Classic Hiking | Huangshan In-Depth Hiking 3-Day Tour (Front Mountain + Back Mountain)

Welcome to Huangshan. Our driver will meet you at the airport/railway station exit and escort you to the downtown hotel for check-in. (PS: It is recommended to arrive in Huangshan before 14:00 on the same day.) Suggested arrival methods 1. By plane: Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN) is the only international airport serving Huangshan. Domestic flights connect Huangshan with major cities such as Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guilin, Chongqing, Chengdu, and Xi'an. 2. By train: There are 3 commonly used railway stations in Huangshan. You can take high-speed trains to Huangshan from cities such as Shanghai (2.5 to 3.5 hours), Hangzhou (1.5 to 2 hours), Suzhou (2 to 3.5 hours), Beijing (5.5 to 7 hours), and Guangzhou (7 hours). After resting at the hotel, you can visit [Tunxi Ancient Town], known as "Today's Song City." This is one of the best-preserved ancient commercial streets in China with architectural styles from the Southern Song and Ming-Qing dynasties. It has a history of several hundred years, is 832 meters long and 5-8 meters wide. The entire district consists of 1 straight street, 3 cross streets, and 18 alleys, forming a unique fishbone layout. Strolling through it, you can admire the simple and elegant Huizhou-style architecture, picturesque ancient town scenery, browse various antique-style shops with golden signboards, and taste authentic Huizhou cuisine. If you are interested in Huizhou's history and culture, you can visit the Tunxi Museum, the only museum in China that comprehensively reflects Huizhou culture. Here, you can admire precious collections such as Xin'an paintings and calligraphy, She inkstones, Huizhou three carvings, and Ming-Qing furniture. Among them, the Huizhou ink and She inkstones in the museum are treasures of Huizhou culture, deeply loved by literati. Afterwards, you can continue to visit the Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory, known as a "China Time-honored Brand." It is one of the oldest and most prestigious ink factories in China and one of the three major ink-making factories in China, famous for producing Huizhou ink. Here, you can gain an in-depth understanding of China's long history of ink-making techniques, admire exquisite ink mold carving art, and experience the charm of Huizhou ink culture up close.

After breakfast, you will drive 80 kilometers (about 1.5 hours) to visit Huangshan, one of China's famous Five Great Mountains. [Huangshan] is not only a World Natural and Cultural Heritage site but also an outstanding representative of China's magnificent mountains and splendid culture. It is renowned for its "Five Wonders" of strange pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow, as well as its "Five Excellences" of historical relics, painting and calligraphy, literature, legends, and celebrities. It enjoys the reputation of "The Most Fantastic Mountain Under Heaven", and the saying "No need to see other mountains after returning from the Five Great Mountains; no need to see the Five Great Mountains after returning from Huangshan" is the highest praise for Huangshan. Today's Huangshan Tour Route Reference: Yuping Cableway - Guest-Greeting Pine - Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder - One-Line Sky - Bright Summit - Flying-Over Rock - Paiyun Pavilion, total walking distance about 11 kilometers, taking about 6 hours. First, you will go from the foot of Huangshan's front mountain directly to Ciguang Pavilion, then take the cableway to Yuping Station (10 minutes). As the cableway ascends, you can enjoy the majestic, strange, precipitous, and fantastical beauty of Huangshan, overlooking beautiful mountain streams, gazing at towering peaks in the distance, and observing graceful strange pines and rocks up close, enjoying an unforgettable visual feast. After arriving at Yuping Station, walk to the Guest-Greeting Pine, known as "The First Pine Under Heaven". This is one of Huangshan's iconic attractions and one of Anhui Province's symbols. The tree is about 1,000 years old with a very graceful posture, with branches extending on one side as if a person is extending an arm to welcome guests from all directions. You can take some time to find a good angle and take the best photos of the Guest-Greeting Pine. Then, continue walking to Lianhua Pavilion, where the view is very open, and you can enjoy continuous mountain ranges. It is an excellent spot for photos. Afterwards, you can descend along the Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder to a lower valley. The Hundred-Step Cloud Ladder is a steep and precipitous orange path carved into the rock face with over a hundred steps. Viewed from the opposite Aoyu Cave, the path overlooks an abyss, like a long ladder leaning against a cliff, often surrounded by clouds and mist, as if it were a heavenly ladder leading to the clouds. Next, climb along the steep One-Line Sky to Aoyu Peak. One-Line Sky is named because the two walls clamp together, and the blue sky seen through the gap is like a line. Here, you can take stunning natural scenery photos and experience the thrill of close contact with nature; Aoyu Peak is named because it resembles a giant turtle (aoyu) with its mouth open waiting for food. Standing on the peak, looking around, you see surrounding peaks and a sea of clouds like tides, with unparalleled scenery. Afterwards, starting from Aoyu Peak, follow a relatively gentle path, walk for a distance, and arrive at today's resting place - Baiyun Hotel. After a short rest, you can continue hiking to Bright Summit (altitude about 1,860 meters). This is one of Huangshan's main peaks and the second highest peak of Huangshan. Here, you can enjoy the sea of clouds, strange pines, strange rocks, sunrise, sunset, and other beautiful scenery, as well as panoramic views of Tiandu Peak, Lianhua Peak, and Yuping Peak. After the tour, walk about 20 minutes to Flying-Over Rock, a famous scenic spot in Huangshan. It is about 12 meters high and weighs 600 tons, standing on a flat rock with a very small contact area at the bottom, as if it flew from outer space, very magical. Finally, continue walking about 45 minutes to Paiyun Pavilion to enjoy the beautiful sunset. (PS: Specific walking time depends on individual walking speed and route) After enjoying the sunset, go to the hotel on the mountaintop for overnight stay. Travel Tips 1. Travel Light: There is a lot of walking in Huangshan. To save energy and enjoy easily, it is recommended to carry only essentials and travel light; or store luggage at the foot of the mountain. 2. Environmental Hygiene: Some hotels on Huangshan do not provide disposable toiletries. Therefore, for environmental hygiene, it is recommended to bring your own. 3. Accommodation Note: Staying on Huangshan allows more time to enjoy more of Huangshan's beauty, especially sunrise and sea of clouds. However, due to higher transportation costs on the mountain, hotel facilities may be limited. Even star-rated hotels may not meet the standards of big cities like Shanghai. In addition, the mountain climate is humid, and rooms may be a bit damp. Although choices are limited, we will select relatively comfortable hotels for you.

