Autumn Travelogue of Huangshan and Huizhou Ancient City in 2024

Huangshan, known for the saying: 'Having visited the Five Sacred Mountains, no other mountains are worth seeing; having visited Huangshan, the Five Sacred Mountains are no longer worth seeing.' During the Qin Dynasty, the mountain was covered mostly with black rocks, so people also called it 'Yi Mountain' (黟山) based on its color. Legend has it that the Yellow Emperor once refined elixirs here and became an immortal, hence the name. It is located within Huangshan City, Anhui Province, in the southern part of Anhui and the northern part of Huangshan City, with a subtropical monsoon climate. It is world-famous for its 'Five Wonders': peculiar pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow.

Huangshan has seventy-two peaks, 'thirty-six major peaks and thirty-six minor peaks.' The main peak, Lotus Peak, is 1,864.8 meters above sea level, and together with Bright Summit and Heavenly Capital Peak, they are known as the three main peaks of Huangshan. There are also 77 other peaks over 1,000 meters. The entire mountain has 30 ridges, 22 rock formations, 7 caves, and 2 passes.

The Huangshan Scenic Area is divided into: Yuping Scenic Area, Baiyun Scenic Area, Beihai Scenic Area, Songgu Scenic Area, Yungu Scenic Area, Hot Spring Scenic Area, and Dreamlike Scenic Area.

The Yuping Scenic Area is centered on Yuping Pavilion, including the two main peaks Lotus and Heavenly Capital, where you can see the Welcoming Pine and the Farewell Pine.

Best spots to watch sunrise: Qingliang Terrace, Shuguang Pavilion, Lion Peak, Beginning-to-Believe Peak, Danxia Peak, Bright Summit, Aoyu Peak, Yuping Pavilion.

Best spots to watch sunset: Paiyun Pavilion, Danxia Peak, Flying Rock, Bright Summit, Lion Peak.

Best spots to watch the sea of clouds: Yuping Pavilion for the Front Sea, Qingliang Terrace for the Back Sea, Bai'e Ridge for the East Sea, Paiyun Pavilion for the West Sea, Bright Summit for the Sky Sea.

Best spots to watch snow: Beihai, Xihai, Tianhai, Yuping Pavilion, Songgu, Yungu, and Hot Spring.

Huangshan tour routes:

Huangshan ticket is 190 yuan, divided into South Gate ticket and North Gate ticket. With the ticket, you can enter from several gates, allowing two ascents within three days.

Ascending from Huangshan South Gate:

Take the bullet train to Huangshan North, then 40 km to Tangkou Town. Stay at the foot of the South Gate, and hike up the next morning.

Most people choose to ascend from the South Gate. You can take the scenic area transfer bus to the Yuping Cable Car or Yungu Cable Car.

There is Yuping Hotel near the Yuping Cable Car.

You can stay at Bright Summit to watch sunrise and sunset.

West Sea Grand Canyon: After taking the Taiping Cable Car, you can walk for 2 hours along the first and second rings of the West Sea Grand Canyon, enjoy the magnificent canyon scenery, go down to the valley floor, take the funicular (small train) to Tianhai, then go to Bright Summit to watch the sunset.

Ascending from Huangshan North Gate:

Take the bullet train to Huangshan West, then 10 km to Huangshan District. Stay at the foot of the North Gate, and hike up the next morning.

Hotels in Huangshan District include: Huangshan Xuanyuan International Hotel, etc., easy to get a taxi. You can also stay near the North Gate archway, where there are many guesthouses, 10 km from the North Gate ticket office. Huangshan North Gate New North Shore Hotel, also a guesthouse, serves good Huizhou cuisine downstairs; fresh mandarin fish is recommended, 128 yuan per serving, no earthy smell. Self-driving cars can go directly to the North Gate ticket office, where there is a parking lot.

Fewer people ascend from the North Gate, so waiting time for the cable car is shorter.

Take the scenic area transfer bus at the North Gate ticket office for 5 yuan to Taiping Cable Car. The cable car runs every half hour.

Hotels near the North Gate Taiping Cable Car include Paiyun Building Hotel and Xihai Hotel.

Luggage can be stored at the hotel and picked up when descending, or the hotel can deliver it to the South Gate for about 30 yuan.

Huangshan Cable Cars:

The cable cars operate in winter from 08:00 to 16:00, and in other seasons from 06:30 to 17:00.

Yuping Cable Car (Front Mountain):

Yungu Cable Car (Back Mountain): Capacity of 1,200 passengers per hour.

Taiping Cable Car (North Gate): Car cabin capacity of 100+1 persons, one-way capacity of 600 passengers per hour.

After the cable car, you can arrange your own tour route; it's all mountain hiking, which is physically demanding.

Every autumn, Huangshan hosts the Huangshan Marathon and Mountaineering Competition, which you can sign up for and get free admission.

Return trip: There is a direct shuttle bus from the North Gate scenic area exit to Huangshan West Station. 22 km, about one hour.

From Huangshan West Station to Jiuhuashan Station, high-speed train takes 15 minutes.

From Huangshan West Station to Huangshan North Station is 80 km, and from Huangshan North Station to Huizhou Ancient City is 20 km.

Huizhou Ancient City is located on the north bank of the Lian River in She County. It was first built in the Qin Dynasty and became the seat of the ancient Huizhou prefecture after the Tang Dynasty. Tang Xianzu's line 'A lifetime of infatuated dreams, never dreaming of Huizhou' makes many people yearn for it. The city gates, memorial archways, and the characteristic government office allow visitors to still appreciate the legacy of the ancient Huizhou prefecture.

Huizhou History Museum

Huizhou Government Office: Built in the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties.

Xu Guo Stone Arch: Also known as the Grand Secretary Arch, erected in the 12th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1584 AD). It is the only octagonal archway in China, with eight pillars and a cross-section in the shape of the character '口' (mouth). It is a three-dimensional structure, viewable from all four external and internal sides. The base of the pillars is guarded by twelve stone lions, and the upper stone carvings are exquisite.

Doushan Street: A thousand-year-old street 300 meters long, with Hui-style mansions of the Wang family, Yang Family Courtyard, ancient private school Xu Family Hall, Pan Family Courtyard, etc. It was a gathering place for ancient Huizhou merchants, no less than a museum of Huizhou architecture.

Yuliang Street: With a history of over 1,200 years, it is known as the 'Source of Huizhou Merchants.'

Accommodation: Shexian Fanghua Hotel (Huizhou Ancient City Branch), right next to the ancient city, inside West Street No. 1 Courtyard. It was renovated from the former county party committee office building and is one of the few remaining Liberation-era architectural complexes that retain their original style. Every evening, the movie 'Youth' (Fanghua) is shown, and this courtyard is the filming location for some scenes of that movie.

Food: Stinky mandarin fish, preserved vegetable baked pancake.