Huangshan

» An Hui

Huangshan Overview & Map Weather Transportation Information

Today's Huangshan weather forcast

Huangshan Seasons

Located in the subtropics, Huangshan City has a wet mild monsoon climate. Yellow Mountains is a nice tourist destination all year round.

Spring - Flowers, trees and grass emerge, making spring among the best seasons to visit Yellow Mountains. The average temperature on Yellow Mountains at this period is 10C.

Summer - Weather here in summer is cool and tranquil and it is the best time to enjoy Yellow Mountains' charming scenery

Autumn - Weather is most comfortable and scenery is stunningly beautiful in autumn. Yellow Mountains is one of the few best places to enjoy autumn foliage in China.

Winter - It is cold up in the mountain and snow is common seen. It's the low season so less crowded and cheaper to travel.

Climate

Huangshan belongs to the subtropical humid monsoon climate. It is warm and rainy and the four seasons are distinctive. There is no severe coldness in winter. The average temperature is 15C - 16C (59F-3.2F) annually. The rainfall mainly concentrates on May, June, July and August.

History

Huangshan City has a history of over 2,200 years. Its two oldest counties, Shexian and Yixian, were established during Qing Dynasty when the system of prefecture and county took shape. Huangshan City was formerly called Xin'an Prefecture, and later Huizhou Prefecture until it got current name in 1987 for the breathtaking beauty of Mt. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Huizhou has become known as a remarkable place for producing great scholars, painters, artists and merchants.

Culture

The contributions of these talented and industrious people, together with the 2,200-year history, have brought about the glorious and magnificent Huizhou Culture (also known as Xin'an Culture) which can be represented by Xin'an Philosophy, Xin'an Medicine School, Xin'an Painting School, Huizhou School of Woodblock, Huizhou Seal School, Huizhou Commerce, Huizhou Opera, Huizhou Cuisine, Huizhou Sculpture and Huizhou Style Architecture. This culture, originated mainly from the Central Plains (an area which comprises the middle and lower reaches of the Huanghe River) and integrated with traces of Shan'yue Culture, is an important part of Chinese Civilization. Huizhou Culture has become one of the three main fields of the Chinese Culture (Han) Study, the other two being Dunhuang and Tibetan Cultures.

Scenic Spots

Huangshan City is not only noted for its ancient history and culture, but also celebrated for its charming natural landscapes and historical relics. Mt. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is famous for the uniquely shaped pines, the fantastic rock peaks, the sea of clouds and the hot springs. Besides Mt. Huangshan, Huangshan City offers many other tourist attractions: the UNESCO named and well-preserved ancient villages (Xidi and Hongcun villages in Yixian County, archways (in Shexian County), the 832-meter-long Ancient Street in Tunxi, Taiping Lake (in Huangshan District) and Qiyun Taoist Mountain (in Xiuning County). Old houses, clan temples, ancient bridges and pagodas are abundant.

Cuisine

Hui cuisine with more than a hundred year's history is one of the Eight Major Cuisines of China. Hui, unlike other cuisines, features wild game. Cooking methods feature braising in soy sauce, stewing and steaming. Originating in Shexian County, Huangshan City, Hui Cuisine is strict about choosing materials, and making sure of freshness and tenderness. The Representative Dishes include Soft Shell Turtle Stewed with Ham, Bamboo Shoots from Mt. Wenzheng Cooked with Sausage and Dried Mushroom, Li Hongzhang Hotchpotch, Mandarin Fish (Chou Guiyu), Fried Odorous Bean Curd (Youjian Mao Doufu), Royal Pot (Yi Pin Guo), "Grape" Fish, Fish Cooked with Mutton inside (Yu Yao Yang), Bean Curd from Mt. Bagong, Shi'er and Shiji Stewed in Bamboo Tubes, Fuling Rose Pastry, Fuliji Roast Chicken, Wuwei Smoked Duck.

