Huangshan: Sunrise, Sea of Clouds, Oddly-shaped Pines, Grotesque Rocks, and Hot Springs – The Four Wonders
🔥 Huangshan 3-Day 2-Night Classic Itinerary
✅ Core Concept: Stay on the mountaintop to witness the sunrise and sea of clouds, follow classic routes, ascend lightly, avoid peak times for ascent/descent, and experience a million-dollar trip on a thousand-dollar budget!
🏔 Huangshan: "It's not about climbing in the dark at dawn, but sleeping among the clouds, awaiting a miracle at daybreak."
✅ Itinerary Summary: Day, Accommodation, Highlights
Day 1: Arrive at Huangshan → Tangkou Town → Ascend via Yungu Temple → White Goose Ridge → Beihai/Xihai Huangshan Mountaintop Economy Hotel. Ascend in the afternoon to avoid crowds and reach the summit easily.
Day 2: Watch the sunrise in the early morning → West Sea Grand Canyon → Bright Summit → Guest-Greeting Pine → Yuping Tower. Follow the most essential route and photograph the sea of clouds and oddly-shaped pines.
Day 3: Descend via Yuping Cableway → Ciguang Pavilion → Return. Easy descent by cable car.
💰 Budget Breakdown
Round-trip Transportation (High-speed rail/bullet train + scenic area bus) ¥600. If departing from Shanghai/Hangzhou/Nanjing, round-trip second-class high-speed rail is approximately ¥300/person.
Tickets + Cableway + Scenic Area Shuttle ¥780. Entrance Ticket ¥190/person, Yungu Cableway ¥80/person (up), Yuping Cableway ¥90/person (down), Scenic Area Shuttle Bus ¥38/person.
Accommodation (1 night on mountaintop + 1 night in Tangkou) ¥600. Mountaintop Economy Room ¥400 (standard room for 2), Tangkou Guesthouse ¥200.
Meals (3 days) ¥400. Simple meals + instant noodles + mountaintop bento boxes, ¥65/person/day.
Others (Hot water/Souvenirs/Contingency) ¥100. Thermos for hot water, small snacks, emergency medicine.
Estimated total: ¥2480. Approximately ¥1250 per person.💡 If departing from Hefei/Hangzhou, the budget is around ¥2200.
📅 Detailed Itinerary
🌞 Day 1: Afternoon Ascent · Avoid Peak Times, Stay Among the Clouds
Morning: Arrive at [Huangshan North Station] by high-speed rail. After exiting, take the [Scenic Area Shuttle Bus] directly to [Tangkou Town] (¥20/person, 30 minutes).
Noon: Lunch in Tangkou Town: Recommended [Huizhou Hairy Tofu] + [Bamboo Shoot with Braised Pork] (approx. ¥35/person).
Afternoon 13:30 Ascent (Crucial to avoid morning rush hour): Take the scenic shuttle bus to the [Yungu Temple] entrance (¥19/person). Take the [Yungu Cableway] up the mountain (¥80/person, 7 minutes, saves effort). After exiting the cableway, walk to [White Goose Ridge] → [Beihai Hotel] area (approx. 40 minutes).
Evening: Arrive at the mountaintop hotel before 17:30: By this time, tourists have already descended, so it's not crowded, and you can capture the sunset casting light on the oddly-shaped pines and grotesque rocks. Recommended accommodations: [Huangshan Baiyun Hotel] or [Xihai Hotel Economy Room] (¥400/night, includes basic heating, book in advance).💡 Rooms on the mountaintop are limited; be sure to book 2 days in advance during peak season.
Dinner: Simple meal at a mountaintop restaurant (bento box ¥45/portion) or instant noodles (¥15, popular "Huangshan Instant Noodles" for a photo op). It's recommended to bring your own chocolate and nuts for energy.
✅ Bring a thick coat. The temperature at night on the mountaintop is around 5℃, and it's windy.
