Huangshan Scenic Area, nestled within Tangkou Town, Huangshan District, Huangshan City, is a renowned mountain destination in China since ancient times. Its fame is attributed to the ‘four unique features’: strange pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs. Visitors also cherish the experiences of rime, snow scenery, and sunrise. As the ancients said, “After returning from the Five Sacred Mountains, one does not need to look at other mountains; after returning from Huangshan, one does not need to look at the Five Sacred Mountains.”
The scenic area is accessible through three gates: south, west, and north, with the majority of tourists using the south gate. This gate leads to two entrances, the front mountain and the back mountain, both conveniently located near Tangkou Town at the mountain’s base. The town serves as a transfer hub for Huangshan visits, with many tourists arriving early and spending the night. To reach the scenic area from Tangkou Town, one must take the new national line shuttle bus of Huangshan, which stops at the front mountain gate (Ciguang Pavilion), the back mountain gate (Yungu Temple), and Huangshan Hot Spring.
The tour of the scenic area is segmented into two main climbing routes: the front mountain and the back mountain, both culminating at the Bright Summit, a primary peak. Beyond the Bright Summit lies the Xihai Grand Canyon, a circular route. The front mountain route starts at Ciguang Pavilion and leads to Yuping Tower at the summit, accessible via the Yuping Cableway. It also includes the莲花峰 (Lotus Peak) and 天都峰 (Tiandu Peak) areas. The front mountain boasts grand views, ideal for cableway rides and overlooking. It features the high peak Lotus Peak and another main peak Tiandu Peak (交替开放), as well as classic spots like the Welcoming Pine, Carp Back, Hundred-Step Ladder, One-Line Sky, and Tianhai.
The back mountain route begins at Yungu Temple and extends to White Goose Ridge, accessible via the Yungu Cableway, and includes areas like Shixin Peak, Lion Peak, and Paiyun Pavilion behind White Goose Ridge. The back mountain offers delicate mountain scenery, best enjoyed on foot. It includes attractions like the Flying Rock and Monkey Watching the Sea.
The Xihai Grand Canyon, a recently opened area, is known for its deep valley and magnificent scenery, considered the essence of Huangshan’s landscape. It can be entered from Paiyun Pavilion in the back mountain area, and after traversing the valley, one returns to Tianhai at the main peak. The walk from Paiyun Pavilion to the valley bottom takes about two hours, after which a cable car can be taken to Tianhai.
For a conventional two-day Huangshan visit, the routes are either front mountain up and back mountain down (front mountain – Xihai Grand Canyon – back mountain) or back mountain up and front mountain down (back mountain – Xihai Grand Canyon – front mountain). The front mountain up and back mountain down is suitable for cableway ascent and descent, offering a relaxing experience without missing the delicate beauty in the latter half. However, due to the essence route of the Xihai Grand Canyon being from Paiyun Pavilion to Tianhai, a section of the return route must be walked. For a one-day visit, the schedule is tight, and it is recommended to climb up from the back mountain and down from the front mountain, using the cableway both ways, and possibly skipping the main peak of the front mountain (Lotus Peak/Tiandu Peak) or the Xihai Grand Canyon.
Accommodation on the mountaintop is available at several locations, primarily in the Guangming Peak Tianhai, Paiyun Pavilion, Bai’e Ridge, and Beihai areas. Guangming Peak Tianhai is an excellent spot for sunrise viewing and also suitable for luggage storage while exploring the West Sea Grand Canyon. Bai’e Ridge, being the upper station of the Yungu Cableway at the back mountain, is a convenient place to stay for those entering the scenic area from the back mountain in the afternoon.
The scenic area’s operating hours are as follows: from March 2nd to September 30th, Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 17:10; from October 8th to November 30th, Monday to Friday from 07:00 to 17:10; from March 2nd to September 30th, Saturday and Sunday from 06:30 to 17:40; from October 8th to November 30th, Saturday and Sunday from 06:30 to 17:40; from December 1st to March 1st, from 08:00 to 16:40; on October 1st from 06:30 to 17:10; from October 2nd to October 6th from 06:00 to 17I. Traffic Shareholding Company Shuttle Bus Operation Times:
1. From March 2nd to November 30th:
– Monday to Friday: 06:40 to 16:30 (upward), 07:10 to 17:40 (downward).
– Saturday, Sunday, and small holidays: 06:10 to 17:00 (upward), 06:40 to 18:10 (downward).
2. From December 1st to March 1st (including Saturday, Sunday, and small holidays): 07:40 to 16:00 (upward), 08:10 to 17:10 (downward).
