Huangshan & the Anhui Villages

Main attractions

Top things to see in Huangshan & the Anhui Villages

Huangshan itself deserves at least a full day, ideally with a summit overnight for sunrise; the villages below deserve a second full day.

1. 01
   

   Huangshan's granite peaks

   A network of granite summits connected by stone-cut trails, the most famous — Lotus Peak, Bright Summit and Celestial Capital Peak — each offering distinct views over the surrounding sea of pines and cloud.

   Tip Lotus Peak is the highest but not always open; check current access before building a summit plan around it specifically.

2. 02
   

   The sea of clouds

   Mist that pools in the valleys below Huangshan's peaks, most commonly visible at dawn and after rain, creating the illusion of granite summits floating on a white sea — the mountain's signature phenomenon.

   Tip Staying overnight at a summit hotel is the only reliable way to be in position for a clear dawn viewing, weather permitting.

3. 03
   

   Hongcun Village

   A UNESCO-listed Ming and Qing village built around an ingenious ox-shaped water system, its central Moon Pond and surrounding whitewashed, black-roofed houses among the most photographed rural scenes in China.

   Tip Arrive early morning or stay overnight in the village itself to see it before the day-trip tour groups arrive.

4. 04
   

   Xidi Village

   A second UNESCO-listed village near Hongcun, slightly less visited, known for its elaborately carved memorial archways and well-preserved merchant houses from the Ming and Qing dynasties.

   Tip Combine with Hongcun in a single day — the two villages are a short drive apart and offer a useful comparison.

5. 05

   The Xihai (West Sea) Grand Canyon

   A dramatic canyon route within the Huangshan scenic area, its cliffside walkways and viewing platforms offering some of the mountain's most vertiginous, spectacular perspectives.

   Tip A strenuous half-day route — allow ample time and expect significant stairs in both directions.

6. 06

   Shexian Ancient City

   A less-visited historic town near Huangshan with its own well-preserved Ming and Qing streets, memorial archways and merchant houses, offering the region's architectural character without Hongcun's crowds.

   Tip A good alternative or addition for visitors who want the village atmosphere without Hongcun's tour-group density.

Local food

What to eat in Huangshan & the Anhui Villages

Anhui cuisine, one of China's eight major culinary traditions, favours wild mountain ingredients, slow braising and a genuine restraint that distinguishes it from its spicier or richer neighbours.

• 

  Stinky mandarin fish (chou guiyu)

  Fish lightly fermented for several days before cooking, developing a strong smell that largely cooks away, leaving firm, flavourful flesh — Anhui's most famous and most divisive dish.

  Where to try it Local restaurants throughout the Huangshan region, usually clearly signed given the dish's fame.

• Huangshan stewed pigeon

  A whole pigeon slow-braised with local herbs and mountain ingredients, a regional delicacy said to have been favoured by past emperors for the meat's tenderness.

  Where to try it Traditional restaurants in Tunxi and around the mountain's base.

• Mao tofu (hairy tofu)

  Fermented tofu grown a fine white mould coating before being pan-fried, developing a distinctive texture and umami depth quite unlike fresh tofu — a genuine regional specialty around Huizhou.

  Where to try it Local restaurants in the old streets of Tunxi and the surrounding villages.

• Huizhou-style braised dishes

  Slow, oil-and-soy-based braises of pork, bamboo shoots and mountain vegetables, characteristic of the wider Huizhou culinary tradition that Anhui cuisine draws heavily from.

  Where to try it Traditional restaurants throughout the Huangshan and Hongcun area.

• Wuyuan-style green tea

  High-quality green tea grown in the hills around the wider region, prized nationally and often served simply, without the elaborate ceremony of some other Chinese tea traditions.

  Where to try it Teahouses in Tunxi's old street and shops throughout the surrounding villages.

• Huangshan mountain vegetables

  Wild greens, bamboo shoots and fern fronds foraged from the mountain's slopes, cooked simply, a genuine reflection of the region's foraging traditions and cooler mountain climate.

  Where to try it Any restaurant near the mountain base advertising 'wild vegetables' or seasonal foraged greens.

Transport

Getting to and around Huangshan & the Anhui Villages

Huangshan has its own airport and a high-speed rail connection, making it reachable without extensive backtracking.

Getting there

• Huangshan Tunxi Airport (TXN)

  Domestic connections to major Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing, about an hour from the mountain's main gateway towns.

  Limited direct international routes — most visitors connect through a major hub.

• High-speed rail

  Huangshan North Station connects to the national network, including routes toward Shanghai and Hangzhou, both reachable in a few hours.

  Book via Trip.com or 12306. The station is some distance from the mountain itself — budget for an onward transfer.

• Bus or car from Shanghai or Hangzhou

  A road journey of several hours from either city, sometimes chosen by visitors combining Huangshan with a wider Jiangnan-region road trip.

  High-speed rail is generally faster and more comfortable for this specific route.

Getting around

Huangshan's peaks are reached by a mix of cable cars and stone-cut trails, while the surrounding villages need a short taxi or bus ride between them.

• Cable cars up Huangshan

  Three separate cable car lines reach different sections of the mountain, the standard way for visitors not attempting a full trail ascent to reach the peaks.

  Book tickets in advance in peak season, particularly for the most popular Yungu line.

• Stone-cut trails

  Extensive, well-maintained but demanding trail networks connect the mountain's peaks and valleys for those hiking rather than using the cable cars.

  Proper walking shoes and trekking poles are strongly recommended — the steps are steep and can be slippery when wet.

• Buses and taxis to the villages

  Regular transport connects Tangkou, Tunxi and the mountain's base to Hongcun, Xidi and other nearby villages, a straightforward day-trip loop.

  Hongcun and Xidi are close enough together to combine easily in a single day's transport.

• Didi and local taxis

  Useful for reaching Shexian Ancient City or other less-touristed spots not well served by the main tourist bus routes.

  Have your destination in Chinese characters ready for the driver.

Itinerary

Three days in Huangshan and the Anhui villages

A mountain day with a summit overnight, then a full day for the villages — a pace that gives both halves of the region proper time.

1. Day1

   Ascend Huangshan

   Climb or cable car up, then position for sunrise.

   • Morning Travel to the mountain base and begin the ascent.
   • Afternoon Continue to the major peaks — Lotus Peak or Bright Summit, conditions permitting.
   • Evening Check into a summit hotel ahead of dawn.
2. Day2

   Sunrise and descent

   The sea of clouds, then down to the villages.

   • Morning Sunrise over the sea of clouds, weather permitting, then a further peak or two.
   • Afternoon Descend by cable car or trail, then transfer to Hongcun.
   • Evening Settle into Hongcun and walk the village at dusk.
3. Day3

   Hongcun and Xidi

   The villages at an unhurried pace.

   • Morning Hongcun's lanes and Moon Pond before the day-trip crowds arrive.
   • Afternoon Xidi's carved archways and merchant houses.
   • Evening Depart or transfer onward from Tunxi.

FAQ

Huangshan & the Anhui Villages: frequently asked questions