Located in the east of Anhui province, Huangshan Mountain is one of China’s ten best-known scenic spots, with its characterized four wonders of the odd-shaped pines, grotesque rock formation, seas of clouds and crystal- clear hot springs. Known as the No. 1 Mountain under heaven, it features numerous imposing peaks (77 exceed an altitude of 1,000m), forests of stone pillars and evergreen sturdy pines, as well as grotesquely shaped rocks, waterfalls, pools and hot springs. Because of its mists and clouds, natural scenery in the area changes beyond prediction. Mount Huangshan was listed as one of the World Natural and Cultural Heritages in 1990.

Mount Huangshan covers an area of 1200 square kilometers, the highlights of which occupy 154 square kilometers. It is a marvel with a crowd of peaks, 72 of which have names indicating the shapes they resemble. Lotus, Brightness Top and Celestial Capital are the three major ones, all rising above 1,800 meters above sea level. The mountains are a body of granite, often with vertical joints. Erosion and fracture contributed to shape the rocks into huge columns, giving rise to lofty peaks and deep ravines. When it is cloudy the pinnacles loom in mists as if they were illusionary, while the sun is shining they unfold in all their majesty and splendor. Huangshan Mountain changes its color and appearance with the alternation of seasons. In spring blooming flowers decorate the slopes in a riot of color and fill the valleys with fragrance; in summer you can see verdure peaks rising one upon another and hear springs gurgling merrily. Autumn dresses the mountains in red and purple as maples and some other trees are blazing-red; winter turns them into a world of frost and ice with silver boughs and rocks everywhere.

1.  Essential Huangshan (2 Days)  RMB4280/2pax

Beihai Scenic Area, West Sea Scenic Area, Begin-to-believe-it Peak, Bright Top, Flying-over Stone, Watch the sunrise, including three star hotel, three dinners, round trip cable car ride.

2.  Browse of Huangshan (1 Day)  RMB2890/2pax

Beihai Scenic Area, Begin-to-believe-it Peak, etc. including lunch, round trip cable car ride.

3.  Ancient Yixian County (1 Day)  RMB970/2pax

Xi Di Village, Civilian Houses, Ancestral Temples, Mortuary Temples from both Ming and Qing Dynasties and Farm Banquet.

4.  Browse of Shexian (1/2 Day)  RMB520/2pax

Group of magnificent ancient memorial archways standing at the entrance of large village. (Excluding lunch).

The West Sea Scenic Area (Xihai Area)

Taking the west route or north route from Brightness Apex, visitors may tour the West Sea or North Sea, two famous scenic areas of Huangshan Mountains. Descending from Brightness Apex, you will come to the West Sea via a newly opened tourist route. A mystical Peak Flying From Afar first comes into sight, with a huge 10-meter high rock weighing 600 tons standing on it. Passing several peaks nearby, you will arrive at the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion where one commands an excellent view of the unfolding scene. There stands in front of the pavilion a sea of distinctly shaped peaks that fire the imagination. These wonders of the nature turn the whole West Sea into a natural art gallery. When the sun sets, the whole valley basks in the retreating sunlight, a famous scene of the Huangshan Mountains. Equally impressive is the 1,712-meter high Rosy Clouds Peak behind the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion. Standing on the peak, you can watch the Peak Flying From Afar and Nine Dragon Peak gradually rising out of the clouds that enshroud them as the day progresses.

The North Sea Scenic Area (Beihai Area)

The North Sea is just a few kilometers away from the Dispelling Cloud pavilion in the West Sea.

In the Dawn Pavilion in front of the guesthouse, one may enjoy the beautiful scenery of Beginning to Believe Peak and Goddess Peak as well as the Stalagmite Bridge. To the right of the guesthouse is the Flower House. In front of it is the Sunken Flower Bed with many rocks of fantastic shapes in it. Turning left from the guesthouse, passing the Unicorn Pine, the path leads one to the Cooling Terrace and Lion Peak. Reaching out from the cliff and facing the valley in three directions, the terrace is an ideal place for watching sunrise and a particularly vivid rock formation on the Pingding Hill, famous for resembling a monkey watching the sea. Beneath Lion Peak is the Ten Thousand Pines Forest where soughing breezes course through pines. Turing right from the guesthouse taking in the sight of various ancient pines on the way, one can cross the Immortal Bridge and ascend the Beginning to Believe Peak. Here, a magnificent view of stalagmites unfolds itself.

Beginning to Believe Peak

You will begin to believe that the surreal sceneries in Chinese paintings really do exist in this world as soon as you step into this area. The gnarled pines on the towering cliffs and the deep gullies are a natural banzai masterpiece. Standing on the summits, you can enjoy a majestic view of the surroundings. It is a must for all the tourists as it is convieniently located between the hotel and the cable-car terminal on the summit.

Shexian County

Shexian county is well known as the " The Town of Arches" and has thousands of arches scattered around. It is the best place to explore the social culture in China's feudal society. The archway was usually made of fine wood or stone and fully painted, occasionally decorated with glazed tiles. Surrounded by green mountains and crystal clear water, the ancient city is rich in cultural relics, old residences and memorial temples. It is an art museum of classical architecture.

Yixian County

Located at Yixian County Anhui Province, there are ancient villages of Xidi and Hongcun with about 400-500 years of history. The original residential style and features of the Ming and Qing Dynasties are still in perfect conditions. Described as 'A Living Ancient Residential Museum' by experts and visitors from home and abroad, the two villages were listed as a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2000. Xidi is known for its unique and elegant wooden houses: fortified walls preventing rain infiltration; black tiles recording the history of the town; decorative gate towers conveying the particular flavor of the architecture. Rich and exquisite wood carvings, stone engravings and tile carvings are also commonly found on the buildings. Rockeries, fish ponds, various parterres can be seen in the courtyard, where the ground is paved with cobbles. Well arranged laneways, streams and architectures give Xidi a decidedly garden-esque feel.

It is said that the layout of Hongcun resembles a cattle. A stream passes by every door in the Village like a cattle's gut; a semilunar pond looks like the cattle's stomach; four bridges over the stream form the cattle's feet. Located 10 kilometers northeast of Yixian County and built during the Song Dynasty (960 - 1279), Hongcun has something similar to Xidi in its architectural style. With marbled ground, black tiles, bright red lanterns and elaborate wood-carvings, they are reputed as 'the Folk Imperial Palaces'.