3. National Day from October 1st to 7th:
– October 2nd to 6th: 05:40 to 17:00 (upward), 06:10 to 18:10 (downward).
– October 1st and 7th: 06:10 to 16:30 (upward), 06:40 to 17:40 (downward).
II. Yungu Cableway, Yuping Cableway, Taiping Cableway Operation Times:
1. From March 2nd to November 30th:
– Monday to Friday: 07:00 to 17:10.
– Saturday, Sunday, and small holidays: 06:30 to 17:40.
2. From December 1st to March 1st (including Saturday, Sunday, and small holidays): 08:00 to 16:40.
3. National Day from October 1st to 7th:
– October 2nd to 6th: 06:00 to 17:40.
– October 1st and 7th: 06:30 to 17:10.
III. During the ‘May Day’ and ‘National Day’ Golden Weeks, as well as the ‘Spring Festival’, the scenic area’s opening hours, transportation transfer, and cableway business hours will be announced separately. In case of cultural tourism marketing activities or high reservation volumes, the operation times will be adjusted and optimized according to the situation, with specific times based on the Huangshan Tourism Official Platform ticket reservation times.
IV. The Huangshan Scenic Area continues to implement the requirements of ‘limited capacity, reservation, and staggered peaks’, and implements a strong real-name time-sharing and directional reservation and verification ticket inspection system. Make reservations first and then travel. It is recommended that you reserve scenic area tickets on the official Huangshan tourism platform at least one day in advance. Keep the identity information of the reserved tickets consistent with the identity information of the visitors entering the park, and enter the park according to the reserved time period and mountain entrance direction. For tourists who have not successfully made reservations, please choose another time to make reservations to enter the mountain or visit surrounding scenic spots. The weather in mountain scenic areas is changeable. Please pay close attention to the weather and other conditions of the Huangshan Scenic Area, cooperate with scenic area management, travel civilizedly and visit in staggered peaks to jointly create a safe, harmonious and beautiful tourism environment.
Preferential policies
Minors: Minors aged 6 years old (excluding) to 18 years old (including) holding the original of their valid ID card or household register. Half price; minors under 6 years old (including) are free.
Students: Full-time undergraduate and below students holding the original of their student ID card. Half price.
Families of active servicemen: With the preferential certificate for families of active servicemen and a copy of the active servicemen’s certificate, marriage certificate, household register and other certificates that can prove the identity of military dependents. If certificates cannot be provided, proof shall be provided by the political work department of the unit above the regiment where the active servicemen are located (military dependents are the parents, spouses, children, siblings, and other relatives who the servicemen depended on for support when they were young and now must depend on the servicemen for living). Half price.
Veterans: With the ‘Preferential Certificate for Veterans’. Half price.
Children: Children under 6 years old (including) or with a height of 1.2 meters (including) or less accompanied by guardians and holding the original of their valid ID card or household register. Free.
Elderly people: Elderly people aged 60 years old (including) to 65 years old (exFree Admission:
– Journalists: Journalists with a valid ID card and a press card issued by the General Administration of Press and Publication of the People’s Republic of China.
– Photography Association Members: Members of the China Photographers Association or provincial photographers’ associations (specifically referring to the photographers’ associations of provinces or municipalities directly under the Central Government) with a valid ID card and membership card, individuals with a passport and membership card from an overseas photographers’ association (excluding subordinate organizations), and individuals with a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents and Taiwan Residents Travel Permit for Mainland China and membership card from photography associations (societies) in Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.
– Travel Agency General Managers: Individuals with a valid ID card and a travel agency general manager qualification certificate or a travel agency general manager post training certificate.
– Tour Guides: Tour guides with a valid ID card and an electronic tour guide certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
– Medical Staff: National medical team members who have provided assistance to Hubei, including all members of national, military, and provincial (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the Central Government) medical teams, with a valid ID card and relevant documents (valid until December 31, 2024).
– Huangshan City Tourism Card Holders: Citizens with a Huangshan City Tourism Card.
– ‘Three Categories of Dependents’: Individuals with a ‘Martyrs, Military Personnel Who Died in Service, and Deceased Military Personnel’s Dependents Preferential Treatment Certificate’ issued by the veterans affairs department (specifically referring to the direct relatives of the individual, excluding collateral relatives, and within the direct relatives, excluding grandparents, maternal grandparents, grandchildren, and maternal grandchildren, etc., who are collateral relatives with the individual).
