Tips for Traveling to Huangshan
The name of Huangshan City is derived from the famous Huangshan Mountain, and it is one of the must-see places for travelers. In addition to such natural wonders, a history of more than 2,200 years has left the city with a large number of cultural heritages. Among them, the picturesque ancient villages of Hongcun and Xidi stand out for their long history and concentration of well-preserved ancient Hui-style houses. In addition, Hongcun and Xidi were collectively declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2000. We are going to give some tips for traveling to Huangshan so that tourists have a pleasant experience.
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Huangshan. A visit in late March or April will allow you to enjoy the rare sight of beautiful rapeseed flowers in bloom. In September and October, the famous Huangshan chrysanthemums bloom, contributing to the beautiful autumn colors. In winter, the snowy mountain takes you to a fairyland. Hot springs are also recommended in winter in Huangshan. There are several cities that have flights and high-speed trains to reach Huangshan directly, so you can reach Huangshan easily from Beijing, Xi'an, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guilin, Hangzhou, Suzhou etc. Among those cities, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Beijing are the most important gateway cities to Huangshan.
The sunset and dusk of Huangshan Mountain are extremely magnificent. The time and places to enjoy sunrise and sunset vary depending on the seasons. Typically, the sun rises between 05:00 a.m. and 07:00 a.m., while sunset occurs between 17:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. We recommend some places to admire impressive sunrises and sunsets. Best places to appreciate the sunrise: Shuguang Pavilion, Refreshment Terrace, Lion Peak, Danxia Peak, Guangming Peak, Yuping Peak. Best places to watch the sunset: Guangming Peak, Paiyun Pavilion, Danxia Peak, Feilai Rock, Lotus Peak and Buxian Bridge.
While exploring the picturesque landscapes of Huangshan, travelers have an opportunity to taste the exquisite foods of Anhui, one of the eight major culinary traditions of China. Some of the most popular local specialties are mao tofu, also known as stinky tofu, and stinky mandarin fish. Of course, drinking local tea is a good experience, such as Huangshan Maofeng green tea and chrysanthemum tea (gongju).
You can also buy some typical Huangshan products for your family and friends. Three types of tea are grown in Huang Shan, Maofeng, Houkui and Qihong. Maofeng is particularly known for its floral aroma. At the same time, Anhui is the main production center of “the Four Treasures of the Sage” which consists of premium Xuan paper, Shexian ink stones, Huizhou ink sticks and Xuancheng calligraphy brushes.
The cable car is available to make your trip easier, but there are still many steep, narrow stairs on Huangshan Mountain if you plan to make the most of your time. Be careful when climbing and take photos. If you are fit, trained and have very comfortable shoes and want to walk up the mountain instead of taking cable cars. It takes 4 or 5 hours to climb to the top of the mountain. Going down the western steps will take you 6 to 7 hours. If you are not fit, take the cable cars.
