The Yellow Mountains

Located in the Huangshan city of Anhui Province, Yellow Mountain covers an area of 250 kilometers, of which 154 square kilometers are scenic attractions. Yellow Mountain also called Huang Shan is a blend of the majesty of Taishan Mountain, the ruggedness of Hushan Mountain, the cloud of Hengshan Mountain, the flying waterfall of Lushan Mountain, the bizarre rock of Yandangshan Mountain and the beauty of E'mei Mountain. Original named Yishan, and then renamed Yellow Mountain in 747 AD based on the legendary Huang Di, who was regarded as ancestor of the Chinese people and who made one kinds magic pill let people immortality.

Yellow Mountain is famous for its four amazing sceneries: Strange Pines, grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds and hot springs. If it is too big for you, just follow our guide about How to Make the Most of the Yellow Mountains in Two Days. 

Strange Pines

Visitors can see pines in every corner of Yellow Mountain. Yellow Mountain Pines are grown at an altitude of 800 meters above the mountain. The seeds fall into the crevices where they take root and grow with great vigor. Because of the specialty climate and geographic in Huang Shan, the Yellow Mountain Pine has grow a unique and odd shapes with crooked and downward. Huangshan pines stand firmly with dignity, withstanding wind and rain.

The famous ten Yellow Mountain Pines includes the Followings

Guest-Greeting Pine-located in front of the stone lion of the Jade Screen Pavilion in the Jade Screen Scenic Area, it has ten meters high with over 800 years old.

Seeing-Guest-Out Pine- Located on the right of the Jade Screen Pavilion and one lateral shoot stretches out, as if to bowing its guests.

Pu Tuan Pine-located near the Yuping Cable Car.

Black Tiger Pine- located on the route of Bai’er ling cable car to Shi Xin Peak.

Sea Exploring Pine-located in the Shi Xin Peak of Yu Ping Scenic Area, it looks like a dragon to take something from sea.

Cushion Pine at Lotus Valley, Phoenix Pine at the Sky Sea, Chessboard Pine at Ping Tian Stone Bridge, Kylin Pine between Bei Hai Hotel and the Refreshing Terrace.

Grotesque Rocks

Rocks in Yellow Mountain are famous for its odd shape and each rock and stones have its own characteristic shapes looks like human, birds or animals. The rocks can become different shapes from different perspective, that’s the reason people called ‘Grotesque Rocks’.

Sea of Clouds

Yellow Mountain is the home of cloud and mist. Seas of clouds in Yellow Mountain are known by visitors for its beauty, unique, odd and illusion. Winter is the best season to visit this spectacle. According to their locations, the Sea of Clouds at Huangshan is divided into five sea areas: East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea and Sky Sea. Visitors can get views of all sea of clouds when they stand at Lotus Peak, Tian Du Peak (Heaven Capital Peak) and the Bright Peak. At sunrise or sunset, the glistening clouds assume every hue from red to purple.

Climb up to Jade Screen Pavilion to see south of sea, to see the north of sea at Qing Liang Terrace, viewing the west sea at Paiyun Tower, the White Goose Ridge for the East Sea and seeing sky sea at Legendary Turtle Peak.

Hot Spring

There are 15 small hot spring areas in Yellow Mountain. Location on south of Purple Stone Peak with an altitude of 650 meters, the most famous hot spring is the first stop following the entrance. Legend said that Huang Di who is the ancestor of Chinese nation, bathed here for forty-nine days become vigor and young again, so people also called it Ling Spring (Ling Quan).

The main scenic spots in Hot Spring Scenic Area have Renzi Falls, Three Folding Spring, Drunk Stone and Zi Guang Pavillion.

Main Scenic Area in Yellow Mountain

Yellow Mountain has divided into six main scenic area based on their characteristic nature scenery.

