A Travel Guide to the MT.Huangshan (Part I)

MT.Huangshans is especially well known for its enchanting peaks and crevices. Yellow Mountain’s scenery varies from season to season. The swirling mists of Huangshan’s peaks creates the euphoric atmosphere commonly depicted in Chinese art. This guide and the website’s map should come in handy for those interested in exploring the beauty of MT.Huangshan.

After entering the mountains of Huanshan in southern Anhui, you will quickly come upon Yellow Mountain’s Hot Springs, the first attraction of Mt. Huangshan. Six hundred and thirty meters above the sea level, the Hot Springs are a large tourist complex, that includes MT.Huangshan’s Taoyuan Guesthouse, Xuanyuan Hotel, hot spring baths and a hot spring swimming pool, a modern postal-telecommunications Building, villas and tourist shops. The scenic area straddles the Peach Blossom Brook that runs through Purple Cloud Peak and Peach Blossom Peak. From The Hot Springs, there are two options for sightseeing: One is to ascend the imposing and steep mountains, descending down a picturesque back mountain passageway, that winds it’s way back down to the Hot springs. The other options is more suited to travelers whishing to avoid strenuous hiking.

Let's now take the first route. After a short hike, you will reach the Mercy Light Temple crossing through serene bamboo groves and the Dragon Turning Back Bridge. To the left of the Temple stands the Toad Peak. A statue of Xu Xiake, the great traveler and geographer of the Ming Dynasty, stands in the temple in commemoration of his two trips to the Yellow Mountains in1616 and 1618.

Farther up the Golden Sand Hill one can see Yinggu Rock. To the left of the road is the Cave Flying From Afar and to the right is Candle Peak. Crossing through these mountain passes, you will notice the effect of the glacial period on the mountains.

There is a temple located between Old Man Peak and Cinnabar Peak at 1,340 meters above the sea level well suited for a rest and some of Huangshan’s famous tea. The "Golden Cock Crowing towards the Heavenly Gate", a famous, grotesquely shaped rock is visible from the temple. There is a recently completed route that takes hikers from the temple to the Celestial Capital Peak, one of Huangshan’s 3 most famous peaks with an altitude of 1,829 meters above sea level, jutting through the clouds. From the Celestial Mountain Peak, an awe inspiring view of the Yellow Mountain’s landscape can be taken in, no trip to Huangshan is complete without a trip to the Celestial Capital Peak.

The descent from Celestial Peak is marked by stunning glacial rock formations and ancient gnarling pines on the way to the Heavenly Jade Screen. Here, the tight pathways of the immortal bridge narrow so as to allow the passage of only one visitor at a time. Looking up from the narrow passage, the sky is reduced to a thread. Once through the narrow path, three exquisite rocks can be seen in the background, embraced by young pines and surrounded in misty clouds. Moving onwards, the famous Greeting Pine of the Jade Screen Tower welcomes visitors to Huangshan’s next breathtaking peak.

The above information is quoted from the official website of Mt.Huangshan.