those in cities outside.

Regarding water, personally I think you don't need to bring too much. In summer, two bottles in your backpack are enough. If not enough, it's better to buy on the mountain than to carry many bottles. If you stay in a private bathroom or standard room, don't throw away empty bottles; you can refill water in your room. In winter, two bottles are sufficient.

V. Self-Guided Tour Route for Mount Huangshan

Route knowledge: The path on Huangshan forms a circular trend. That is, whether you choose to enter from the front or back mountain, you must pass through the South Gate. The South Gate is both the starting and ending point. From the South Gate to Ciguang Pavilion (front mountain) or Yungu Temple (back mountain), there is about a 15-minute uphill road. Here you need to take the scenic area's "Xinguoxian" special climbing bus; private cars are not allowed.

Route from the back mountain: After entering the South Gate, go up from Yungu Temple (back mountain) to the north, tour Huangshan, then descend from Ciguang Pavilion to the south.

Route from the front mountain: After entering the South Gate, go up from Ciguang Pavilion (front mountain) to the south, tour Huangshan, then descend from Yungu Temple to the north.

Yungu Temple (back mountain, north mountain) and Ciguang Pavilion (south mountain, front mountain) are the two starting points of the main scenic area route, and also where the ticket offices are located. The conventional route is to go up from Yungu Temple (back mountain) and down from Ciguang Pavilion (front mountain) to save energy and time. The Bright Summit is the dividing line between the front and back mountains. The area from Yungu Temple to Bright Summit is the back mountain, which is beautiful, rich in wonders, and the essence of Huangshan's scenery, and also the focus of the tour. The area from Bright Summit to Ciguang Pavilion is the front mountain, which is longer and has more dispersed attractions, but grand with towering peaks, intersecting valleys, and steep, treacherous paths.

VI. Beautiful Scenery of Mount Huangshan

Mount Huangshan is famous worldwide for its four wonders: oddly-shaped pines, bizarre rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs. The bizarre rocks of Huangshan are scattered everywhere, dotting the magnificent sea of peaks. They are unique in form, large or small, competing in beauty, full of interest.

1. Oddly-shaped pines: Due to natural creativity, each pine tree has its own posture, vigorous and varied: some stand tall and straight, some have spreading green branches, some have twisted roots, some are robust and majestic. Famous pines include: Welcome Pine (in front of the stone lion at Yuping Lou), Farewell Pine (right of Yuping Lou), Cattail Seat Pine (at Lianhua Stream Entrance), Phoenix Pine (at Tianhai), Black Tiger Pine (between Beihai Hotel and Shixin Peak), Sea-Exploring Pine (beside the Carp's Back on Tiandu Peak), Chessboard Pine (at Pingtian Stone Bridge), Jieyin Pine (at Shixin Peak), Qilin Pine (between Beihai Hotel and Qingliang Terrace). These are the ten famous pines of Huangshan.

2. Bizarre rocks: Some look like rare birds and animals, such as "Monkey Gazing at Taiping", "Squirrel Jumping to Tiandu", "Aoyu Carrying Golden Tortoise", "Turtle Climbing the Mountain". Some resemble various figures: "Immortals Playing Chess", "Heavenly Maiden Embroidering", "Couple Talking", "Boy Worshipping Guanyin". Some are like various objects: "Dream Writing Brush Blossoms", "Brush Holder Peak", "Immortal Drying Boots", "Flying Bell". Some are named after historical stories or myths: "Su Wu Tending Sheep", "Li Bai Drunk", "Wu Song Fighting the Tiger", "Bodhidharma Facing the Wall". They are scattered everywhere, dotting the magnificent sea of peaks, each unique, large or small, competing in beauty, full of interest.

3. Sea of clouds: Flying clouds spread like a sea, peaks float on the sea, forming a great wonder of Huangshan. "Between heaven and earth, how can there be a sea on the mountaintop!" exclaimed Ming Dynasty poet Pan Zhiheng in admiration. "Since ancient times, Huangshan's clouds form a sea," is a line left by the late Marshal Liu Bocheng after visiting Huangshan. The sea of clouds is an important landscape in mountain scenic areas, and Huangshan's sea of clouds is the best among all mountains, the most captivating landscape of Huangshan. The formation of the sea of clouds has its reasons and laws: Huangshan has high mountains and deep valleys, dense forests, short sunshine hours, so moisture does not evaporate easily, resulting in high humidity and abundant water vapor. After rain and clear skies, low temperature and high pressure cause water vapor in the valleys to condense into clouds, filling the valleys to form a sea of clouds. During winter and spring, due to frequent cold air activity, large areas of sea of clouds often appear after rain or snow. Suddenly, among the peaks, white waves surge, vast and boundless, with peaks floating on the sea like isolated islands, appearing and disappearing, seen and unseen, changing rapidly, magnificent. The Huangshan sea of clouds is divided into five areas: view the South Sea at Yuping Lou, the North Sea at Qingliang Terrace, the West Sea at Paiyun Pavilion, the East Sea at Bai'e Ridge, and the Heavenly Sea at Bright Summit. Each sea has its own characteristics, comparable to the Penglai Immortal Island.

