China Huangshan Mountain
Huangshan mountain is famous for the Sea of Clouds, mists that roll in below you leaving just peaks popping out.
The mountains are all the more attractive because of the endemic Huangshan Pine trees that cover this near 2,000m high mountain, and of course the monkeys are popular !
Huangshan mountain is actually not one mountain but a range, so there are numerous peaks, there are however a few hotels on top you can stay in but note that anywhere you want to go entails walking up/down thousands of steps.
Note the better hotels also serve excellent Western style buffet breakfasts, The cheaper hotels will serve Chinese only. There are maybe 5-6 hotels in total.
You can access it from a number of directions so it's worth researching the different cable car routes - otherwise you will have long, tiring, treks to find your hotel or the shots you've chosen to shoot from.
The mountains are all the more attractive because of the endemic Huangshan Pine trees that cover this near 2,000m high mountain, and of course the monkeys are popular !
Huangshan mountain is actually not one mountain but a range, so there are numerous peaks, there are however a few hotels on top you can stay in but note that anywhere you want to go entails walking up/down thousands of steps.
Note the better hotels also serve excellent Western style buffet breakfasts, The cheaper hotels will serve Chinese only. There are maybe 5-6 hotels in total.
You can access it from a number of directions so it's worth researching the different cable car routes - otherwise you will have long, tiring, treks to find your hotel or the shots you've chosen to shoot from.
Photography Tips
You need to be at the best spots (there are many - do your research on the internet) early in the morning, 05.00 is too late, 03.00 and you'll probably be the first, anytime after 03.30 and you'll be in a queue (and this is in deep winter, in good weather, and earlier sunrises, it's far worse).
Note that in winter it is very cold up there, frequently between 0C and -25C so warm/arctic clothing is required in layers (because you sweat a lot whilst hiking but will become cold when waiting).
Crampons are a must ! The steps can be very slippy, especially in freeze/thaw conditions and when snow gets trodden down and freezes again.
Note that in winter it is very cold up there, frequently between 0C and -25C so warm/arctic clothing is required in layers (because you sweat a lot whilst hiking but will become cold when waiting).
Crampons are a must ! The steps can be very slippy, especially in freeze/thaw conditions and when snow gets trodden down and freezes again.
Travel Information
Most people will fly into Huangshan airport and then make the 1 hour ride to villages at the base of the mountain by taxi. Though a bus is almost as quick and will cost a fraction of the taxi price - the buses run from the airport (but have your location written down in Pinyin and Chinese to make sure you are directed to the right bus).
You can stay the night in a small hotel (if necessary, flights from Shanghai tend to be in the afternoon so you arrive too late to get to and up the mountain) and take one of the 3-4 cable cars up in the morning. You could also drive from Shanghai, it will take about 5 hours to get to Huangshan mountain (not the town, which all the distance markers are directing you to).
Most people will stay in Tangkou or Tanjiaqiao, I prefer the village at the rear of the mountain, Jiaocun. All hotels can arrange a taxi to take you to the cable car ticket offices. Personally I find it best to stay 2-3 or even 4 nights on top after you arrive to make the best of your trip. Check the weather carefully for the conditions you want before flying there !
You can stay the night in a small hotel (if necessary, flights from Shanghai tend to be in the afternoon so you arrive too late to get to and up the mountain) and take one of the 3-4 cable cars up in the morning. You could also drive from Shanghai, it will take about 5 hours to get to Huangshan mountain (not the town, which all the distance markers are directing you to).
Most people will stay in Tangkou or Tanjiaqiao, I prefer the village at the rear of the mountain, Jiaocun. All hotels can arrange a taxi to take you to the cable car ticket offices. Personally I find it best to stay 2-3 or even 4 nights on top after you arrive to make the best of your trip. Check the weather carefully for the conditions you want before flying there !
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