🌞 Day 2: Sunrise and Sea of Clouds · West Sea Grand Canyon + Guest-Greeting Pine Check-in
Early morning 5:00-5:30 wake-up (adjust according to season): Head to [Danxia Peak] or [Shizi Peak] to watch the sunrise (Beihai area is best). If the weather is good, you can see the sea of clouds surging, golden light breaking through, and peaks resembling floating islands.
Morning: Visit [West Sea Grand Canyon] (a must-see, the most breathtaking section of Huangshan). Walk down the valley (First Ring → Second Ring → Third Ring). The plank road is built along the cliff, like a sky road. You can take the [Ground Cable Car] out of the valley (¥100/person, saves effort) or return the same way. Ascend [Bright Summit] (elevation 1860 meters, Huangshan's second highest peak) for panoramic views. Pass through [Flying-over Rock] → [Hundred-Step Ladder] → [Aoyu Peak] → [Guest-Greeting Pine] (Huangshan's symbol).
Noon: Simple meal near Yuping Tower (vegetarian bun ¥5/each, bento box ¥45).
Afternoon: Take the [Yuping Cableway] down the mountain (¥90/person, 8 minutes direct to the foot of the mountain). Take the scenic shuttle bus back to [Ciguang Pavilion] → Tangkou Town (¥19/person).
Evening: Check into a guesthouse in Tangkou Town (¥200/night, clean and comfortable, with showers available). Have dinner with [Huizhou Stinky Mandarin Fish] + [Stone Ear Mushroom Stewed Chicken] (approx. ¥60/person).
🌞 Day 3: Tangkou Rest + Return
Morning: Sleep in naturally. You can visit [Hongcun] or [Chengkan] (if time permits, add ¥100/person for tickets). Or buy some local specialties in Tangkou: Huangshan Sesame Cake, Maofeng Tea, Dried Bamboo Shoots.
Noon: After lunch in Tangkou, take the bus back to [Huangshan North Station].
Afternoon: High-speed rail return. A journey of the "Four Wonders": Oddly-shaped Pines, Grotesque Rocks, Sea of Clouds, and Hot Springs.
🎒 Essential Items for Climbing
Warm Outerwear: Fleece or light down jacket, as it's cold on the mountaintop in the morning and evening.
Comfortable Hiking Shoes: Non-slip! Many stone steps, don't wear new shoes.
Hiking Pole: Optional, saves effort when descending (bamboo poles can be bought for ¥10 at the foot of the mountain).
Headlamp/Phone Light: If getting up early for sunrise or walking at night.
Thermos: For hot water, instant noodles/tea, eco-friendly and saves money.
Small Snacks: Chocolate, energy bars, beef jerky (expensive on the mountain).
Camera/Phone: Sunrise and sea of clouds are too beautiful, you must take photos! Recommended to bring a tripod.
🌟 Highlights
✅ No Night Travel: Ascend in the afternoon, say goodbye to the "climbing in the dark at dawn" nightmare.
✅ Uncrowded Sunrise: Stay on the mountaintop in advance to secure the best viewing spot.
✅ Essential Route: West Sea Grand Canyon + Bright Summit + Guest-Greeting Pine, all covered.
✅ Easy Descent: Yuping Cableway + scenic shuttle bus, knee-friendly.
✅ Controllable Food & Accommodation: Enjoy Huizhou cuisine at the foot of the mountain, light meals on the mountain, no wasted money.
Veteran Traveler's Secret Tips
1. Best Season:
April-May: Spring blossoms, rhododendrons in full bloom.
September-October: Crisp autumn air, high probability of sea of clouds.
December-February: Stunning snowscapes, like an ink painting (be careful of slipping).
2. Avoid Pitfalls: Don't trust "black guides" soliciting customers. Bottled water on the mountain costs ¥5-8/bottle; it's recommended to buy more at the foot of the mountain. Some sections of the West Sea Grand Canyon are steep; those with acrophobia should be cautious.
3. Hidden Gems: Bright Summit at 6 AM, with the sea of clouds rolling like waves. The "Dream Pen Blooming" rock near Beihai Hotel is perfect for photos. Instant noodles + hot tea on the mountaintop, eating while enjoying the scenery, full of ritual.