Jade Screen Scenic Area

The Jade Screen Scenic Area takes Jade Screen as scenic center and around with Lotus Peak and Heaven Capital Peak (Tian Du Peak), it also called Front Mountain by people. On the route climb to the top of the mountain, visitors can get views of Peng Lai Three Islands, 100-step Scaling Ladder, Thread of Sky and Cod Fish Cave.

Jade Screen is one of the best viewing platforms which can visit Guest-welcome Pine, Seeing-Guest-Out Pine and Wensu Terrace. The Heaven Capital Peak (Tian Du Peak) situated 1 kilometer south of Jade Screen is one of the steepy parts in three main peaks. It has an elevation of 1,830 meters (6,003 feet). The road to the Heaven Peak is narrow and stiff to walk.

As the highest peak in Yellow Mountain, Lotus Peak located on the north of Jade Screen, with an elevation of 1864 meters (6,115 feet). It looks like lotus blossoming out. On the way to the peak, Fly Dragon Pine and Huangshan azalea are greet you’re to visit. Get view of Tian Mu Mountain from east, Lu Mountain from west, Jiuhua Mountain from north when visitor stand at the top of Lotus Peak.

North Sea Scenic Area

North Sea Scenic Area is window of Yellow Mountain scenery, which conjunction of Yugu area, Yuping area and Pine Vale area with a huge open area. The main prospects of the area are majesty peak. Lion peak, Refreshing platform, Fly Stone and the Monkey Gazing at the Sea are waiting for visiting. The Refreshing Platform in Lion Peak is the ideal platform for viewing the sea of clouds and sunrise. This area is main scenic spots of Yellow Mountain and do not missing it.

White Cloud Scenic Area

Located on the west of Yellow Mountain, White Cloud Scenic Area covers an area of 1,655 square kilometers. Pines, stones and springs make a landscape painting to people. West Sea Grand Canyon is more peaceful place to seeing the scenery of the Yellow Mountain. From Pai Yun Pavilion in West Sea to Bu Xian Bridge and through the West Sea Grand Canyon under Yellow Mountain can get majesty view of it.

Pine Valley Scenic Area

People will main visit Front Mountain for its steepy and Back Mountain for its elegant in Yellow Mountain scenic area. The back mountain is Pine Valley Scenic Area, which located on the north of Yellow Mountain. Climb over 6,500 steps from Lotus Mountain to the top of Mountain takes about 2 hours. People can see rain fall into the rock during the rain season. The main sceneries in this area: Lotus Peak, Danxia Peak, Pine Peak, Double Bamboo Peak and Emerald Pool.

Hot Spring Scenic Area

It was called Taoyuan Fairland in ancient time. Peach Blossom Stream and Leisure Stream (Xiaoyao Spring) run through the scenic accompany visitors climb to peak. Go to Zi Guang Pavilion entrance form this area takes 25 mins about 1.5 kilometers and go to Cloud Pine Temple will takes 2 hours by walk. Visitors can take shuttle bus arrive there. It has built pool and spa bath offer visitor have a relaxation after a long walk.

Cloud Valley Scenic Area

Cloud Valley scenic area in the eastern part of the Yellow Mountain, with an altitude of 890 meters above sea level, is a low-lying, slightly open valley. There is Yungu Temple in the area with other spots: Ancient Tree, Strange Stones, Nine Dragon and Hundred Yards Spring.

Best viewing platforms:

Sunrise viewing: Refreshing Terrace, Lion Peak, Heaven Capital Peak, Danxia Peak, Bright Peak Summit and Jade Screen Tower. The time to seeing sunrise: spring –05:30-06:00, summer—04:40-05:10, autumn—04:50—05:20, winter—05:30—06:00.

Sunset glow viewing places: Paiyun pavilion, Danxia Peak, Fly Stone, Bright Peak Summit and Lion Peak.

Viewing place for clouds of sea: Jade Screen Tower for front sea, Refreshing Terrace for back sea, White Goose Ridge for east sea, Paiyun Pavilion for west sea, Bright Peak Summit for Sky Sea.

Travel tips

If you choose climbing by walk, you are suggested start from Yungu Temple to the peak.