Huangshan 黄山
Huangshan is the gateway to the granite peaks and sea-of-clouds scenery of Huangshan Scenic Area, plus the whitewashed Huizhou villages of Hongcun and Xidi. Most visitors base themselves in Tunxi (the city centre with the old street and airport) or in Tangkou at the mountain's south gate, allowing 2–3 days for peaks and villages.
Sights in Huangshan
Mount Huangshan 黄山风景区
Guangming Peak 光明顶
West Sea Grand Canyon 西海大峡谷
Shixin Peak 始信峰
Hongcun Village 宏村
Xidi Village 西递
Tunxi Old Street 屯溪老街
Liyang in Lane 黎阳in巷
Tangyue Memorial Archways 棠樾牌坊群
Chengkan Village 呈坎
Tangmo Village 唐模
Qiankou Residence Museum 潜口民宅博物馆
Anhui China Huizhou Culture Museum 安徽中国徽州文化博物馆
Qiyun Mountain 齐云山
Emerald Valley 翡翠谷
Taiping Lake 太平湖
Huashan Mysterious Caves 花山谜窟
Yuliang Dam 渔梁坝
Nanping Village 南屏
Tachuan Village 塔川
Jiulong Waterfall 九龙瀑
Prices are approximate and hours change. Sights without a page haven't been checked yet.
Where to stay
Tunxi Old Street area 屯溪老街
The city's historic heart on the Xin'an River, with hotels, Huizhou restaurants and easy access to the airport and Huangshan North railway station.
Good for: First night, food, shopping, transport links
Tangkou Town (South Gate of Huangshan Scenic Area) 汤口镇
The main gateway village at the mountain's south entrance, where shuttle buses leave for the Yuping and Yungu cableways.
Good for: Early starts on the mountain, hikers, one-night mountain trips
Hongcun Village 宏村
A UNESCO-listed Huizhou village with a moon pond, convenient for Xidi and the Yi County villages.
Good for: Slow travel, photography, village guesthouses
Getting there
Huangshan Tunxi International Airport 黄山屯溪国际机场
Taxi or DiDi to Tunxi Old Street takes about 15–20 minutes and costs roughly 30–50 CNY; a few local buses also serve the city.
Huangshan North Railway Station 黄山北站
Main high-speed station on the Hangzhou–Huangshan and Hefei–Fuzhou lines, about 15 km from Tunxi town; buses and taxis connect to Tunxi and to Tangkou/the scenic area.
Huangshan Railway Station 黄山站
Older conventional station in Tunxi, close to the old street; slower trains only.
Yixian East Railway Station 黟县东站
Station on the Nanchang–Jingdezhen–Huangshan high-speed line, useful for Hongcun and Xidi; check current services before relying on it.
Getting around
Taxi / DiDi
Airport and station transfers, Tunxi Old Street, short city trips
DiDi in the app is easier than hailing on the street; agree or check the meter for longer runs to Tangkou.
Tourist shuttle bus (scenic area)
Tangkou transfer centre to the Yuping and Yungu cableway stations
Shuttles are the only way up to the trailheads; buy tickets at the transfer centre and go early in peak season.
Cable car
Ascending or descending Huangshan's main peaks
Yuping and Yungu cableways can have long queues; walking up instead takes 2–3 hours.
Public bus
Tunxi to Tangkou/Huangshan Scenic Area, and to Yi County villages
Buses leave from Tunxi's bus stations; journey to Tangkou is roughly one hour.
Bike-share
Flat central Tunxi, riverside and old street area
Useful and pleasant along the Xin'an River, but not practical for the mountain or villages.
Good to know
- Alipay accepts Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Discover and Diners cards. Payments under ¥200 carry no Alipay service fee; payments of ¥200 or more carry a 3% fee. Verify your passport in the app to raise limits. Source
- A travel eSIM or home SIM on roaming reaches Google, WhatsApp and Instagram without a VPN; a Chinese SIM or hotel Wi-Fi does not. Keep your home SIM active for SMS codes. Source
- "Huangshan" hotels can be in Tunxi city, at Tangkou village or on the summit — check the address, as they are an hour or more apart.
- The scenic area ticket and cable cars are separate purchases; go through the gates early to beat tour groups, and avoid the Golden Week and Lunar New Year holidays.
- To see sunrise or sunset on the peaks you must stay at a summit hotel, which should be booked weeks in advance.
- Weather changes fast on the mountain: carry a rain shell, and note that some trails close in ice or snow.
- Alipay and WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card work widely in Tunxi and Tangkou, but keep some cash for small village shops and buses.
What to eat in Huangshan
臭鳜鱼
chòu guì yú
Fermented "stinky" mandarin fish · Huizhou's signature dish: salted and fermented fish braised with chili, garlic and bamboo shoots.
毛豆腐
máo dòu fu
Hairy fermented tofu · Fuzzy mould-fermented tofu pan-fried and served with chili sauce; a classic street snack.
刀板香
dāo bǎn xiāng
Cured pork on a wooden board · Huizhou ham steamed and sliced on a camphor-wood board; rich and salty.
黄山烧饼
huáng shān shāo bǐng
Huangshan small baked cakes · Crisp sesame rounds stuffed with preserved mustard greens and pork fat; sold everywhere.
问政山笋
wèn zhèng shān sǔn
Wenzheng Mountain bamboo shoots · Tender spring shoots from She County, best simply braised; ask for a version without ham.
五城茶干
wǔ chéng chá gān
Wucheng pressed dried tofu · Firm, tea-coloured tofu from Xiuning, eaten cold as a snack or stir-fried.
徽州一品锅
huī zhōu yī pǐn guō
Huizhou layered pot · A stacked casserole of pork, chicken, tofu skin, eggs and vegetables, cooked slowly.
石头粿
shí tou guǒ
Stone-pressed Huizhou flatbread · Griddled stuffed flatbread from She County, often filled with pickled vegetables or tofu.
Weather by season
| Months | Day | Night | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar-May | 18 °C | 9 °C | Mild and green, with spring rain and mist; the summit is noticeably colder and windier. |
| Jun-Aug | 32 °C | 24 °C | Hot, humid and stormy, with the plum-rain season in June; the mountain offers cooler relief. |
| Sep-Nov | 22 °C | 12 °C | Clear, crisp and the best season for views, though nights cool quickly. |
| Dec-Feb | 9 °C | 1 °C | Cold and damp, with ice and occasional snow on the peaks; dress in layers. |
Typical averages, not a forecast.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Huangshan?
April–May and September–November
Which sights in Huangshan should I book in advance?
Mount Huangshan, Guangming Peak, West Sea Grand Canyon, Shixin Peak, Hongcun Village, Xidi Village, Chengkan Village, Tangmo Village, Qiankou Residence Museum, Qiyun Mountain, Emerald Valley, Taiping Lake.
Which airports serve Huangshan?
Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN).
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