Huangshan hardship is over, really don’t recommend coming in May! Because...

Dear friends! Just came down from the "Fairyland on Earth" Huangshan ~ legs are exhausted but eyes are super satisfied! ✨ This time I gritted my teeth to challenge a one-day quick tour, checking off the proud Welcoming Pine, the magnificent Bright Summit, and the steep West Sea Grand Canyon! Preparation before the trip 1. Weather and clothing In May, Huangshan’s temperature ranges from about 10-25°C, with a big temperature difference at the summit. It is recommended to wear a windproof jacket + quick-dry inner layer, and bring a lightweight raincoat (there are frequent showers in the mountains). Shoes must be non-slip; hiking boots or sports shoes are recommended to avoid slipping. Hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are essential as UV rays are strong. 2. Supplies list Lightweight backpack, power bank, ID card, small amount of cash (some areas have weak signal). Bring your own energy supplements: chocolate, beef jerky, nuts, etc., as prices on the mountain are high (mineral water 10 yuan/bottle, instant noodles 15 yuan/cup). Trekking poles (optional, knee protection for descent). 3. Tickets and transportation Buy tickets one day in advance on the official platform: ticket 190 yuan, Yuping Cableway (front mountain) 90 yuan, Yungu Cableway (back mountain) 80 yuan. It is recommended to arrive at Huangshan South Gate Transfer Center before 6:30 am, take the scenic area shuttle bus (19 yuan/person) to the cableway station to avoid peak queues. Tour route (classic fast-walking version) Overall route: Yungu Cableway up → Shixin Peak → Black Tiger Pine → Monkey Watching Sea → West Sea Grand Canyon → Bright Summit → Aoyu Peak → Welcoming Pine → Yuping Cableway down Time schedule: 7:00-8:00 Yungu Cableway up (back mountain), 10 minutes by cable car, overlooking Bai’e Ridge clouds and mist along the way. 8:00-9:30 Shixin Peak area Check in at “Harp Pine” and “Sea Exploring Pine,” climb to the top of Shixin Peak (altitude 1668 meters), shoot the sea of clouds and interesting rock formations. 9:30-10:30 Lion Peak → Monkey Watching Sea Pass by Black Tiger Pine, walk 20 minutes to the top of Lion Peak, overlook the “Monkey Watching Sea” rock, a popular sunrise spot (can skip sunrise for one-day tour). 10:30-12:30 West Sea Grand Canyon (essence section) Enter the canyon from Paiyun Pavilion, first and second loops, descend along steep plank roads, experience the “magical forest” wonders. If energy is limited, you can take the popular small train (100 yuan/one way) from the valley bottom up to Tianhai Station. 12:30-13:30 Lunch at Bright Summit Climb to Huangshan’s second highest peak Bright Summit (1860 meters), overlook the peaks, simple meals near Baiyun Hotel (boxed lunch 55 yuan/portion, self-prepared food recommended). 13:30-15:00 Aoyu Peak → Welcoming Pine Pass through “One Line Sky” or Aoyu Cave, climb Aoyu Peak to overlook Lotus Peak (not open in May). Descend along the Hundred-step Cloud Ladder to Yuping Building, check in at the national treasure “Welcoming Pine,” with Tiandu Peak as the background for better photos. 15:00-16:00 Yuping Cableway down Last cable car at 17:30, it is recommended to reserve 1 hour for queueing, take the scenic shuttle bus back to South Gate after descending. Food recommendations Red list (must-try) Huangshan Shaobing: crispy crust with preserved vegetable and pork cracklings, recommended “Hao Zai Lai Shaobing Shop” (Tangkou Town, 10 yuan/bag). Stinky Mandarin Fish: signature Huizhou cuisine, firm meat with a slightly stinky and fresh aroma, “Old Neighbour Huizhou Cuisine” has authentic seasoning (80 yuan per person). Mao Tofu: crispy outside and tender inside, perfect with spicy sauce, freshly pan-fried at foot stalls (10 yuan/portion). Stone Ear Mushroom Stewed with Native Chicken: mountain delicacy and native chicken slow-cooked, fresh and tasty soup (about 88 yuan/portion in scenic restaurants). Black list (avoid) - ❌ Summit buffet: 160 yuan/person, few dishes and average taste, better to bring your own food. - ❌ Expensive “wild game” in scenic area: so-called “wild stone chicken” and “lingzhi soup” are mostly gimmicks with very low cost performance. - ❌ Oily wild vegetables: some restaurants cook with heavy oil, sensitive stomachs should avoid purslane and other wild vegetables. Photo spots and tips 1. Shixin Peak: use pine branches as foreground to shoot the strange rocks in the mist (wide-angle lens recommended). 2. West Sea Grand Canyon trail: shoot the canyon depth from above, take silhouette photos with people standing by the railing against backlight. 3. Bright Summit: shoot the rolling sea of clouds in the afternoon with front light, use live mode on phone to capture dynamic scenes. 4. Welcoming Pine: avoid crowds and shoot from below with Tiandu Peak as background, use telephoto lens to compress space. Tips: - In foggy weather, increase ISO (800-1200), shutter speed above 1/200 to prevent blur. - Wear bright colors (red/yellow) to stand out in the green forest. - Phone users turn on “pro mode,” reduce exposure compensation (-0.3 to -1) to preserve cloud details. Money-saving tips 1. Buy tickets online one day in advance to save 10 yuan, students/seniors get half price with ID. 2. Bring an empty water cup, free warm water supply points on the mountain (Baiyun Hotel, Yuping Building). 3. Cableway choice: go up from back mountain (Yungu), down from front mountain (Yuping) to avoid mainstream tour groups. 4. South Gate parking lot charges high (50 yuan/day), can park at nearby hotel parking lots (30 yuan/day). Tips 1. For one-day tours, travel light with backpack weight under 3kg. 2. Some sections of West Sea Grand Canyon are steep; those afraid of heights should detour or take the small train. 3. Rhododendrons bloom in mid-May, you may encounter flower seas near Beihai Scenic Area and Yuping Building. 4. If it rains, you can switch to visit Beihai Scenic Area, where the mist creates an ink painting atmosphere.