4. Hot springs: Huangshan hot springs, anciently called Tangquan (Hot Spring) or Zhusha Spring (Cinnabar Spring). They maintain a constant temperature of about 42°C, with a daily output of 400 tons. The water is pure, at a comfortable temperature, clear and sweet, without sulfur, rich in bicarbonate, a light hot spring that can be drunk and bathed in, and is said to have some medicinal value, also known as "Lingquan" (Spiritual Spring).

The development and management of Huangshan Scenic Area are very mature. With a hand-drawn map of Huangshan, you can explore the mountain easily. Most intersections have signposts; on average, there is a road cleaner every 500 meters. If unsure, you can ask them.

Here I briefly introduce some classic attractions on Huangshan, must-visit places: Shixin Peak (view odd pines and Monkey Gazing at the Sea), Shuguang Pavilion (Immortal Carrying Bag, Prime Minister Watching Chess, Immortals Playing Chess), Sanhua Bay (Dream Writing Brush Blossoms, Brush Holder Peak), Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder, Flying Stone, Paiyun Pavilion (Immortal Drying Boots, Fairy Playing Qin, etc.), West Sea Grand Canyon, Bright Summit (Aoyu Carrying Golden Tortoise), Aoyu Peak, Tiandu Peak, Yuping Lou (Squirrel Jumping to Tiandu, Peacock Playing with Lotus), etc.

1. Shixin Peak: "Not reaching Shixin Peak, you haven't seen the odd pines of Huangshan." This area gathers many famous pines: Jieyin Pine, Black Tiger Pine, Lovers' Pine, Dragon Claw Pine, Crouching Dragon Pine, Sea-Exploring Pine, etc. At the Stone Bamboo Shoot Ridge, you can see many bizarre rocks. The Stone Bamboo Shoot Ridge is known as the "First Wonder of Huangshan," with stone pillars standing in disorder, various odd pines and rocks, the "Eighteen Arhats Facing South Sea" vividly lifelike.

2. Paiyun Pavilion: This is the most concentrated area of small attractions in Huangshan, known as the "Museum of Huangshan Bizarre Rocks," such as Immortal Drying Shoes, Immortal Drying Boots, Fairy Embroidering, Fairy Playing Qin, Wu Song Fighting the Tiger.

3. West Sea Grand Canyon: "Climbing Huangshan without visiting the Dreamy Area is the greatest regret!" This area is called the Dreamy Scenic Area, offering the beauty, tranquility, and unique scenery of Huangshan. "This is the forbidden zone for tour groups, a paradise for self-guided tourists." Some say, "80% of Huangshan's ticket value is generated here." Though somewhat exaggerated, it proves the unique beauty of the scenery.

4. Bright Summit: "Without reaching the Bright Summit, you haven't seen the full scenery of Huangshan." This is a platform on Huangshan at an altitude of 1,860 meters, the second highest peak of Huangshan, higher than Tiandu Peak. It is the dividing line between the front and back mountains. Standing here, you have the best view of Lotus Peak and Tiandu Peak, with a wide field of vision.

5. Tiandu Peak: "If you don't climb Tiandu Peak, your trip will be in vain." At 1,830 meters, it is the steepest of the three main peaks of Huangshan. "Tiandu" means "the dwelling of all immortals" or "heavenly capital." At the summit, there is a stone carving "Reaching the Extreme." Although Tiandu Peak is not as high as Lotus Peak, its steepness is incomparable. The Hundred Feet Cloud Ladder almost goes straight up and down, ideal for a bird's-eye view of the magnificent panorama of Huangshan.

6. Lotus Peak: Located in the middle of Huangshan, north of Yuping Lou, facing Tiandu Peak to the east. On the 1.5 km path from Lianhualing to the top of Lotus Peak, ancient people often mistakenly thought Tiandu Peak was the highest. Steep and towering, majestic, it resembles a newly blooming lotus, hence the name.

