Huangshan 黄山
Granite peaks, pines and Hui-style villages
Good forNature, Culture
Suggested stay2–3 days
Best timeApril–May and September–November
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is a UNESCO-listed granite range in southern Anhui known for cloud seas and pines. Visitors hike the summit area, often staying a night on the mountain. Nearby Hongcun and Xidi are UNESCO-listed Hui-style villages.
Highlights
- Summit trails between Beihai, Xihai and Bright Summit
- Xihai Grand Canyon loop — steep steps, cliff paths
- Sunrise at Shixin Feng or Bright Summit — needs a night on the mountain
- Hongcun village — Ming and Qing houses around a pond
- Xidi village — carved stone gateways
- Tunxi Old Street in Huangshan city
Food to try
- Stinky mandarin fish (chou guiyu)
- Huangshan shaobing (crispy sesame pastries)
- Maofeng green tea
- Hairy tofu (maodoufu)
Getting there
Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN). About 1.5–2 hours by high-speed train from Hangzhou East to Huangshan North; about 2.5–3.5 hours from Shanghai.
Train times are typical; check current timetables on 12306 or Trip.com.
When to go
Best: April–May and September–November. Avoid or plan for: Golden Week and Labour Day (very long queues for cable cars); rainy June–July; icy paths in winter.
Good to know
- Huangshan North station and Tunxi are about 1 hour from the mountain gates; plan the bus or taxi transfer.
- Cable cars do not run before sunrise. Summit hotels are basic and sell out on clear holiday dates; book ahead with your passport.
- Expect thousands of stone steps even if you use cable cars both ways.
Visa notes
- Visa-free entry: citizens of 79 countries can visit China for up to 30 days or more without a visa. Check your passport →
- 240-hour transit: Huangshan is inside the area you may visit on China's 240-hour visa-free transit (for 57 nationalities, flying on to a third country).