Economy

The city firmly grasps the market characteristics, makes full use of its comparative advantages, forms a general goal to become one of the places featured as "the most beautiful in the country, the wealthiest among mountain areas, and the best ecological environment". Tourism industry comes to the fore, open-oriented economy grows vigorously, infrastructure improves obviously, and more and more it is characterized as a tourism city.

Transportation

Huangshan city is one of the logistic and transport center cities designated by Anhui province. Now a national road and eight provincial roads pass the city area, Wangan Railway crosses its two districts and four counties, and Huangshan Airport boasts over 20 domestic routines and routines nonstop to Hong Kong and Macao districts. With the overall speed raise of Wangan Railway next year, the completion of Huangshan airport's expansion and Huangshan Freeway and its putting into performance, the city's general transport ability will further improve. Later on what will be constructed are the Hefei-Tongling-Huangshan freeway, Huangshan-Chenzhou-Nanpin freeway and Huangshan-Jingdezhen-Anqing-Jiujiang-xuancheng-QianDaolake freeway, Huangshan-Jinhua Railway, and Xin'anjiang River sailing channel's synthetic harnessing. Then a modern solid transport network is formed, with radioactive freeway as its main framework, equipped with railways, civil aviations and water transport. Thus, it takes only 2 to 4 hours to reach major cities in the east and middle of China.

Huangshan History

A City with a Long History

Huangshan City has a history of over 2,200 years. Its two oldest counties, Shexian and Yixian, were established during Qing Dynasty when the system of prefecture and county took shape.

Name of "Huangshan"

Huangshan City was formerly called Xin'an Prefecture, and later Huizhou Prefecture until it got current name in 1987 for the breathtaking beauty of Yellow Mountains. Huizhou has become known as a remarkable place for producing great scholars, painters, artists and merchants.

Huangshan Food

Huangshan Dishes

Smelly Mandarin Fish - It tastes delicious after cooking. Fish is crisp and tender with special aroma. Before cooking the fish, mandarin fish preserved stinks. But after cooking, it tastes delicious.

Mao Bean Curd - It's a traditional snack in Huizhou. It can be eaten on a epicurean feast too. It is fit to eat in four seasons.

Crab Shell Yellow Fried Cake -It uses first-class funky dried vegetable and fresh fatty meat as fillings. It's an ideal tea and breakfast.

Huangshan Entertainment

Shopping

Tea - Yellow Mountains is a famous tea producing area in China, tea from this area is well known overseas and Huangshan tea is famed for the quality of green-tea, such as Huangshan Maofeng is regarded as the top ten green-tea of China.

Four Treasures of the Study - The traditional art wares of Huangshan City are the four treasures of the study, Hui (Huizhou) Ink and She (Shexian) Inkstone. Folk arts including brick carving, stone carving, wood carving and bamboo carving, also the miniature gardens of Hui style and the jumped-up bamboo articles and furniture are all characterized with and decorated with local art flavor.

Where to Buy

Huangshan Tea City - It is the largest and highest tea trade center in south Anhui Province. You can not only buy every kind of tea but can also experience tea culture first hand in tea history hall.

Tunxi Ancient Street - Stores in this street mainly deal with the elegant art wares, native products and some tourist souvenirs.

Nightlife

Tea House - Drinking tea is an indispensable part of people's daily life, if you want to experience night life in Huangshan City, visiting a tea house should be an essential part of your visit.

Huangshan Map

Huangshan Transportation Map

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Huangshan Attraction Map

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Huangshan Transportation

Get In

Air - The Huangshan Airport is only seven kilometers away from the center of city. It costs 5 yuan to take shuttle bus or 15 yuan for a ride from the airport to the urban area. Airport Inquiry Telephone 0559-2934111, 2934144

Railway - The Wan-Gan railroad runs through Huangshan City to Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Nanjing, Hefei, Jingdezhen, Nanchang, Xiamen, Yingtan, Fuzhou and so on.

Get Around

Bus - The bus station is located on the 205 country road of Tangkou Town. The ticket for each person is ten Yuan.