Today's suggested route in Huangshan: Sunrise - West Sea Grand Canyon - Shizi Peak - Shixin Peak - Yungu Cableway. Total walking distance is about 7 km, taking about 5 hours. Early this morning (usually around 5:00 to 6:00 AM), you will witness the most magnificent natural wonder—the Huangshan sunrise: as dawn first breaks, the eastern sky gradually turns pale, then red light begins to glow on the horizon, the first rays appear, and the rosy clouds shine brilliantly—a breathtaking sight. (Note: 1. The mountain air is very cold in the early morning, so it is recommended to dress warmly. 2. The sunrise is affected by weather and season, and whether you can see it depends on actual conditions.) After enjoying the sunrise, return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, head to the fantastical West Sea Grand Canyon, which features magnificent canyon scenery, peculiar rock formations, and enchanting seas of clouds, making it one of Huangshan's must-see attractions. In addition, this hiking section can be tailored to your fitness and time. (Note: The West Sea Grand Canyon hiking path is steep and rugged, full of challenges, and demands high physical fitness; moreover, during cold weather and heavy snow, the West Sea Grand Canyon is usually closed.) Then, head to the steep Shizi Peak (elevation about 1,690 meters), named for its resemblance to a crouching lion. Qingliang Terrace is the lion's waist, and Shuguang Pavilion is the lion's tail; both are among the best places to view Huangshan's stunning sunrise and sea of clouds. In addition, at Shizi Peak you can see one of Huangshan's iconic sights—Monkey Gazing at the Sea, famous for its lifelike monkey image. The stone monkey sits alone atop the peak, as if gazing into the distance or poised to leap while quietly watching the sea of clouds—a truly spectacular sight. Afterward, continue hiking to the exquisite and precipitous Shixin Peak, passing sights such as Black Tiger Pine, Harp Pine, and Interlocked Pine along the way. The scenery is enchanting and perfect for photos, and you can also capture the myriad forms of fantastic peaks and rocks, whose uncanny workmanship sparks endless imagination and offers the best experience. Standing atop Shixin Peak, you can take in the magnificent mountain scenery around you. Finally, walk to Bai'e Ridge Cableway Station and take the Yungu Cableway (8 minutes) down the mountain. Our driver will already be waiting at the foot of the mountain and will take you back to Huangshan city or to the airport/train station. (PS: It is recommended to depart after 16:40 that day.) At this point, this wonderful and unforgettable 3-day in-depth Huangshan hiking tour comes to an end. If you wish to extend this trip and explore more destinations in China, such as Hangzhou, Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing, Harbin, Yunnan, Xi'an, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, Tibet, Guilin, Xinjiang, etc., you can also contact our customer service to arrange it for you.