Name: Huangshan

Chinese name: 黄山

Province: Anhui

Status: Prefecture-level city

Population: 1,470,000 inhabitants

Area: 9,807 km²

Huangshan is a historic trading city in the south of Anhui province, close to Mount Huang. It has become a premier tourist destination in Chine, renowned for its breathtaking natural landscapes, rich history, and picturesque villages scattered throughout the region.

History

Huangshan was originally known as Huizhou or Xin'an before taking the name of Mount Huang and becoming a new tourist city in April 1988.

Today

Huangshan has become an acclaimed tourist city thanks to its proximity to the famous Mount Huang, also known as the Yellow Mountain.

The city itself can be explored in a single day. Be sure not to miss Tunxi Old Street at the city center. This street perfectly embodies the ancient architecture typical of Chine during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Although today it is lined on both sides with shops, hotels, and restaurants, it has retained its charm and authenticity.

Hui culture is very much present here, notably in the architecture, local cuisine, and opera traditions.

Huangshan is an almost essential stop before embarking on the conquest of the Huang Shan mountain range. This mountain, also called the Yellow Mountain, is one of the most renowned mountains in southern Chine and among the most beautiful in the country. Its lush vegetation, pine forests, dramatic rock formations, and sheer cliffs offer travelers spectacular vistas.

The city of Huangshan is also the ideal departure point for visiting the villages of Hongcun and Xidi, both inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Their whitewashed residences with tiled roofs perfectly reflect Northern Song architecture and stand like a life-sized museum in peaceful surroundings.

Huangshan is a city with numerous assets that will leave you with no regrets about your stay in Anhui.

Climate

Located in a subtropical region, Huangshan has a mild and humid monsoon climate. The heaviest rainfall occurs between May and August.

Average temperatures range from 18°C in the warmest month to -3°C in the coldest month.

Each season reveals the region in a different light. In spring, fresh air combines with blooming landscapes to offer magnificent, clear views of the mountains.

Summer is the best season to admire the sea of clouds at the mountain summits. The sun shines brightly but temperatures remain pleasant. Be mindful of sunburn.

In autumn, the climate is most favorable and the landscape is bathed in the orange hues of changing foliage. The panoramas are then truly striking and temperatures make for very pleasant hiking.

Winter blankets the region in snow. It is colder, but sites are free from tourist crowds, offering peaceful visits. The landscapes reveal an entirely different charm that rivals any other season.

Airplane

Huangshan Airport is served by flights from Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and several other major Chine cities.

Train

The main Huangshan railway station is served by a single line connecting Anhui to Jiangxi. The city of Huangshan is accessible from Beijing, Nanjing, Shanghai, Bengbu, Huaibei, and Qingdao in the north, and from Jingdezhen, Yingtan, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Kunming further south.

The north station is located at the junction of the high-speed rail lines Beijing-Hefei-Fuzhou and Huangshan-Hangzhou. It primarily serves high-speed trains from Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Fuzhou, and Xiamen.

Long-distance buses

The city of Huangshan is relatively well served by major highways, making it easily accessible from Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Nanjing.

Buses from regional cities regularly arrive at Huangshan bus station. It is also connected with other important cities in neighboring regions such as Shanghai, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Jingdezhen, Suzhou, Wenzhou, and Ningbo.

Taxis offer affordable rides to and from the airport or train stations. However, cycle rickshaws provide a more fitting and authentic means of transport for getting around the city.

What to do in Huangshan?

• Stroll through Tunxi Old Street
• Hike at Mount Huang Shan.
• Explore the region and its villages of Xidi and Hongcun.