For Those Visiting Huangshan for the First Time

📍 Huangshan · 👁 3449 reads · ❤️ 1 likes

After seeing the Five Sacred Mountains, no other mountain is worth seeing; after seeing Huangshan, no other sacred mountain is worth seeing. Following in the footsteps of Xu Xiake, ascend Huangshan, walking between heaven and earth, with neat stone steps leading straight to the clouds. Step by step, the seemingly endless mountain path forces us to shed our heavy negative emotions and travel light.

Whether taking the ten-minute cable car or hiking for three hours, the destination is the same: Anhui's 'signature'—the Welcoming Pine. Standing tall and steadfast all year round, greeting visitors and seeing them off, the Welcoming Pine is like a big star, attracting tourists to take photos.

Lotus Peak and Celestial Capital Peak cannot both be climbed, as they take turns resting every three to five years. Lotus Peak, shaped like a lotus flower, stands at 1864.8 meters above sea level. Standing at the summit, you can see the surrounding mountains bowing down, a magnificent sight.

Celestial Capital Peak is famed for its steepness, with nearly vertical stone steps that make you dizzy. Crawling up, you dare not look back; descending, your legs tremble, fearing a misstep that could lead to a disastrous fall. The climb is arduous, but the sense of accomplishment from conquering it lingers.

The small train in the West Sea Grand Canyon—would you dare miss it? Starting from Tianhai Station to Paiyunxi Station at the bottom, it offers a wildly popular Instagram-worthy perspective. However, more people depart from Paiyunxi Station than from Tianhai, because climbing up from the bottom is truly exhausting. So many choose to walk down to the bottom and then take the small train up to Tianhai. The one-way ticket for the small train costs 100 yuan, taking two minutes, with waiting time extra.

The Bright Summit where Zhang Wuji became famous is in the Kunlun Mountains, but Huangshan's Bright Summit is renowned for its unrivaled sunrise and sea of clouds. Among the mountains, the secret to instantly identifying Bright Summit is the large white weather station that looks like a soccer ball.

If time permits, go see that magical boulder. A stone from beyond the sky, standing for a millennium on a single point of support.

Everything in Huangshan has a spirit. Every mountain and tree is a creation of nature; birds, beasts, flowers, insects—all are spirits of the world. If you are lucky enough to encounter cute little animals in Huangshan, rejoice quietly and do not disturb. If you can't resist taking photos, remember to turn off the flash. If you come face to face with monkeys, retreat is the best strategy.

Huangshan is worth visiting in every season. In spring, enjoy the bloom of a hundred flowers; in summer, relish the cool breeze in the forest; in autumn, see the forests dyed in layers; in winter, behold the jade-like trees. My favorite is Huangshan's winter snow. Overnight, the entire mountain turns into 'Swarovski', transforming the world into a fairyland. The vast clouds and mist surge among the peaks, an endless delight.

Huangshan is vast—can you measure it on foot with limited time and energy? Don't worry! Besides the West Sea Grand Canyon sightseeing cable car, Huangshan has three ropeways. 'To the left is Celestial Capital, to the right is Lotus, leaning against Jade Screen Pavilion; the beauty of both peaks can be held in hand.' Take the Jade Screen Cable Car, and the Welcoming Pine is within reach. Ascend via the Cloud Valley Cable Car to save time and effort. If you enter Huangshan from Taiping direction, the Taiping Cable Car is a good choice, offering the experience of 'above, you can embrace the clouds and sea; below, you can pick up fields and rivers'—a unique scenery.

Huangshan's sky is a healing blue.

If Huangshan is a passionate young man, then Hongcun is a gentle girl. The world develops rapidly, but Hongcun remains unhurried, strolling leisurely, enjoying the slow time.

'Endless drizzle wets the spring mud; through the mist, birds chirp occasionally; willows frown and peaches smile, as I chant past the painted bridge.' Distant mountains shrouded in mist, near waters rippling with emerald waves—sky and water merge in one color. South Lake reflects the silhouette of the painted bridge, but cannot capture the outline of Li Mubai leading his horse across. The sketching students use watercolors to know Hongcun, but inadvertently fall into my camera, creating a beautiful scene.

Hongcun is a unique ox-shaped ancient village; the 'ox stomach' is the Moon Pond. By the Moon Pond, lanterns sway, looking especially bright against the backdrop of black, white, and gray. Walking on the surrounding bluestone slabs, every place is a view, every step a painting.

Green bricks, small tiles, horse-head walls; corridors with hanging flower-patterned windows. Gently stroke the mottled walls, touching history; the deep courtyards and tall walls, how many women have witnessed their lifelong watch?

Hongcun in the early morning has an ordinary atmosphere of daily life, with cooking smoke hiding the hustle and bustle. The entire village seems to have slept for centuries, just as it was back then. The early-rising villagers, greeting warmly, wake you from your dream.

The evening breeze carries the chill of early spring. That day, I casually walked into a quiet bar in Hongcun, found a corner, ordered a margarita, and watched the world go by. Young people sat around a table, sharing a pitcher of beer and a few plates of dried fruit, bragging and chatting heartily. As night deepened and the excitement faded, a girl, encouraged by her friends, mustered the courage to pick up the microphone and sing for herself. Her voice choked, emotions overflowed, and all her strength crumbled in that moment. Strange girl, youth is inevitably chaotic; why not let go and drift with the wind? As time passes, leave your unanchored stories and feelings in Hongcun.

Enough to soothe your autumns, winters, springs, and summers.

Travelogue Table of Contents

1. Huangshan

2. Hongcun

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