Huangshan (literal translation: “Yellow Mountain”) is situated in the Anhui Province. The mountain is named “Yellow Mountain” not because the mountain is yellow (because it isn’t and I was deceived initially) but because it was renamed after an Emperor in 767 AD. Huangshan isn’t just a single mountain but is made up of 72 peaks with the tallest being “Lotus Peak” at 1864 metres.
The famous 4 wonders are the mountain region include:
- Unique Huangshan Pine Tree – Huangshan Pine can only be found above 1,600m. The most famous pine tree is “Welcoming Guest Pine”. It’s named thus because it’s one of the first pines being seen by tourists when they alight the Yuping Cable Car. Its branches extend out like human arms, welcoming guests to the mountains.
- Fascinating Rocks – The rock formations are the masterpieces of nature. Their names come from the fact that they look like animals or characters from Chinese classics. To be fair, their Chinese names are poetic and meaningful. However the miserable attempt to translate them into English simply doesn’t do the name any justice.
- Magnificent Sea of Clouds – Fog envelopes the mountains making you feel like you’re in Heaven. You’ve gotta see it to know what I mean.
- Hot Springs – Waters remain at 42 deg all year round. Perfect for soaking your worn-out bodies after your hike.
Sea of Clouds
Introduction
When I first visited Huangshan in 2005, my first impression was how similar they looked to the traditional Chinese paintings. Indeed the mountains have been the inspirations for Chinese artists for centuries. Today, many photographers and artists flock to the mountains with hopes to capture the beauty of it.
Laborers carrying supplies
It’s recommended to spend at least 1 night on the mountain so you can view the sunrise the next morning. However it’s extremely rare to see sunrise as the area is usually too foggy. However rare they may be, you’ll still see throngs of people waiting eagerly to be the fortunate ones who will witness the Huangshan sunrise.
Hotels:
The hotels on Mt Huangshan are pretty standard. The hotels may have different names but they all charge similar prices across the board. You should book your hotel according to your budget and itinerary. Prices increase by 30-50% during peak season which is from March to November. Saturday nights also cost more because of local weekenders.
The budget conscious can book a bunk-bed with 8-12 beds in a room sharing 1 bathroom. The bedsheets are only changed once a week! (I overheard this from one of the Chinese tour guides.) If you can’t wrap your mind around the unsanitary sheets, pick a double room!
Do be careful when booking to ensure that the hotel is located on the mountain instead of the foot of the mountain.
Highlight:
The latest addition to the mountain area is the “West Sea Grand Canyon”. You can complete the whole trail in 4-6 hours. For those who do not have the time or the physical fitness, there are shorter circuits starting from “Cloud Dispelling Mansion”.
Huangshan Sunrise
Suggested Itinerary:
For those confident of their physical fitness, I suggest the following route:
- Day 1: Instead of travelling to Tangkou, make your way to Taiping. Take the Taiping cable car to “Cloud Dispelling Mansion” which is also the start of the “West Sea Grand Canyon” Allow at least 4-6 hours for a comfortable pace, including time to stop for plenty of rest and pictures. Stay overnight at either Baiyun Hotel or Bright Top Peak Hotel.
- Day 2: See if you can catch a glimpse of the very rare sunrise in Huangshan at Brightness Top, the 2nd tallest peak in Huangshan. I overheard another Chinese tour guide that in his 10 years experience, he has only seen it once. The sunrise I saw in October 2009 was merely the sun appearing from behind the clouds. Not a true-blue sunrise, according to the tour guide I was eavesdropping on. Continue your leg-torturing hike to the Western Sea. Go as far as the “Beginning To Believe Peak” then descend the mountains going in the direction of “Yuping Telpher”. You can then descend via the cable car or by foot.
Recovering from The Ordeal
If you didn’t take any shortcuts from 2 days of intensive hike, your legs would probably be screaming for help. To help ease the pain, bring along some muscle rub that you can apply throughout the hike and at the end of the day. On the 2nd day when you descend the mountain, depending on whether you’re staying at Tangkou or Tunxi, you can go for a massage which includes neck, shoulder, back and most importantly foot massage. They cost anything from RMB50-100/hour. Indulge in a 2-hour massage to reap the benefits.
Side Trips from Huangshan
If you have a day to spare, don’t miss a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Xidi and Hongcun, built around the 10th-11th century.