4. Photography Tips: Use a wide-angle lens for the sea of clouds at sunrise. Use a telephoto lens for the Guest-Greeting Pine to compress the background. Take silhouette photos of people in the West Sea Grand Canyon.
📣 "Many people say Huangshan makes you 'tired as a dog,' but only by trying it will you know. When you stand on Bright Summit and see the sea of clouds surging beneath your feet, at that moment, all fatigue turns into pride! For less than ¥2500, I took her on her first peak journey outside the Five Great Mountains. Follow me, next stop, we're going to Wugong Mountain to see the vast alpine meadows."
✅ Gaode Map marked route (including cableway stations + check-in points)🎥⛰️📸 Along the way, strange peaks accompany you, looking up is the sea of clouds, looking down is the abyss, and in your heart is awe. After returning from the Five Great Mountains, you won't look at other mountains; after returning from Huangshan, you won't look at other peaks!🌄✨
Yungu Temple Cable Car The highest peak of Huangshan Mountain is 1,864 meters above sea level. It is said that it is 15 kilometers from the foot of the mountain to the top. The slope is steep and the road is dangerous. People with weak physical strength are obviously not suitable for hiking up the mountain. Therefore, most tourists choose to take the cable car to go up the mountain. The Yungu Cableway is 2,666 meters long from Yungu Temple to Baieling, with a height difference of 775 meters. It only takes 8 minutes to reach Baieling. The cable car is fully enclosed, and you can only view the scenery through the glass along the way. I took a few photos. Because of the reflection of the glass, not only is the picture quality poor, but there are also discolored patches caused by light diffusion due to the glass material.
Yungu Temple is the entrance to the back of Huangshan Mountain and also the ticket office. Most groups take the cable car up the mountain from here. Now fewer and fewer tourists are hiking on foot. After Yungu Temple, you will see Shixin Peak and Baieling.
There were not many people at the ticket office of Yungu Temple, so I didn't have to queue up. I bought the cable car ticket and the entrance ticket directly. But when I was waiting for the cable car, there were so many people. The cable car's capacity was poor. If it was during the Golden Week, tourists would have to queue up. It took me almost an hour to queue up at the cable car entrance. I didn't get on the cable car until 11:35, and I reached Baie Ridge at 11:47, which was more than 40 minutes later than expected.
The front hill Ciguang Pavilion gate on the mountain road is a little tired, Ciguang Pavilion walk to Yuping Tower about 3.5 hours (if around Tiandu Peak plus more than one hour), and then walk to Tianhai Baiyun Hotel (Guangming Peak) about 2 hours. If you climb a mountain on foot, it is suggested that the Yungu Temple on the back hill be relatively steep than the front hill. Yungu Temple usually takes 2 hours to walk to Baie Ridge. Turn left to Tianhai after arriving at Baie Ridge and go to Guangming Top/Baiyun Hotel for more than 1 hour. If you start mountain climbing in the morning and visit normally, you should turn right to Shixin Peak after arriving at Baie Ridge, then go to Beihai Scenic Area (Lion Peak/Monkey View of the Sea/Dawn Pavilion/Qingliangtai, etc.) and then to the West Sea Scenic Area-Flying Stone-Bright Peak-Tianhai-Baiyun Hotel, which takes about 3-4 hours. Of course, if the Paiyun Pavilion in the West China Sea has finished swimming, it will take 6 - 7 hours to go around the West China Sea Grand Canyon. If you go to the Grand Canyon, you are strongly advised to take a cable car from the Yungu Temple.
Running because of the cable car, to sit at this station, and then up the mountain to stay in a hotel. Look at the big place. There are many people who come to take the cable car. It's very busy. The Huangshan Cable Car Station seems to be the only terminus to be here, and the subsequent roads will be mountaineering on foot. See the service facilities are quite complete, there is an ambulance station and a rest place. The environment is very good and very satisfactory!
Unfortunately, the building was built on the site of Yungu Temple, not the real Yungu Temple.