CITY · ANHUI
Huangshan / Yellow Mountain region
黄山 · Huángshān
Overview
UNESCO-listed mountain in Anhui, the most-painted mountain in Chinese landscape art. Granite peaks, sea-of-clouds, ancient pines. Combine with Hongcun and Xidi villages.
Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is the canonical Chinese landscape painter's mountain — 72 named peaks, ancient gnarled Huangshan pines, frequent sea-of-cloud inversions that wash up against the granite. UNESCO-listed since 1990. Most visitors take the cable car up, walk the loop trails between viewpoints (Bright Summit, Lotus Peak, Heavenly Capital Peak) and overnight at one of the mountain's hotels for sunrise. The base towns of Tunxi, Hongcun and Xidi (the latter two UNESCO-listed for their Ming/Qing architecture) are tied together as a 3-4 day Anhui circuit.
What to see
- Huangshan Mountain (UNESCO) — overnight on the mountain
- Hongcun Ancient Village (UNESCO)
- Xidi Ancient Village (UNESCO)
- Tunxi Old Street
- Mukeng Bamboo Forest (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon filming location)
What to eat
- Hairy tofu (毛豆腐) — fermented and pan-fried
- Stinky mandarin fish
- Anhui ham
Getting there
Huangshan Tunxi (TXN) airport. Huangshan North HSR: Hangzhou 1h 30m, Shanghai 3h.
Getting around
Cable car up the mountain; trails on top. Bus to Hongcun and Xidi from Tangkou or Tunxi.
Where to stay
On the mountain (book early) for sunrise; Tunxi or Hongcun for valley-base stays.
We list neighbourhoods, not specific hotels — we don't endorse hotels.
When to go
April–May, September–November. Snow on the mountain is photogenic but the cable cars may close in heavy weather.
Budget guide (CNY per day)
| Backpacker | ¥350 |
| Mid-range | ¥750 |
| Comfortable | ¥1800 |
Nearby attractions
Ancient Villages of Southern Anhui — Xidi and Hongcun 皖南古村落—西递、宏村
UNESCO-listed pair of Ming-Qing Huizhou merchant villages in southern Anhui, renowned for whitewashed walls, inky horsehead gables and moon-shaped ponds.
Hongcun Ancient Village 宏村
UNESCO-listed Ming-Qing village 60 km southeast of Mt Huangshan. The half-moon pond (Yuezhao) at the centre framed Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon's bridge scene.
Mount Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 黄山
UNESCO-listed mountain in southern Anhui, the most-painted mountain in Chinese landscape art. Ancient pines, granite peaks, sea-of-cloud inversions.
Wuyuan ancient villages 婺源
Cluster of restored Hui-style villages in northeastern Jiangxi. Famous for the late-March rapeseed-flower bloom.
Xidi Ancient Village 西递
UNESCO-listed Hu-clan village (founded 1047), the canonical 'Anhui-style' merchant village with archway lanes, white-walled grey-tile houses and carved-stone doors.
Itineraries visiting Huangshan / Yellow Mountain region
- Hiking China's national parks — Zhangjiajie, Huangshan and Jiuzhaigou, 14 days
14d · Fourteen days across three of China's most dramatic mountain and forest parks — the sandstone columns of Zhangjiajie, the granite peaks and sea of cloud at Huangshan, and the turquoise lakes of Jiuzhaigou.
- Off the beaten path — two weeks (Pingyao, Datong, Hongcun)
14d · Walled towns, cliff temples, southern villages — China away from the tour-bus routes.
Food of Eastern China
- Beggar's Chicken叫花鸡
A whole chicken stuffed with aromatics, wrapped in lotus leaves and clay, then slow-baked until the meat steams in its own juices.
- Beggar's Chicken — Jiaohuaji叫花鸡 (江苏式)
A Jiangsu-province variation of clay-baked chicken with a lotus-leaf wrap and a mushroom and pork stuffing.
- Dragon Well Tea龙井茶
China's most celebrated green tea — pan-fired flat leaves from Hangzhou's West Lake district with a sweet, chestnut flavour.
- Drunken Chicken醉鸡
Chicken steamed and marinated in Shaoxing rice wine, served chilled. A Shanghai banquet starter.
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