7. Yuping Lou: "Without visiting Wenzhu Yuan (Yuping Lou), you haven't seen the face of Huangshan." Yuping Lou is between Tiandu and Lotus peaks, a great place to gather the wonders of Huangshan. The famous Welcome Pine is to the left of Yuping Lou. This is also the best place to view the South Sea cloud formation.

IX. Differences between Self-Guided Tour and Group Tour

Why is it recommended to choose a self-guided tour of Huangshan? Here is a brief explanation.

Those familiar with Huangshan know that its essence is the West Sea Grand Canyon and Tiandu Peak. Group tours do not go to the West Sea Grand Canyon (also called "Dreamy Scenic Area"), so they miss the most beautiful part of Huangshan. You can search online for the West Sea Grand Canyon, the most stunning place on Huangshan. Unless it is a company outing, it is generally recommended to explore Huangshan independently. The West Sea Grand Canyon takes nearly 5 hours to traverse, and Tiandu Peak takes about 2 hours round trip. Due to time constraints, domestic tour groups do not go there. However, the Huangshan ticket price of 230 yuan is believed to have 80 yuan from the West Sea Grand Canyon and 50 yuan from Tiandu Peak. So if you miss these two places, it will definitely be a regret. Moreover, group tours have the guide controlling your time, deciding whether to walk slowly or quickly, and whether you have time to take photos. Huangshan is a pure natural landscape; all trail signs are very clear, and you can almost encounter a staff member every 500 meters, so you can confidently explore on your own. Self-guided tours also cost less, as travel agencies take a portion of profit. Also, it is best to avoid golden holidays like May Day and National Day, when prices are high, crowds are large, and it's hard to enjoy. A self-guided tour costs about 600 yuan per person, 1000+ for two; this might be higher than some tour group prices, but some tour groups do not include accommodation on the mountain, hence the lower price. Don't miss the most worthwhile places on Huangshan just to "save" that money.

X. Essential Items, Precautions, and Common Phone Numbers for Climbing Mount Huangshan

Essential items:

1. Toiletries: toothpaste & toothbrush (use on the mountain), shampoo, towel, sunscreen, etc.

2. Medications: cold medicine, band-aids, etc.

3. Clothing: T-shirt, mid-length pants (long jeans are too tight and hot), double-layer jacket (cold on the mountain in the morning and evening), sports shoes (non-slip hard-soled sports shoes that hide dirt), spare underwear, socks, etc.

4. Food: water, instant noodles, sausages, chicken legs, chocolate, beef, self-heating rice, and other high-energy snacks.

5. Other: raincoat, walking stick, cash, credit card, ID card, student ID, digital camera (battery, charger), memory card, mobile phone (charger), flashlight or headlamp, etc.

Precautions:

1. Wear hiking shoes, cloth shoes, or sneakers for climbing; leather shoes and plastic-soled shoes are prone to slipping. For safety, you can buy a bamboo stick or cane.

2. The mountain is high and the paths are steep. Walk at a slow pace and do not go too fast. For safety, always adhere to "walk without looking at the scenery, look at the scenery without walking." Walking while looking is dangerous.

3. When climbing, lean slightly forward and walk in a Z-shape. This saves energy and is easier.

4. Bring enough boiled water, drinks, and necessary medicines for emergencies.

5. When it rains heavily on Huangshan, flash floods come fiercely and quickly. Before heavy rain, do not wash clothes or play in the river to avoid accidents.

6. When taking photos on steep and dangerous peaks, after choosing the angle, do not move, especially do not step backward, to prevent accidents.

7. Many buildings and historical sites on Huangshan: do not carve or write on any building, monument, rock, bamboo, or wood.

8. To prevent fires, designated smoking areas are set along the route. You can only smoke in designated areas; when smoking, consciously throw cigarette butts into trash bins, not litter.

9. To keep the scenic area clean, do not litter. Tree-shaped trash bins are placed every few meters.

You need to bring a raincoat up the mountain; it is sold at the foot.

The shuttle bus from Hongcun back to Tangkou is not very convenient, and the schedule is uncertain.

There is a flood of information about Huangshan on the internet, most of which is not practical, and much is outdated. Many friends who have never been to Huangshan find it too complicated and overwhelming after reading. I am a native of Huangshan, now living at its foot. I have climbed Huangshan more than 30 times, walked almost every path, including the desolate areas that tourists do not visit. Based on my many experiences and feedback from tourists, I have summarized the most essential scenic spots and classic route guides for your reference, providing a platform for communication about visiting Huangshan...