– Non-Mainland Tourists: For the entire year of 2024, overseas tourists (including those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan) can enjoy a 50% discount on the main entrance ticket by presenting their passport for on-site admission procedures.
Free Second Entry: The ticket must be used for the first time on the date of use, and a second entry can be arranged within three days from the date of use.
Half Price for Flood Relief Personnel: From June 19, 2024, to July 4, 2024, individuals who supported or participated in flood relief in Huangshan, including: People’s Liberation Army and Armed Police Force officers and soldiers; communication, fire, rescue, health and other security team personnel; unlimited number of visits until December 31, 2024 (excluding the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays).
Free Admission for Flood Relief Philanthropists: From June 19, 2024, to July 4, 2024, individuals from all walks of life who donated money and materials to Huangshan City; other philanthropists who actively participated in flood relief in Huangshan. Unlimited number of visits until December 31, 2024 (excluding the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays).
Free supplementary explanation:
1. Preferential policies for cableways (including sightseeing cable cars):
(1) For children: Children accompanied by guardians and under 1.2 meters (inclusive) in height are exempt from cableway tickets. For children accompanied by guardians and between 1.2 meters (exclusive) and 1.5 meters (inclusive) in height, when taking any cableway in Huangshan Scenic Area, they can enjoy discounts. The specific prices are as follows: Yungu and Taiping cableways cost 40 yuan per ticket during the normal and peak seasons and 35 yuan per ticket during the winter tour; Yuping cableway costs 45 yuan per ticket during the normal and peak seasons and 40 yuan per ticket during the winter tour; Sightseeing cable car in Xihai Grand Canyon costs 50 yuan per ticket during the normal and peak seasons and 40 yuan per ticket during the winter tour.
(2) Members of Photographers Association: People who hold the original valid ID card and the original membership card of the China Photographers Association and provincial photographers associations (specifically referring to photographers associations of a certain province or municipality directly under the central government), hold the original passport and the original membership card of a foreign-named national photographers association (excluding its subordinate organizations), and hold the original Exit-Entry Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents to the Mainland, Exit-Entry Permit for Taiwan Residents to the Mainland and the membership card of photography associations (societies) in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions are exempt from cableway tickets.
(3) Tour guides: Tour guides who hold the original valid ID card and the original electronic tour guide certificate issued by the MinistryService facilities
Parking lot: [Parking lot at the south/north gate of Huangshan Scenic Area] Reference price: ¥50/time; Address: The south gate is located in Tangkou Town, and the north gate is located in Taiping Lake; Parking spaces: 1000; Charges range from 10 to 50 yuan.
Luggage storage: Reference price: Free; Address: Hotel front desk.
Scenic area map: Tourist center of the scenic area.
Transportation within the park: Reference price: 90 yuan/person; Address: Ciguang Pavilion in Huangshan Scenic Area; Starts from Guanpu Tower in Wenquan Scenic Area and ends at Puyu Pine in Yuping Scenic Area.
Reference price: 80 yuan/person; Address: On the right side of Songlin Peak in Xihai Scenic Area; The lower station is located at Songgu Nunnery in Songgu Scenic Area.
Reference price: 100 yuan/person; Address: In the valley on the south side of Xihai Grand Canyon; Starts from Paiyun Stream and ends at Tianhai.
Reference price: 80 yuan/person; Address: Yungu Temple in Huangshan Scenic Area; Starts from Yungu Scenic Area to view Yungu Temple and ends at Bai’e Ridge in Beihai Scenic Area. The Yungu cableway can be taken from the south gate of Huangshan to Yungu Station.
Toilets: There are multiple toilets, all with signs.
Smoking areas: Location: There are multiple smoking areas in Huangshan Scenic Area. You can choose according to the scenic area guide.
Barrier-free passages: Tourist service center of the scenic area.
ATMs: There are ATMs in Huangshan Scenic Area. For specific locations, please ask the staff.
Catering: There are multiple restaurants in Huangshan Scenic Area. The specific locations can be inquired from staff or selected according to the guide signs.
Souvenir stores: There are souvenir stores in Huangshan Scenic Area. The specific locations can be inquired from staff or selected according to the guide signs.
Vending machines: Tourist center.
Convenience stores: At the scenic area entrance, on the mountaintop, and near hotels.
2. Bus tickets: Children under 1.2 meters in height are exempt from tickets. Children between 1.2 meters and 1.5 meters in height can buy half-price bus tickets.
The above information is for reference only. For specific information, please refer to the disclosure on the day at the scenic area.