Taxi - The starting price of taxi in Huangshan City is 5 Yuan. After three kilometers, it's 1.5 Yuan every kilometer.

Yellow Mountains - The strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs are the four wonders of Yellow Mountains, which make it even stand out of Five Great Mountains in China.

Tunxi Ancient Street - Scattered with many shops and stalls selling an interesting mix of antiques and knick-knacks, buildings on the street are decorated with small green tiles, wood carvings in the Hui style.

Hongcun Village - Scattered with many shops and stalls selling an interesting mix of antiques and knick-knacks, buildings on the street are decorated with small green tiles, wood carvings in the Hui style.

Nanping Village - The most attracting part of the Village is her three hundred or more ancient residential houses of the Ming and Qin Dynasty and her amazing winding lanes. Wherever you go, you'll see the well-preserved ancient houses with white walls and grey tiles.

Huangshan Highlights List

Natural Scene

• Yellow Mountains
• Mt. Jiuhuashan

Historical Site

• Tunxi Ancient Street
• Xidi Village
• Hongcun Village
• Tangyue Archway
• Nanping Village

Shopping & Leisure

• Tunxi Ancient Street

Huangshan Highlights

Chinese Tea attraction highlights

China is the homeland of tea. At present, more than forty countries in the world grow tea with Asian countries producing 90% of the world's total output. All tea trees in other countries have their origin directly or indirectly in China.

• National Tea Museum

city highlights

• Huangshan
• Hangzhou

Huangshan FAQ & Travelers's Tips

  Transportation

1. Tour bus transfer center at Tangkou
2. How Can I get there?

  Food

1. Why are food so expensive on the mountain? Am I getting ripped off?

  Travel

1. How much does the ticket to Huangshan Scenic Area cost?
2. What are some sceneries that I can't miss when visiting Yellow Mountains?
3. What should I notice when climbing Yellow Mountains?
4. Any ropeway there?
5. Can I buy ropeway tickets from tour guides? Is it safe?

  Other Hints

1. Anything interesting in the around-area of Yellow Mountains?
   

• Tour bus transfer center at Tangkou

  You might be already confused by how many times to transfer and still confused about whereto transfer. Here is the introduction of transfer center at Tangkou transfercenter.
  

  • Zhaixi Transfer Station: If you live near Zhaixi, like Jinmangu Hotel (Golden Bangkok Hotel), Haizhou Grand Hotel, Zhaixi Grand Hotel, you can go to Zhaixi transfer station on foot.
    
  • Dongling Tansfer Station: It locates in the center of Tangkou. If you live near Xingang Grand Hotel (New Shore Grand Hotel), you can go to the station on foot or by bus.
    
  • Nandamen Transfer Station: If you live near the South Gate, you can go to this station on foot or by bus.
    

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• How Can I get there?

  The Huangshan (Yellow Mountains) that we usually talk about refers to Huangshan Scenic Area. There are three ways to get there.

  • Train: There are more than 30 trains that stop at Huangshan, but less start at Huangshan. After you arrive at Huangshan stop, you can take a tour bus in front of the train station to get to Huangshan scenic area. The tour bus cost about 15 RMB. Trains that start from Huangshan stop are ShanghaiN420 and Huaibei N410.
    
    
  • Airplane: The airport of Huangshan is locatedin the outskirt of the city, about 5km to the city center. You can take a taxi to Huangshan Transportation Center and then take a bus that goes from Tunxi to Taiping, get off at Tangkou and take a tour bus to Huangshan scenic area. The bus costs 13 RMB/person. Or you can take a taxi from the airport to Tangkou, which costs 200RMB/taxi.
    
    
  • Bus: If you come to visit Huangshan from Wuhan,Hefei, Tongling, Anqing, Nanjingor Wuhu, you should ask if the bus will stop at Tangkou, and if it does, you can just get off at Tangkou station to save some time. Buses from other cities like Shanghai and Hangzhouonly stop at Tunxi; therefore, you will need to transfer to the bus from Tunxito Taiping and get off at Tangkou, and then take a tour bus to Huangshan Scenicarea. The tour bus costs 13RMB/person.
    

