Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) - Most Beautiful Mountain in China (Open Now)

Front Huangshan Mountain (Jade Screen Scenic Area)

Location: front of Yellow Mountain, near to Yuping Cableway Station
Recommended Visiting Time: about 3-6 hours
Main Sights: Greeting Guest Pine, Jade Screen Peak, Celestial Capital Peak, and Lotus Peak

“No visit to Jade Screen Scenic Area, no real Yellow Mountain you’ll see”. Jade Screen Scenic Area is located at the front mountain. It owns some of the most breathtaking views, including the symbol of Yellow Mountain – Greeting Guest Pine, the highest peak on the mountain – Lotus Peak (1864.8m). Another peak, Celestial Capital Peak is also very popular with hiking lovers. From Jade Screen Scenic area, one can walk directly to the central mountaintop – Bright Summit.

Back Huangshan Mountain (Beihai Scenic Area)

Location: eastern side of Yellow Mountain, near to Yungu Cableway
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2-3 hours
Main Sights: Lion Peak, Begin-to-believe Peak, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea, Refreshing Terrace

Beihai Scenic Area is a wide and open region on the top region of Yellow Mountain over 1600 meters high. It is one of the two most popular tourist centers on the mountaintop connecting Yungu Cableway. It features in lofty peaks, clouds sea, terraces, pine trees, and historical sites. Many tourists start Yellow Mountain trips from Beihai Scenic Area, and also finish here. From this area, Bright Summit and West Sea Grand Canyon are within walking distance.

Central Huangshan Mountaintop (Tianhai Scenic Area)

Location: in the middle of Yellow Mountain, near to Baiyun Hotel
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2 hours
Main Sights: Bright Summit, Flying-over Rock

Tianhai Scenic Area is the central mountaintop of Yellow Mountain. The second highest peak Bright Summit (1860m) dominates at the center of all other peaks. It is also the junction of all roads and paths on the mountain, where you can move to front mountain, back mountain and West Sea Grand Canyon. The famous Flying-over Rock is only 20 minutes’ walking from the Bright Summit.

West Sea Grand Canyon

Location: western side of Yellow Mountain, accessible from West Gate
Recommended Visiting Time: about 2~5 hours
Main Sights: 1st Ring, 2nd Ring, Fairy-Walking Bridge

West Sea Grand Canyon is a dreamland on Yellow Mountain, a recommended highlight of Huangshan hiking. It is also known as the Mystery Valley for its wildness and fathomless valleys. Half-day hiking starts from Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, then explores the 1st Ring and 2nd Ring, and returns to Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, which takes about 3 hours. A full-day hiking connects the hiking route from Dispelling Cloud Pavilion to the bottom (a tourist center) of the West Sea Grand Canyon to the Baiyun New Path (Three Creeks - Fairy-walking Bridge – Baiyun Hotel). The full-day hiking takes about 6~7 hours to finish.

>> 3 Days Huangshan Highlights Leisure Tour

( Please Note: from December to the middle March of next year, West Sea Grand Canyon is usually closed for the cold weather and heavy snow. From Mar. 15 of 2025, the West Sea Grand Canyon is open for travelers and you can choose to hike or take monorail for sightseeing as you like. Learn more about West Sea Grand Canyon)

Odd-Shaped Huangshan Pines

The pines in Huangshan grow over an altitude of 800 m. Among the thousands of pines, you should pay attention to the following famous ones which you may pass by.

• Guest-Greeting Pine (situated at Jade Screen Pavilion, the symbol of Mt. Huangshan, over 1000 years old)
• Farewell Pine (situated at Jade Screen Peak, its shape is like saying farewell to the guests)
• Accompany Pine (in front of Jade Screen Peak)
• Black Tiger Pine (located between North Sea to Begin-to-believe Peak)
• Leading Pine (situated at Begin-to-believe Peak)
• Phoenix Pine (south of Bright Summit, east of Central Sea Pavilion)
• Couple Pine (located between Black Tiger Pine to Begin-to-believe Pine)
• Creeping Pine (situated at Celestial Capital Peak)
• Putuan Pine (located between Jade Screen Pavilion and Lotus Gully)

Read more about Huangshan Pines: Top Pines on Huangshan

Spectacular Rocky Peaks

Spectacular rocky peaks will inspire your imagination. More than 120 peaks of Yellow Mountain have got names. There are 72 high and steep peaks over 1000m with widespread grotesque rocks. The three tallest and best-known peaks are Lotus Peak, Bright Summit Peak and Celestial Capital Peak.

Within the area, the towering peculiar peaks are majestic and fantastic and the rocks in the grotesque shapes seem to be a work of carving. The names of the stones and rocks are very interesting and legendary. Some are like birds and animals, including Squirrel Jumping at the Celestial Capital Peak, Rhinoceros Watching the Moon, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea, etc. Some are like human-beings, including Immortal Solarizing the Boot, Immortal Walking on Stilts, etc. Some are like different kinds of stuff, including the Pen Flower Peak, Pen Rack Peak, Flying over Rock, etc. Some are named after Chinese stories and legends, like Su Wu Tending the Sheep Peak, Taibai Drunk Peak, etc. When appreciating the rocks and peaks, you should open your imagination and enjoy.

