Huangshan Scenic Area Complete Guide: From Tickets to Descent, Honest Tips to Save You Thousands

Huangshan Scenic Area is located in Huangshan City, Anhui Province, famous for its "four wonders": peculiar pines, strange rocks, sea of clouds, and hot springs. It's both a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage site and a national 5A-level scenic area. The main peak, Lotus Peak, stands at 1,864 meters. The core scenic area covers 160.6 square kilometers and is divided into six major scenic areas: Hot Spring, Yuping, Baiyun, Beihai, Songgu, and Yungu. Combining natural wonders with Huizhou culture, it's known as the "Most Extraordinary Mountain Under Heaven." Opening Hours: Peak Season (March-November): 6:00-17:30 (Opens at 6:00 on weekends and holidays) Off-Season (December-February): 7:20-16:30 Ticket Prices: Peak season: 190 yuan/person, Off-season: 150 yuan/person Cable car one-way ticket: Yungu/Taiping cable car 65 yuan, Yuping cable car 75 yuan. II. Must-Visit Attractions and Recommended Routes 1. Classic One-Day Route (For those with good physical fitness): Route: South Gate → Yungu Cable Car → Shixin Peak → Lion Peak (Qingliang Platform, Monkey Watching the Sea) → Paiyun Pavilion → West Sea Grand Canyon → Bright Summit → Yuping Tower (Welcome Pine) → Yuping Cable Car down the mountain. Highlights: Visit the famous pines (Welcome Pine), strange rocks (Monkey Watching the Sea), and sea of clouds (Bright Summit) in one day. The West Sea Grand Canyon's misty scenery feels like a fairyland. 2. Leisurely Two-Day Route (In-depth experience): Day 1: South Gate → Yungu Cable Car → Shixin Peak → Beihai Scenic Area (Sanhua Wu, Meng Bi Sheng Hua) → West Sea Grand Canyon (hiking or ground rail cable car) → Stay at a mountaintop hotel (such as Paiyun Hotel). Day 2: Danxia Peak sunrise → Bright Summit → Aoyu Peak → Hundred Steps Cloud Ladder → Yuping Tower → Welcome Pine → Yuping Cable Car down the mountain. 3. Lesser-Known Secret Spots: Jiulong Waterfall: Huangshan's largest waterfall with a 300-meter drop, featuring nine bends and nine pools. Water volume is abundant in summer, perfect for photography. Diaoqiao Temple: Located beside Baiyun Stream, this ancient temple blends with the mountains and waters, ideal for hiking and exploration. III. Transportation Guide 1. Self-driving: Parking: South Gate New National Line Transfer Center (30 yuan/car within 6 hours), North Gate Multi-story Parking Lot (45 yuan/car within 6 hours). Transfer: Private cars cannot enter the mountain; you must transfer to scenic area buses (19 yuan one-way). 2. Public Transportation: High-speed Rail: Huangshan North Station → Scenic area bus (1 hour, 30 yuan). Air: Huangshan Tunxi Airport → Taxi to scenic area (1 hour, about 200 yuan). IV. Dining and Accommodation 1. Special Cuisine: Must-try Hui Cuisine: Stinky Mandarin Fish (unique fermentation process), Huangshan Double Stone (stone ear stewed with stone chicken), Hairy Tofu (crispy outside, tender inside). Recommended Snacks: Huangshan Pastry from Tunxi Old Street (crab shell yellow and crispy), Yixian Flower Cake (sweet walnut filling). 2. Accommodation Suggestions: Mountain-top Hotels: Paiyun Hotel (near West Sea Grand Canyon, convenient for sunrise viewing, average price 1,200 yuan/night). Yuping Tower Hotel (next to Welcome Pine, golden spot for photography, reservation required 1 month in advance). Value for Money at the Foot of the Mountain: Tangkou Town guesthouses (150 yuan/person/night, breakfast included). V. Practical Tips Off-peak Travel: Avoid weekends and Golden Week holidays. Recommended periods: April-May (spring azaleas) and September-November (autumn foliage). Equipment Suggestions: Non-slip hiking shoes, lightweight raincoat (mountain areas have frequent showers), sunscreen (strong UV rays). Photography Guide: Best sunrise spots: Bright Summit, Danxia Peak. Sea of clouds photo spots: West Sea Grand Canyon, Yuping Tower. Cultural Taboos: Drones prohibited in ancient villages, don't step on thresholds (Huizhou custom).