Self-driving Tour of Huangshan: Exploring Anhui's Splendid Landscapes

Having climbed Mount Tai and Mount Song, I finally made it to Huangshan. The reason I chose to climb Huangshan was not just for the Greeting Pine, but more to witness the ever-changing scenery on the mountain. Besides Huangshan, I also arranged trips to Hongcun, Chengkan, and Qiankou Folk Houses.

We took the high-speed train to Huangshan and reserved a Bora at a certain Hao car rental near the Huangshan North Railway Station. The car was booked in advance; when we arrived at the store, we just went through the rental procedures, which was very convenient. Note: be sure to claim their gift package, as the first day's rental can be reduced by 100 RMB.

Over seven days, we visited many places and chose different hotels each day. My favorite was the guesthouse in Hongcun. Hongcun is a relatively primitive village with ancient architectural styles. At night, the village quiets down, revealing a serene and gentle countryside.

This trip to Huangshan yielded many satisfying photos, but even more satisfying were the beautiful sights seen with my own eyes. I must say, Anhui's mountains and waters are incredibly charming—whether peaks or villages, they all have wonderful details to appreciate.

The images above show Tachuan, Hongcun, and the Huangshan Scenic Area. Autumn in Tachuan is so beautiful. The leaves display different colors, creating a rich layering effect.

Hongcun itself looks like an ink painting. Its houses, lake, and tranquil lights complement each other, forming a stunning landscape painting.

The images above show Chengkan, Qiankou Folk Houses, and Shuyuan Village. Chengkan is a lesser-known small village, but once you arrive, you'll be captivated by its pristine nature.

Qiankou Folk Houses is a small attraction, like a miniature museum containing several historic residences.

The images above show Xin'an River Landscape Gallery, Changxi Village, and Jujing Village. These three attractions have different styles but are all incredibly beautiful. Jujing Village is my favorite—the village is so delightful, with a river encircling the entire settlement, making it exceptionally lovely.

These are Yantian Village, Wuyuan, and Zhang Village. Wuyuan was a focal point of our trip and is also one of Anhui's super famous scenic spots.

Wuyuan has many small attractions to check out, and its autumn drying scene is especially beautiful. Bright red chili peppers are everywhere, looking very exciting.

That day, after arriving at Huangshan High-Speed Rail Station, we first picked up the car. Yihai's store was right in the parking lot, and then we drove directly to Huangshan. We checked into our guesthouse and had a meal there. It was around four o'clock, so climbing the mountain that day was out of the question. We searched for nearby attractions and found the Emerald Valley, so we went there.

There were few people at Emerald Valley, but we saw a beautiful eyeshadow. There is a stunning lake where the water is indeed emerald green. A friend said that coming here felt like visiting a mini version of Jiuzhaigou.

Tips: If you want to buy tickets to Emerald Valley, it's advisable to ask the guesthouse owner, as the price is relatively cheaper.

The next morning, we set off very early for Huangshan. We drove to the Huangshan transfer center and then took the scenic area shuttle bus. The shuttle bus fare was cheap, 19 RMB, but with an additional 3 RMB for insurance.

Also, when climbing the mountain, you can take the cable car directly up; the fare is 80 RMB.

At Huangshan, we truly saw spectacular scenery. If it had snowed, it would have been even more beautiful. I've seen photos of Huangshan's rime ice taken by others—they were stunning.

Huangshan was already beautiful now. Looking down from the peaks, the thick mist was very hazy. After a while, the mist dissipated, and the shapes of the peaks reappeared, transforming Huangshan into another kind of beauty.

The first afternoon of climbing was very tiring, so we rested for a while at the hotel on the mountaintop. I regretted that decision immensely because we completely missed the sunset. Seeing photos of Huangshan's sunset posted by others, I realized how beautiful it was.

The next morning, I had planned to watch the sunrise, but it was too cold, so I didn't go out again and watched the sunrise via a livestream instead.

Huangshan is such a large scenic area, yet it does an excellent job with environmental cleanliness. As we walked along, we hardly saw any trash on the mountain, which must be thanks to the hard work of many staff members.

There are countless bizarrely shaped rocks on Huangshan, so it's entirely justified to call it a mountain of grotesque rocks. Spending two days touring Huangshan was a wise decision.

The next day, we visited the Greeting Pine. Unsurprisingly, it's Huangshan's most iconic spot, and everyone who comes to Huangshan checks it out. After visiting the Greeting Pine, we walked down the mountain directly. I truly experienced the saying 'It's easier to go up than down'; by the time we descended, my legs felt like they were about to give out.

It is said that Tachuan is one of China's four best autumn-viewing spots. Tachuan requires an entrance ticket, costing 40 RMB. Even before driving into the village, we saw beautiful scenery. The tallow trees there are stunning, with leaves showing yellow, red, green, and other colors. These gradient colors truly represent 'layers of forest stained.'

Take a look at Tachuan's beautiful scenery. Standing on a viewing platform, I saw a small village hidden among the trees. The village was so lovely. Walking along the country paths and watching the coming and going of people, I instantly felt the 'pastoral mountain life.'

The next day, we set off for Hongcun. Hongcun and Tachuan have completely different styles. The entire village of Hongcun is composed of the Wang family. It is said that ancient Huizhou villages once had a tradition where one village shared one surname, reflecting the clan order at the time.

Upon arriving at Hongcun, I immediately loved it because of the large lake. The lake water was very clear, and the reflection of the bridge on the lake was simply wonderful. My friend said that the scene under the water in Hongcun was like another clear world. That night, we stayed in Hongcun and had a wonderful time.

Chengkan is a typical Bagua village. Although I don't understand the Bagua formation at all, hearing this introduction made me feel that the village was quite mystical.

We didn't stay overnight in Chengkan; we just took a stroll around. There was also a lake there, not as large, but the scenery was still beautiful.

After that, we went to Qiankou Folk Houses, which is a group of Huizhou-style buildings. These buildings are constructed on a small hill, housing many exquisite ancient folk residences. Walking there felt like learning about ancient Huizhou villages from different periods.

Travel Journal Index: 1. Transportation; 2. Accommodation; 3. Photo Sharing; 4. The Scenery of Emerald Valley; 5. Memories of Huangshan's Beautiful Scenery; 6. Tachuan – Come for the Autumn Colors; 7. Hongcun – A Beautiful Landscape Painting; 8. Chengkan – The Charm of a Bagua Village; Travel Information; Hotel Index; Travel Guide Index; Airline Tickets Index; Website Navigation; Travel Index; Cruise Index; Corporate Travel Index; Join Cooperation; Distribution Alliance; Links; Corporate Gift Card Procurement; Insurance Agency; Agent Cooperation; Hotel Booking; Destination and Scenic Spot Cooperation; More Cooperation; About Trip.com Group; About Trip.com Group; Trip.com Group Hot Topics; Contact Us; Recruitment; User Agreement; Privacy Policy; Business License; Security Center; Trip.com Group Content Center; Intellectual Property; Trip.com Group Algorithm Disclosure.