Celestial Capital Peak

Celestial Capital Peak is at an altitude of 1810m, one of the 36 peaks of Yellow Mountain. It is called the most thrilling peak of Mt. Huangshan. It is about 1 km south from Jade Screen Peak.

Lotus Peak

Lotus Peak is the highest peak at 1864 km, southwest of Jade Screen Peak. Its shape resembles a blossoming lotus. From the apex, travelers can view thousands of peaks and numerous ravines in the misty clouds. On a sunny day, travelers can even find Tianmu Mountain in the east, Mount Lu in the west, Mount Jiuhua in the north. When climbing Lotus Peak, you can see many love locks locked forever on the iron chains on the cliff. They are mostly left by affectionate lovers who hope their love will stay forever.

Begin to Believe Peak

In the Ming Dynasty (A.D. 1368 - 1644), the famous traveler Xu Xiake (徐霞客) advocated that Yellow Mountain was the most beautiful mountain after he returned from a Yellow Mountain trip. Many people agreed. But an official in the Qing Dynasty (A.D. 1644 - 1911) doubted that. So he decided to have a look at Yellow Mountain with his own eyes. And right after seeing the stunning landscapes at where the Begin-to-Believe Peak now stands, he began to believe that the Yellow Mountain truly was the most beautiful mountain. That’s how the peak gets its name.

Lion Peak

As its name implies, the Lion Peak really looks like a crouching lion with the summit as its head, Refreshing Terrace as its waist and Dawn Pavilion as its tail. It is only about 20 minutes’ walking from Beihai Hotel. The Refreshing Terrace is believed to be the best location for watching sunrise.

Bright Summit

The Bright Summit is the second highest peak on Yellow Mountain with an altitude of 1860 meters. It is located at the central point of all peaks, which makes it an ideal location for a panoramic view of Yellow Mountain. From the summit, one can easily navigate to both the front mountain and back mountain of Yellow Mountain. It is also a great location for both sunrise and sunset.

Sea of Clouds

Geographically, Huangshan Mountain can be divided into five sea areas. The south of Lotus Peak and Celestial Capital Peak is South Sea, also called Front Sea. The north of Lion Peak and Begin-to-believe Peak is North Sea, also called Back Sea. The east of White Goose Ridge Peak is called East Sea and the west of Purple Cloud Peak and Flying over Peak is the West Sea. The front of Bright Summit is Heavenly Sea. Normally, the best time to enjoy sea of clouds is from November to the next May, especially after snow and rain. It is magnificent before the sunrise and after the sunset. You should never miss this spectacular scene.

Best Places to View Sea of Clouds: Jade Screen Pavilion to see South Sea; the Refreshing Terrace to see North Sea; White Goose Ridge to see East Sea and Cloud Dispelling Pavilion to see West Sea and Bright Summit to see Heavenly Sea.

Winter Snow

Usually, the winter in Mt. Huangshan is from November to March. During this period, Yellow Mountain is as beautiful as silver fairyland when the peaks, the oddly-shaped rocks and the trees are all covered by a white blanket. Here is how an ancient Chinese poem describes it “With ice columns skyrocketing into the sky, and pure snowflakes blooming on the pine, Huangshan Mountain in winter is the snowy heaven on earth.”

In the early mornings in winter, the newborn sun spreads its rosy lights on the surface of clouds sea. Early sunlight rests gently on the shoulders of Mt. Huangshan, casting a golden hue over the snow-capped valley. With sunlight dancing cheerfully in the mountains, Yellow Mountain presents a splendid picture. If lucky, you can appreciate the “Buddhist Light”, a full-circle rainbow. The optical phenomenon can frequently be seen on Yellow Mountain after a snowfall.

The best locations to view snow scenery of Yellow Mountain are Celestial Capital Peak, Lotus Peak, Xihai Grand Canyon, Jade Screen Peak, Cloud Valley Temple, etc.

>>Yellow Mountain in Winter: Weather, Temperature, Scenery & Travel Tips

>>4 Days Huangshan Hongcun Vacation with Hot Spring

Read more about Huangshan: 11 Facts About Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Sunrise

Locations: the Refreshing Terrace, Dawn Pavilion, Lion Peak, Begin-to-believe Peak, Purple Cloud Peak, Bright Summit, Turtle Peak, Jade Screen Pavilion, etc. Among them, the best locations are Refreshing Terrace, Lion Peak and the second best locations are Bright Summit and Jade Screen Pavilion.

Referral Time to Watch Sunrise: in spring during 05:30-06:00; in summer during 04:40-05:10; in autumn during 04:50-06:20, in winter during 05:30-06:00.

