Yellow Mountain Tours & Hiking Packages
Mount Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), a UNESCO World Heritage site in Anhui Province, is China's most celebrated mountain. Famous for its granite peaks, ancient pines, sea of clouds, and hot springs, it has inspired poets and painters for centuries. Our Mount Huangshan tours combine the mountain's best viewpoints with visits to the region's beautiful ancient villages.
Huangshan is renowned for its 'Four Wonders': oddly-shaped pines (notably the Welcoming Pine), grotesque rock formations, seas of clouds, and hot springs. The mountain is at its most magical at sunrise, when the peaks emerge from a sea of clouds. Beyond the mountain itself, the region is home to Hongcun and Xidi — two remarkably preserved Ming and Qing dynasty villages that served as inspiration for the movie 'Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.'
1. 2-Day Classic Tour: Cable car up, summit sunrise, Yungu or West Sea Grand Canyon hike, descend to stay in a mountain hotel. 2. 2-Day Tour with Hongcun & Xidi: Mountain plus the two famous ancient villages. 3. 3-Day Extended Tour: Adds Tunxi Old Street and the spectacular Hongcun at sunrise. 4. From Shanghai: 3-day round-trip by high-speed train (about 3 hours each way). Prices typically range from $280 to $480 per person depending on season and inclusions.
The best times are April-May (spring flowers, fresh greenery) and September-November (autumn colors, clear skies). Winter (December-February) offers stunning rime ice on the trees but can be cold and icy on the trails. Avoid the Chinese national holidays (October 1-7, May 1-5) when the mountain is extremely crowded. Sunrise viewing is best from September to November.
By high-speed train: Huangshan North Railway Station is about 3 hours from Shanghai, 1.5 hours from Hangzhou, and 2.5 hours from Nanjing. From the station, take a bus or taxi to the Tangkou Town at the mountain base (about 40 minutes). By air: Huangshan Tunxi International Airport (TXN) has flights from major Chinese cities. All our tours include airport or station transfers.
Main routes: (1) Cable car up from Yungu Temple to Startling Pines, hike to the summit area. (2) West Sea Grand Canyon — a spectacular deep canyon walk (challenging, about 4-5 hours). (3) Walk from the front (Ciguang Pavilion) up the steep steps to the summit. Most visitors use the cable car one way and hike the other. Proper walking shoes, warm layers, and a headlamp are essential.
Stay options: (1) Mountain summit hotels (Xihai, Beihai, Shilin) — essential for sunrise viewing, book 2-3 months ahead for best rooms. (2) Tangkou Town hotels at the base — cheaper but require a 10-minute cable car ride for sunrise. (3) Hongcun boutique guesthouses for those extending to the villages. All our tour packages include carefully chosen accommodation.
Don't miss Anhui cuisine (Hui Cuisine), one of China's eight great culinary traditions. Signature dishes include stinky mandarin fish, Mao tofu, bamboo shoots, and Huangshan wild vegetables. In Hongcun, try local snacks like the savory rice cakes and sesame sweets. Tea lovers should taste Huangshan Maofeng, one of China's ten famous teas, grown on these very mountains.
Contact our travel experts for a customized itinerary including this attraction.
Get Free Quote