Graduation Trip: You Must Visit Mount Huangshan! One of China's Most Beautiful Mountains, It Holds the Journey of Life

After visiting Mount Huangshan, no other mountain is worth seeing.

If you ever look at mountains again, upon return, it must be Mount Huangshan.

As one of China's most beautiful mountains, Mount Huangshan has been favored by countless literati and ink painters throughout the ages, giving rise to numerous poems and paintings that have stirred magnificent waves in the long river of history.

Its unique peaks, strange rocks, ancient trees, sea of clouds, sunrise glow, sunset afterglow, vast starry sky, as well as winter snow and rime, and misty rain, have attracted countless outdoor enthusiasts, photography lovers, and other tourists.

It is also one of the popular destinations for graduation season hiking, even becoming a top choice for students. In their eyes, every moment on Mount Huangshan is brilliant, just like their youth.

Even without clouds, sunrise, morning glow, and sunset, on a clear summer day, Mount Huangshan still feels like being among the clouds.

Crossing one mountain after another, climbing high and looking far, standing at the summit to see the world you want to see.

Returning to a familiar place and climbing Mount Huangshan again with friends during graduation season, I clearly feel a sense of vigor like "still young at heart."

1️⃣ From Mount Huangshan North Station / Tunxi Airport: There are direct buses to Tangkou at the high-speed rail station/airport, or you can share a car, usually around 30-40 RMB per person.

2️⃣ From the visitor center at the south gate of Mount Huangshan in Tangkou, there is a shuttle bus to Mount Huangshan North Station, or you can share a car, also around 30-40 RMB.

【Preparations Before Hiking】

⚠️ If you want to challenge Tiandu Peak, you must make a reservation in advance! Reserve in advance! Reserve in advance!

🚫 Drones are prohibited (marked at the security checkpoint for personal items); aerial photography is not allowed; if you bring one, store it in advance.

1️⃣ Prepare hiking tools according to your needs, such as a hiking stick.

2️⃣ The weather on the mountain changes frequently. Check the weather forecast before departure and prepare a raincoat and jacket as needed (especially a raincoat).

3️⃣ When hiking in summer, sun protection is essential. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, etc., are daily outdoor necessities.

4️⃣ It is recommended to wear hiking shoes, trekking shoes, or sports shoes, but not slippers, high heels, or those "slip-on" shoes.

【Basic Information on the Mountain】

✅ Before entering the scenic area, make sure which route you are taking (mainly two directions: Yuping Cable Car direction and Yungu Temple direction).

✅ After entering the scenic area (Yuping Cable Car direction), take a bus for about 20 minutes, then take the cable car for about 10 minutes, and then start hiking.

✅ To quickly visit the Welcoming Pine, take the Yuping Cable Car direction. After getting off the cable car, walk about 400 meters to reach it.

✅ There are many supply points along this route, so you don't need to carry multiple bottles of water. Although the prices on the mountain are not cheap, the sight of the porters carrying loads along the way will make you feel that the money is well spent.

✅ Near Baiyun Hotel, lemonade is 8 RMB for a large cup, fried chicken wings are 10 RMB for three (some locations sell 18 RMB for two); at Guangming Summit, cola is 15 RMB, Mizone is 20 RMB, small sausages are 10 RMB for three; coffee is generally not cheap, with Americano usually around 40 RMB.

✅ There are also creative shops in the mountains. If you like stamping (paid stamps), don't miss out. The Welcoming Pine internet-famous ice cream is delicious, with a strong milky flavor.

✅ If you really can't walk any further during the hike, you can consider hiring a sedan chair.

✅ To go down the mountain, you can take the Yungu Cable Car.

【Graduation Season Benefits】

Don't miss out if you have a graduate from 2025 at home!

1️⃣ 2025 national middle school and high school students taking summer exams

2️⃣ 2025 national full-time college graduates (associate degree and bachelor's degree graduates)

3️⃣ 2025 national full-time graduates above bachelor's level (master's and doctoral graduates)

1️⃣ June 9, 2025 - August 31, 2025 (collection period)

2️⃣ June 10, 2025 - August 31, 2025 (usage period)

Search for "黄山旅游官方平台" on WeChat mini-program and fill in the relevant information.

1️⃣ There are many places for accommodation and dining in Tangkou, as well as coffee shops and creative shops.

2️⃣ If you plan to go up and down the mountain on the same day and catch the high-speed train, it is recommended to set off very early in the morning (depart at 6:00), and book a train ticket departing after 18:30.

3️⃣ There are hotels on the mountain, but the cost is very high. If you want to see the sea of clouds, sunrise, and morning glow early in the morning, it can be considered.

As a world-famous mountain, many people choose Mount Huangshan for their first hike, especially for graduates. Climbing to the summit, overcoming the One-Line Sky, reaching Guangming Summit, and starting a new chapter in life is their most sincere expression and expectation.

But in fact, whether climbing a mountain or reaching the summit, every stage has extraordinary significance for anyone, inspiring infinite energy and possibilities.

When I was in Wuhan, whenever I was unhappy or faced unresolved problems, I would go hiking in the surrounding mountains. Although they are far less steep and beautiful than Mount Huangshan and not very challenging, the mental process of climbing is the same.