Many tourists ask which season is the most beautiful or suitable for visiting Huangshan. In fact, each season has its own scenery. If considering overall landscape, the best time is from April to November, because the most essential attractions are fully open. However, in winter during the low season, due to snow and ice, considering safety, many peaks like the West Sea Grand Canyon, Lotus Peak, and Tiandu Peak are closed, generally from December 1 to April 1 of the next year; these are temporary winter closures. Also, for long-term conservation, Huangshan takes turns resting some peaks each year. Currently, Tiandu Peak is on rotation; it usually alternates closure with Lotus Peak. Tiandu Peak has been closed for over a year and will generally remain closed for another 3-4 years. When Tiandu Peak opens, Lotus Peak will enter a closed state.

I have ranked the most essential attractions of Huangshan, including my subjective feelings and objective feedback from tourists. You might wonder why familiar places like Bright Summit and Welcome Pine are not included. To be honest, these places are not that impressive; they are overrated due to high media exposure. You may even feel disappointed and annoyed when you get there because of the crowds, with people lining up to take photos with the Welcome Pine. Ha... Let's focus on more practical things. Below, I introduce the scenic characteristics of these places, focusing on specific climbing methods.

Rank 1: West Sea Grand Canyon. Main features: delicacy, uniqueness, tranquility, dreaminess. The entire canyon traverse takes about 4-5 hours. Its geographical shape is a "U," with two entrances/exits: the north entrance at Paiyun Pavilion and the south entrance at Tianhai. You can enter from either side; whichever you choose, you first go downhill to the bottom and then uphill out. The classic route usually goes up from the back mountain, enters from Paiyun Pavilion (north entrance), and exits from Tianhai (south entrance). The section from Paiyun Pavilion down to the bottom accounts for 2/5 of the canyon, taking about 1.5 hours; the section from the bottom up to Tianhai Haixin Pavilion is longer, accounting for 3/5, taking about 3 hours. The choice of entrance depends on where you stay and your location.

Rank 2: Tiandu Peak. Main features: grandeur, spectacular, steep, thrilling. Elevation 1,810 meters. Anciently called "The City of Immortals," meaning the heavenly capital. Tiandu Peak is the steepest climbable peak on Huangshan and the third highest peak. The average slope is about 70 degrees, with local sections nearing 80 degrees. The peak has two sides: the north slope (old path) from Old Path Entrance to the summit is 2 km (many sources say 2 km; based on my many climbs, it's about 1.5 km), taking about 50 minutes. The south slope (new path) from the summit to New Path Entrance is 2.5 km, taking about 80 minutes.

Rank 3: Lotus Peak. Main features: grandeur, spectacular, protruding, thrilling. Elevation 1,864 meters, is the highest peak of Huangshan and the third highest in East China. Xu Xiake mentioned in his travelogue that Lotus Peak "resides in the center of Huangshan, standing above all other peaks," and even Tiandu Peak bows to it. He was the first to identify that Lotus Peak is the highest peak of Huangshan. This peak is steep and towering, majestic. Because the main peak protrudes and small peaks cluster around it, resembling a newly bloomed lotus holding up to the sky, it is called "Lotus Peak." The peak has two sides: the north slope from Lotus Pavilion to the summit is 1.5 km, taking about 40 minutes; from the summit to the south slope entrance is 2 km, taking about 1.5 hours.

Rank 4: Shixin Peak. Main features: elegance, variety, steepness, fantasy. Shixin Peak is located east of Sanhua Bay in Beihai, rising above a deep chasm, one of the 36 small peaks, at 1,683 meters. Here, clever rocks compete, odd pines stand, three sides face emptiness, cliffs are a thousand feet high, clouds and mist create a unique scenery. It is said that in the Ming Dynasty, Huang Xiyuan traveled from Yungu Temple to this peak, felt as if in a painting, both dreamlike and real, and finally believed that Huangshan's scenery is extraordinary, so he named it "Shixin" (meaning "beginning to believe"). The name became famous. Standing on the peak, there is a feeling of "Wonderful beyond words, hard to believe; how can this be? Only when you arrive do you know." The name "Shixin" has been praised for a thousand years. Shixin Peak is relatively simple and easy to visit. From the back mountain New Bai'e Ridge cable car station, walk towards Beihai for about 20 minutes to see Shixin Peak. It is a small peak; the round trip hike takes less than half an hour.