Recommended Hotels to Stay: Stay at Beihai Hotel to watch sunrise at Lion Peak, Refreshing Terrace; stay at Xihai Hotel or Paiyunlou Hotel to watch sunrise at Purple Cloud Peak, you need to hike 15 minutes there; stay at Baiyun Hotel to watch sunrise at Bright Summit and Turtle Peak.

>>Huangshan/Yellow Mountain Sunrise: Time, Recommended Spots and Hotels

Sunset & Sunglow

Locations: travelers can watch sunset at Cloud Dispelling Pavilion, Purple Cloud Peak, Flying over Rock, Bright Summit, Lotus Peak, etc. The best is Cloud Dispelling Pavilion at West Sea.

Referral Time to Watch Sunset: in spring during 18:00-19:00; in summer during 18:30-19:20; in autumn during 17:30-18:45; in winter during 17:00-17:35.

>>Huangshan/Yellow Mountain Sunset: Time, Viewing Spots, nearby Hotels & Tips

Detailed Sunrise and Sunset Time for your Reference, please check the following chart.

Classic Route:

Day 1 Huangshan arrival and stay in Huangshan downtown area;

Day 2 Transfer to Mt. Huangshan, take Yugu Cableway to get up and visit Pen Flower Peak, Black Tiger Peak, Refreshing Terrace, Lion Peak, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea, watch sunset at Cloud Dispelling Pavilion and enjoy part of West Sea Grand Canyon, stay at the summit of Yellow Mountain; (It needs about 5 hours’ hiking this day)

Day 3 Watch sunrise over Lion Peak (or Purple Cloud Peak, Bright Summit), visit Flying over Rock, Bright Summit, Beginning-to-Believe Peak and take cable car at White Goose Ridge Station to Yungu Station and take sightseeing bus to get down Yellow Mountain. After the trip in Mt. Huangshan Scenic Area, transfer to visit Tunxi Ancient Street and Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory before get departure.

Please go and check: >> 3 Days Huangshan Highlights Tour

Extension: for those who want to visit Xidi and Hongcun Ancient Villages, you can spend one day going to the UNESCO ancient villages. You can put it before or after the Huangshan Mountain visit.

Please go and check:

>> 4 Days Best Huangshan Tour with Hongcun & Xidi Ancient Villages

>> 4 Days Huangshan Tour to Huizhou Culture Exploration

Popular Hiking Route:

For hiking lovers, it is necessary to spend at least two days on the mountain to explore both the Front Mountain (Greeting Guests Pine, Lotus Peak, One-Line Sky…) and the Back Mountain (Begin-to-Believe Peak, Lion Peak). Generally, there are three major hiking routes in Huangshan – the western route, eastern route and West Sea Grand Canyon Hiking: 1) Western Route (Mercy Light Pavilion – Greeting Guest Pine – Lotus Peak – Bright Summit); 2) Eastern Route (Yungu Temple – White Goose Ridge – Begin-to-Believe Peak – Lion Peak – Bright Summit); 3) West Sea Grand Canyon. It is suggested to stay at least for one night on the mountain so that you can have enough time to take in all of the sights this beautiful mountain has to offer. But if you have only a day for the Yellow Mountain, or may not be able to find a place to stay in tourist peak season, you can also do the hiking in just a day as long as you start early and take cableways as transfer on the mountain.

>> 3 Days Huangshan Brief Hiking Tour

>> 4 Days Huangshan & Xihai Grand Canyon Hiking Tour

You can easily plan your Yellow Mountain trip to 1 day, 1.5 days, 2 days, 3 days or more according to your days, energy condition and interest. If you just want to explore Huangshan in an easier way, 3 Days Huangshan Highlights Tour will be the best choince. 3 Days Huangshan Classic Hiking Tour is a little more physical demanding than the previous one, but you will be rewarded with the stunning scenery of both back and front mountain. If you are also interested in the local lives and cultures, then you can check this 4 Days Best Huangshan Tour with Hongcun & Xidi Ancient Villages. Hongcun and Xidi Ancient Village are together listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Huangshan can be traveled with other popular China destinations easily especially those in the nearby regions, such as Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Jingdezhen, Wangxian Valley, etc. You can even connect Huangshan with Beijing, Xian, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Chengdu, etc.

We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable trips to Huangshan for the past few years. Among them, a couple from Canada enjoyed their romantic 14-day Nature & Culture China trip covering Huangshan highlights with our cutomized tour package. Besides, Mr. Ban's group from USA who have been traveling with us for more than 3 years also savored the sightseeing and culture of Huangshan.

All of our Huangshan tours can be tailor-made to fit your needs and likes. You will also be well taken care of by our local knowledgeable and helpful tour guide and experienced private drivers, and enjoy well-selected quality accommodation and food. Please feel free to contact us with your requirements or questions and our professional travel consultant will reply to you as soon as possible.

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