The Magnificent Yellow Mountain – Pristine Pines and Grotesque Rocks, a Fairyland on Earth

As the saying goes: 'Having seen the Five Sacred Mountains, no other mountain is worth seeing; having seen the Yellow Mountain, the Five Sacred Mountains are no longer worth seeing.' Returning from the Yellow Mountain, I was deeply moved. Truly, every step reveals a new view, with pristine pines and grotesque rocks – a fairyland on earth!

Speaking of climbing mountains, my heart trembles. When I was in my twenties, I climbed Wudang Mountain, mustering all my strength to reach the top. Now, in middle age, it is even more difficult.

Before going, I prepared myself – if it became too much, I would rest on the spot and at most give up on reaching the summit. But upon arriving at the scenic area, my eyes fell into paradise, and step by step, I walked through a fairyland, forgetting all fatigue. Over two days, I went from Cloud Valley Temple on the rear mountain to West Sea Grand Canyon, from Lotus Peak to Purple Cloud Pavilion on the front mountain. I even carried a DSLR camera, taking photos while walking, and I actually made it through. The weather was also very cooperative – I encountered blue skies, white clouds, sunrise, sunset, and drifting mists – it was truly a perfect trip.

Let me first share a set of photos to show the beauty of the Yellow Mountain!

2021.9.25~2021.9.27 (3 days)

Wuhan – Huangshan North Station high-speed train: 172.5 yuan *2

Huangshan North – Tangkou: 30 yuan *2

Scenic area transfer center transportation: 19 yuan *2

Ticket: 190 yuan

Cable car: 80+90+100 yuan

Accommodation: 147 yuan at the foot of the mountain; 260 yuan on the mountain

Per person cost: 1360 yuan/person

Two-day tour route for the Yellow Mountain: ascend from the rear mountain, descend from the front mountain, stay overnight on the mountain, enjoy both sunrise and sunset. Cover all three core scenic areas: Jade Screen, North Sea, and Dreamlike. Do not miss iconic attractions such as Welcoming Pine, Flying-Over Rock, Dreaming Pen Produces Flowers, and Monkey Gazing at the Sea. Details are as follows:

Day 1: Enter from Cloud Valley Temple → Take Cloud Valley Cable Car to White Goose Ridge Station → Visit North Sea Scenic Area (Harp Pine → Starting-to-Believe Peak → Stone Shoot Ridge → Black Tiger Pine → Dreaming Pen Produces Flowers → Pass by North Sea Hotel → Dawn Pavilion → Cool Terrace → Monkey Gazing at the Sea → Flying-Over Rock (distant view) → Bright Summit → Check in at White Cloud Hotel, drop luggage → Paiyun Pavilion → Flying-Over Rock (close view) → Enter West Sea Grand Canyon → Pass through First Ring and Second Ring to reach the bottom → Take ground-level cable car from bottom to Tianhai (those with good stamina can walk to Fairy-Stone Bridge) → Watch sunset at Bright Summit → Stay at White Cloud Hotel

Day 2: Watch sunrise at Bright Summit → Return to hotel to check out → Mandarin Fish Peak → Mandarin Fish Cave (or One-Line Sky) → Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder → Lotus Peak (currently Celestial Capital Peak is closed for rotation) → Jade Screen Pavilion/Welcoming Pine → Take Jade Screen Cable Car down to Ciguang Pavilion

On the first day, take the high-speed train to Huangshan North, then take a bus to Tangkou Town, and stay at a hotel just ten steps away from the scenic area transfer point. Get a good night's rest, and start climbing early the next morning.

On the second day, after breakfast in town, the scenic area opened before 6:30. We took the bus, which departed on time at 6:30, and entered from Cloud Valley Temple on the rear mountain. As soon as we got off, a fragrance of osmanthus greeted us! It took about 10 minutes to walk to the cable car station.

After the cable car, it was just before 8 a.m. The light was soft, perfect for taking photos.

By the time we reached North Sea Hotel, we had basically seen all the sights on the rear mountain. We needed to find White Cloud Hotel to drop our luggage and then go to West Sea Grand Canyon in the afternoon. Then we got lost – heading toward Bright Summit, we reached the top before finding the direction to White Cloud Hotel. This stretch was very tiring, as it was all uphill. But there was a gain: near Bright Summit, we unexpectedly saw Flying-Over Rock from a distance – this should be the best viewpoint, even better than seeing it up close!

A hotel in the valley

After climbing to Bright Summit, we enjoyed the view from the spot for watching sunset and sunrise, then descended about 20 minutes to White Cloud Hotel. The morning trip on the rear mountain ended. From the cable car station at Cloud Valley Temple, it took about 4.5 hours to complete the rear mountain tour.

After dropping our luggage and eating, we set off lightly at 12:30 for West Sea Grand Canyon. All the way downhill, my knees started hurting. First we found Paiyun Pavilion, then Flying-Over Rock, descended to First Ring and Second Ring, and finally to the bottom. Not many tourists walked this route with us. Tour groups took the small train from the mountaintop to the bottom and then went back up – this way seemed much more tiring. By the time we reached the bottom at 3 p.m., the tour groups were just starting to ascend, so they couldn't finish exploring the Grand Canyon.

The Grand Canyon has no named rocks or stories – every step reveals a view, full of surprises, a fairyland on earth that you only experience step by step.

At the bottom, does this rock also look like Flying-Over Rock?

A pine tree grows on top of the rock

We took the small train up from the bottom at 4 p.m., walked 10 minutes to White Cloud Hotel, rested for an hour, then climbed to Bright Summit at 5 p.m. to watch the sunset. We calculated: we had to climb to Bright Summit three times – for sunset, sunrise tomorrow, and again. What kind of spirit is this! I admire myself. Middle-aged body, young heart!

We waited a long time for the sunset. The light gradually dimmed, and in a moment, a cloud drifted by, turning into a golden-edged cloud – it was beautiful.

At 5:20 a.m., we climbed Bright Summit again to watch the sunrise. The sun rose right on schedule!

Lotus Peak bathed in morning light

After watching sunrise, we descended and checked out. Starting at 7:30, we descended from the front mountain, passed Mandarin Fish Peak, climbed Lotus Peak, saw the Welcoming Pine, and took the Jade Screen Cable Car down. Today's itinerary was challenging.

Walking and taking photos, at Mandarin Fish Cave we saw sunlight streaming through the trees.

On the Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder, we saw 'Mandarin Fish Eating Snails'

'Piggy Looking in the Mirror'

Beginning to climb Lotus Peak

At the top of Lotus Peak, looking at Bright Summit filled me with a sense of achievement.

Descending, around 10 a.m., mist rose from the bottom of the valley, drifting in gusts. When the wind blew, the mist thickened and then thinned – truly delightful! Ethereal mists swirling among the mountains – this is the most beautiful aspect of the Yellow Mountain!

When we arrived at the visitor center, we searched for the Welcoming Pine with the 'Yellow Mountain' label. Before seeing the Welcoming Pine, we encountered the Farewell Pine.

Near the cable car, there was the Cushion Pine.

With plenty of time, we walked slowly, stopping often. The front mountain took five hours to complete. At 12:30, we took the Jade Screen Cable Car down. The two-day Yellow Mountain trip came to a perfect end!