This time at Mount Huangshan, following the "Flower Young Graduation Season" students at the summit, I achieved a new breakthrough and gain in my spiritual journey. The most obvious feeling is still "still young at heart, never lose enthusiasm for life."

Of course, the unique pines, strange rocks, and stunning scenery of Mount Huangshan are not to be missed. The mountain gives us courage and the most beautiful views. No matter how many times you come to Mount Huangshan, don't miss the "classic beauty" and photo spots.

【Top of Mount Huangshan's Four Wonders | Welcoming Pine】

This time I chose the Yuping Cable Car direction, encountering the most beautiful Welcoming Pine amidst the clouds and mist.

As the most famous among all the strange pines on Mount Huangshan (the top of the Four Wonders), no other pine can match the Welcoming Pine. This ancient pine welcomes the whole world. It is not only a natural wonder but also a cultural symbol, attracting countless literati to write poems and praise it since ancient times.

On the stone wall next to the Welcoming Pine, there are inscriptions and calligraphies, which are also a wonder. Don't forget to take a look.

【Finger Stone | Pointing the Way for Lost Life】

The strange rocks of Mount Huangshan are not only works of nature but also full of various life philosophies and metaphors.

The "Finger Stone" is one of them. At first glance, it looks like a hand holding a fist with a little finger extended, which is particularly interesting. At the same time, it seems to point the way for everyone passing by. For graduates just out of school, this stone has special meaning.

Society is a super university, containing invaluable things that we can never fully learn in a lifetime, whether experience, philosophy, or other knowledge, with countless paths and directions intersecting. Therefore, to live a wonderful and interesting life, choosing the right direction is more important than any shortcut.

This "Finger Stone" also seems to tell us: relying on others is not as good as relying on yourself. The road under your feet can only be walked by yourself.

【Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder | Every Step Needs to Be Down-to-Earth】

The Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder is a classic challenge in climbing Mount Huangshan. Whether going up or down, it requires people to overcome fear and persist to "cross it."

During the ascent and descent, you must focus. No sightseeing while walking, no walking while sightseeing; every step must be down-to-earth.

【One-Line Sky | Cross the High Mountain to Reach Guangming Summit】

For me, this was the "most frustrating" section of this trip to Mount Huangshan. A glance at it was despairing.

However, the more difficult it is, the more challenging it becomes to people's curiosity, and the more they want to conquer it. This is actually a test of overcoming one's own psychological pressure.

This is the most challenging route to Guangming Summit, very tiring and difficult, testing patience, but it also brings the most satisfaction and joy of "victory."

During the climb, do not crowd or rush. Take it slow. Rest when tired. It will pass eventually.

【Guangming Summit | Meet a Better Self at the Peak】

There are three key routes to Guangming Summit:

1️⃣ Go straight up along the stone steps (there will be a sign for "One-Line Sky");

2️⃣ Go left (not through One-Line Sky);

3️⃣ On route 2, there will be a fork. Go straight for a relatively flat route (suitable for elderly and children); turn right toward Aoyu Cave for a relatively flat route.

Guangming Summit is 1860 meters above sea level, the second highest peak of Mount Huangshan, and together with Tiandu Peak and Lianhua Peak, it is one of the three main peaks.

The top is flat and wide, offering views of the East Sea scenery, West Sea peaks, and all the peaks including Danlian, Tiandu, Lianhua, Yuping, and Aoyu.

It is also one of the best places on Mount Huangshan to watch sunrise, sunset, and the sea of clouds.

Standing here, you can see all the other peaks at a glance, and you will find that no matter how difficult the journey is, as long as you overcome your fears and walk through it, there is no obstacle in life you cannot surmount.

If time permits, it is recommended to sit on a rock, feel the wind, face the distant peaks, empty your mind, and let yourself fly freely in the sky like a bird. When you set off again, you will surely regain confidence and anticipation for the future.

Then from here, head toward West Sea. It is mostly downhill, shaded by trees, and you can see distant mountains and strange rocks shrouded or surrounded by clouds and mist, presenting a poetic artistic conception like an ink painting.

These strange rocks include Monkey Watching the Sea, Flying Stone, Dreaming of Writing Flowers, and many ancient pines, such as Black Tiger Pine. But routes and directions differ, so you need to decide based on your actual situation. You will find that in climbing Mount Huangshan, "trade-offs" are a very important part of the life journey.

In fact, many beautiful sights of Mount Huangshan are along the way, in unexpected moments, and in everyone's different perspectives. But with different trade-offs, your mood will differ, and the scenery naturally changes. Mount Huangshan is like a mentor during graduation season, teaching every visitor in the sound of wind and rain.

Finally, we took the Yungu Cable Car down the mountain, then took a bus back to the "starting point" to begin another new journey. Wherever we go, it will be a new starting point.

At this moment, looking back at the ancient mountain shrouded in clouds and mist, its myriad changes are like our lives: rainbows after rain, green mountains after fog clears, clear skies after clouds part, there will always be countless possibilities and opportunities.

So, ride the wind and waves! Believe in life, believe in the future, and above all, believe in yourself.