On May 1, 2020, my friends and I set off from Xiamen to the long-anticipated Anhui Huangshan.
After about 4 hours of driving, we arrived at Huangshan North Station.
After exiting the station, there is a corridor to the right. Go to the bus station over there and buy a ticket to Tangkou Town.
The ticket price is 19 yuan, and the bus goes directly to the South Gate Transfer Center.
The place where we get off is also where we will go up the mountain tomorrow. Tangkou Town is the South Gate entrance to Huangshan.
We arrived at the place around 3 pm. After getting off the bus, there were restaurants all around, making it very convenient to eat. Then we went to the hotel we had booked in advance, which is about 800 meters from the South Gate, a 10-minute walk away.
We booked a quiet neighborhood nearby to rest. We went out to look for food. The famous dish here is stinky mandarin fish. Since we’re here, everyone can try it. The place we went to is called: Old Neighborhood Hui Restaurant.
After dinner, we went back to rest early. We planned to climb Huangshan in one day tomorrow, hiking up and down the mountain, so we needed to rest well and save our energy.
The next day, we got up early at 6 am, went out for breakfast. Because it was May 1st, we were worried that there would be too many people if we went late, so we scheduled to enter at around 7 am. From where we got off the bus yesterday, we had to walk up for a while. There were quite a few people.
Then we lined up in the buffer area, circling around, and then went to the transfer center station to scan the WeChat code to buy a ticket for 19 yuan. Because there is still a long mountain road from the South Gate to the Huangshan mountain entrance, we need to take a bus up. We bought tickets for Yungu Temple and started climbing from the Yungu Temple entrance.
This shuttle bus was quite exciting too. The mountain road had eighteen bends, and it kept turning back and forth along the way, making me almost vomit.
After arriving at Yungu Temple, follow the arrows and walk towards the corridor. After passing, there are two entrances, the left one is for hiking, and the right one is for the cable car.
I forgot to take a picture of the entrance. I was too busy looking when I arrived, so I copied two from the internet, which is a bit awkward.
At the entrance of the hiking mountain, there is a plaque: Yungu Temple.
If you go there, remember to take a picture, don’t be as awkward as me.
The hiking trail of Huangshan is relatively stable, with the sounds of insects and birds all the way, very natural. But this hiking trail is still quite tiring. It took nearly 2 hours to reach Bai E Ridge. The picture is of my friend, and to prevent personal information leakage, it is manually coded.
The specific route for climbing the mountain:
Mountain entrance—> Mao Bamboo Forest—> White Goose Peak—> Immortal Guide—> Heavenly Dog Watching the Moon—> White Goose Ridge
The picture here is the first place with a broad view after climbing the mountain for about an hour. It is a place for taking photos. The picture can’t show the feeling. When standing there, it is particularly spectacular. It is highly recommended that you go and see it for yourself.
Then to the Immortal Guide, already a bit tired, at this time it was about 1 hour and 20 minutes after climbing the mountain.
After walking a section of the road, we would start to rest for a while. We would also meet many porters along the way, who were very hardworking.
It took nearly 2 hours to reach Bai E Ridge, which is also the place where the cable car arrives. There were many people here.
Next to Bai E Ridge is the Black Tiger Pine. I searched the map for a long time and couldn’t find it. Later, I was in a daze and found out that it was behind me. It was a bit different from the pictures on the internet.
Then we walked towards the North Sea Hotel from here. Since we still had to hike down the mountain in the afternoon, we skipped some places and went in the key direction.
The first place we arrived at was the Dream Pen Flower, which was super spectacular.
Below is a mountain that looks like a five-fingered hand, which is very worth watching.
Then we went to the Monkey Watching the Sea, which was also very worth watching.
The next place is to go towards the Cloud Arrangement Building, passing by the West Sea Villa, with the purpose of going to the West Sea Grand Canyon.
At the West Sea Grand Canyon, there are many surprises, steep and spectacular. The camera can’t capture the feeling, and many need to be experienced in person.
Since we are not taking the cable car, we didn’t go too far back after reaching the Grand Canyon. Because we still have to go to the Lotus Peak later and come back, we need to conserve our strength and bring more dry food and water.
However, the road at the West Sea Grand Canyon here is also quite steep. If you have time and your schedule is not so tight, it is recommended to take a closer look.
We continued to walk back, first heading towards the Bright Summit.
Flying Stone, on the way to the Bright Summit.
Then to the Bright Summit.
Bright Summit, there is no Ming religion. The name might be because it is very sunny here, with ample sunlight, so it is called the Bright Summit.
Coming down from the Bright Summit, the next stop is the Lotus Peak. Huangshan has two major peaks: Lotus Peak and Tiandu Peak, each with its own scenery. They are open alternately. Now the Lotus Peak is open, and Tiandu Peak is closed. Next time we come, we will choose when Tiandu Peak is open.
The distance to the Lotus Peak is also quite far, and it takes a long time to walk. Going down the mountain and then up again requires a lot of physical strength. If it’s not a holiday, I suggest everyone can stay on Huangshan for a night, which is more relaxed, and you can visit more places.
Walking forward will soon reach the Lotus Peak.
After a section of the cliff mountain road, it is quite steep. Pay attention to safety.
The picture above is the top of the Lotus Peak.
The top is above, after reaching the top, continue to walk forward, and there is a downhill road behind.
The scenery is very good, and it is already 3:30 pm now.
It is very suitable for taking photos. Now it is going downhill to the side of the Welcoming Guest Pine.
There are also many steep roads when going downhill. Friends with shaky legs should pay attention, rest when tired, and safety first.
It took about half an hour to reach the Welcoming Guest Pine.
You can rest here, replenish some water, and eat something.
In addition, the Welcoming Guest Pine is a real tree, but because of its age, some places are supported by braces for better maintenance, which is understandable.
After seeing the Welcoming Guest Pine, you can basically go downhill. Friends who take the cable car can change to the cable car here, and friends who hike down the mountain can follow the signs at the mountain entrance.
I went downhill following the signs. There is a road downhill next to it. Just follow the signs, and the direction is towards Tiandu Peak.
It took about 15 minutes to walk to Tiandu Peak. In front is Tiandu Peak, which is now closed for maintenance.
Below is the stone step road to Tiandu Peak. It looks steep. I will try it next time.
After passing Tiandu Peak, it is similar to the road going up the mountain. It is a stone slab step road. Friends with shaky legs should walk slowly and pay attention to knee protection.
Just follow the stone step road all the way to the exit of the mountain: Ciguang Pavilion.
There is a shuttle bus at the entrance of Ciguang Pavilion going downhill.
Going downhill, another eighteen bends in the mountain road, almost vomit, haha.
When getting off at the South Gate, it was already 7 pm. There are many restaurants at the exit. Everyone can fill their stomachs first and then go back to rest.
In addition, Hongcun is not far from Huangshan. You can take a bus at the South Gate in the morning and go there to have a look. Below are some pictures of Hongcun.
The commercial atmosphere is quite strong. It is recommended not to go there during holidays, as there are too many people.