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• Why are food so expensive on the mountain? Am I getting ripped off?

  Food is expensive on the mountain because all food was carried up to the top by porters working for Huangshan Scenic Area. A bottle of water is about 10 RMB, sometimes even 12RMB; a cucumber is 3RMB.

  Food in hotels and restaurants is also expensive. Avegetable dish costs between 30-40 RMB. Dishes with meat in it are even more expensive, which cost 60 to up to 100RMB. So if you are not planning to eat onthe mountain, please prepare enough food before you enter the area.

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• Anything interesting in the around-area of Yellow Mountains?

  Huangshan is sure the best place to visit in this area, but other small places around it areworth visiting too.

  1. The old streetsin Huangshan city is pretty interesting. Stuff there are not of very goodquality so if you want to buy some, make sure you bargain half of the pricedown.

  2. If you likebamboo shoot food, you should ask your taxi driver to take you to the outskirtof the city and try some food made by authentic farmers.

  3. Huashan PuzzleCave and Chengkan Eight Diagrams Village are twomust-visit spot near Huangshan. You can take a round-trip taxi there, whichcosts 100 RMB/taxi.

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• How much does the ticket to Huangshan Scenic Area cost?

  There are low season and shoulder period tickets.

  Low season lasts from December 1st to the next year's late February. Peak season starts from May 1st to November 1st.

  Low season's ticket costs 120RMB/person, and 100RMB/ticket for students, soldiers, and seniors above 60 years old. It is free for the elderly above 70 years old.

  It costs 200RMB/person during shoulder period and 100RMB/person for students, soldiers, and seniors above 60 years old.

  It is free for the elderly above 70 years old. The golden week holiday belongs to peak season, but the price of ticket does not rise.
  

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• What are some sceneries that I can't miss when visiting Yellow Mountains?

  Every scenic spothas its must-see sceneries. There are 10 things in Yellow Mountains that you have to see.

  1. Queer pinaster: Huangshan pinaster is a special species of trees. They usually grow on cliffs.Greeting Pinaster is the most famous kind of pinaster on Huangshan. ShixinApices is where most of the pinasters are at.

  2. Odd rocks: Theodd shapes of rock were formed due to the weather here with sunshine, rain,wind, etc, which are natural carvers for those rocks. There are some famousstones named Flying Stone from Afar, Monkey Watching the Sea, etc.

  3. Cloud sea: cloudsea is formed under special climate, and when the cloud is lower than the topof the mountain, people on the peak will see a sea of cloud below their feet.

  4. Hot spring: Hotspring area locates on the mountainside. If you climb up the mountain throughthe south gate, no mater where you go, YunguTemple or Ciguang Temple,you will have to walk pass the hot spring area. The temperature of the hotspring remains 42 degrees Celsius all the time. It is suitable for bathing anddrinking. 48 tons of hot spring is pouring out every hour. The hot spring canalso be used as medication. It is effective for several kinds of diseases.

  5. Odd apices: There are 77 mountain peaks that are higher than a thousand meters, including36 big apices and 36 small apices. Among those apices, LotusPeak is the highest while Tiandu Peakis the steepest.

  6. Sunrise: It will be such amagnificent scene like you have never seen before. Sunrise among the mountains and peaks, abovethe cloud sea will make you never want it to stop. The sunrise time differs indifferent seasons: 5:30am-6:00am in spring; 4:40am-5:20am in summer,4:50am-5:20am in autumn and 5:30am-6:00am in winter.

  7. Sunset: Thesunset dyes a golden color to all the mountains around. Image being on the topof Huangshan and enjoy the beautiful sunset. Guangming Top, Paiyun Pavilion andDanxia Apices are the best place to appreciate this wonderful sunset scene.

