Mount Huangshan, Anhui

A spontaneous trip to Mount Huangshan⛰️, trekking 30,000 steps through breathtaking sea of clouds and dreamlike fairyland! This time, I witnessed all five wonders of Huangshan: "peculiar pines, grotesque rocks, sea of clouds, hot springs, and winter snow." Sharing this ultimate guide with you👇 🚶‍♂️Recommended 2-day, 1-night itinerary: 🏞️Day1: Morning: Take scenic shuttle from Huangshan North Station to Tangkou Town Transfer Center (~1 hour) → Yungu Temple Cable Car Station (recommend taking cable car up) Afternoon: Shixin Peak (peculiar pines) → Paiyun Pavilion (sea of clouds) → Flying Over Rock → Bright Summit Peak (best sunset spot) Evening: Stay at mountaintop hotel (book 1 month in advance) 🌄Day2: Early morning: Sunrise viewing (recommended spot: Qingliang Terrace) Morning: Aoyu Peak → Lotus Peak (Huangshan's highest peak) → Greeting Pine → Yuping Cable Car Station Afternoon: Take cable car down, optional hot spring visit ⛰️Must-see attractions: 1⃣️West Sea Grand Canyon: Misty fairyland walk along cliffside plank path 2⃣️Shixin Peak: Classic Huangshan pines with Lotus Peak views 3⃣️Paiyun Pavilion: Best sea of clouds viewpoint, sometimes with rolling wave-like formations 4⃣️Flying Over Rock: Spectacular 10+ ton boulder precariously perched on cliff 5⃣️Greeting Pine: Most famous of Huangshan's four iconic pines, over 800 years old 🏨Accommodation tips: ✅Recommended: Beihai Hotel or Xihai Hotel for convenient sunrise/sunset viewing ✅Book 1-2 months early, holiday prices double with limited availability ✅Basic facilities but worth it for the views! 🍜Food recommendations: 1⃣️Hairy tofu: Huangshan specialty, stinky aroma but delicious taste 2⃣️Fermented mandarin fish: Huizhou delicacy with tender, chewy texture 3⃣️Huangshan sesame cakes: Crispy outside, soft inside - perfect souvenir 4⃣️Stone fungus chicken soup: Perfect blend of local fungus and free-range chicken ⚠️Practical tips: ❗Wear anti-slip hiking shoes - trails are steep ❗Bring thermos for hot water (expensive on mountain) ❗Check weather - clearest days offer best sunrise/sea of clouds ❗Hiking poles save energy ❗Arrive before 6am during holidays to avoid 1-2 hour cable car queues