  8. Buddha lights: According to statistics in weather department, there are 2-5 times when Buddhalights take place on Huangshan each month. The best times when the lightsappear are after rain before 9am and late afternoon when it's going to rainsoon. Places above 1,600 meters of altitude are the best places to see thelights, such as Tiandu Peak, Lotus Apices,Guangming Top, Shixin Apices, Danxia Apices, etc.

  9. Rimed trees and Glaze: During winter, the temperature usually drops below zero, so fog or raindrops will become ice sticking to trees or rocks. This phenomenon is call RimedTrees. Cold rain drops on the ground and forms some hard see-through substance;this is called Glaze. On average, there are 62 days of rimed trees and 35.9days for glaze each year. Rimed trees can last for 24 days straight with adiameter of 23.2 centimeters. Glaze can also last for almost 25 days straight,with a maximum of diameter 41.3 centimeters.

  10. Plants and animals: Huangshan is also called the 'gene storage, the amusement park for bird'. Ifyou are lucky enough, you will see short-tailed monkeys, squirrels, thrush,etc.
      

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• What should I notice when climbing Yellow Mountains?

  Here we would like to provide you some useful tips to make your trip more enjoyable.

  1. Wear comfortable shoes like mountain climbing shoes or sports shoes. Leather shoesor shoes with plastic bottom are not advised because they are too slippery formountain roads. A walking stick is pretty necessary.

  2. Please prepare: raincoat (it is windy on the mountain so umbrella is not suggested), gloves, flashlight, walking sticks, enough fresh water, snacks that can keep youenergetic like beef jerky and chocolate.

  3. Lean forward a little when you climb the mountain, and walk in a "Z" shaped way to avoid from getting too tired.

  4. Walking fast is not good for mountain climbing, and to keep save, when you look at sceneries, please stop walking. It is dangerous to look at scenes while walking.

  5. When storm happens, water can flow very fast. So keep off from water when it's going to rain.

  6. When taking pictures on a high peak, photographers should not move after selecting shootingspot, especially not move backwards, in case there is a cliff behind.

  7. Please do not carve, paint or write on the architectures on Yellow Mountains, because most of them are protected historical sites.

  8. Please do not smoke in no-smoking area. After smoking in smoking area, please throw out thecigarette end in garbage cans.

  9. Please do not throw garbage along side the mountain road. A tree-shaped garbage can can be found every several meters away.

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• Any ropeway there?

  Yes. There are three ropeways on the mountain: Yuping Ropeway (Jade Screen Ropeway) which isfrom Ciguang Pavalion to Yuping pavilion, Yungu Ropeway (Cloud Valley Ropeway)which is from Yungu Temple to Bai'e Mountainsrange, and Taiping Ropeway ( Peace Ropeway) which is from Songgu Nunnery toSonglin Apices.

  • Each cable car on Yungu Ropeway can hold 50 people at atime, 300 people each hour. But it takes long time to wait for this ropewayduring golden holiday week or weekends.

  • Yuping Ropeway was built in 1996, it is the newest and most advancedropeway. Each cable car can hold 6 people at a time, and 800 to 1,000 peopleeach hour. It's good choice to take Yuping Ropeway when there are a lot ofvisitors to Huangshan.

  • Taiping Ropeway is the longest ropeway and can hold most passengers.Each cable car can hold up to 100 people.

  The prices for theride on the three ropeways are all the same, which is 65RMB/ticket during peakseason and 55RMB/ticket during low seasons.
  

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• Can I buy ropeway tickets from tour guides? Is it safe?

  When buy ropewaytickets, you will see some tour guides in front of the ticket counter trying to sell ropeway tickets.

  They are safe. No need to doubt the credibility of the tickets, because usually Yellow Mountains ropeways sell 16 tickets to tour guides and another ticket for free, or there must be at least 16 people in the tour for atour guide to get a free ticket so he can go with his tour.

  So usually tour guides will have to buy 16 tickets himself, get a free ticket and sell other tickets. So the tickets that tour guides sell are safe to buy.

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