Huangshan Travel Routes: Choose from Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter Itineraries
How to Explore the Entire Huangshan Area?
With the development of high-speed rail, traveling to Huangshan has become increasingly convenient. Weekend trips from Shanghai, Hangzhou, Hefei, and other cities are now easy to plan. Xidi and Hongcun scenic areas are only 30 minutes apart, so you can visit both in one day. If time permits, you can also explore nearby spots like Nanping, Mukeng Bamboo Sea, and Shouzhuo Garden.
Two Days and One Night
For travelers from nearby cities who only have a weekend, a two-day trip to Huangshan is ideal to enjoy the area at a relaxed pace. You can visit Huangshan Scenic Area in either one or two days. One-day trips usually involve taking cable cars up and down, which saves time but doesn’t allow for watching the sunrise. The advantage is saving the cost of staying overnight on the mountain. Two-day trips provide more time to fully appreciate the scenery.
Route 1: Two-day Tour of Huangshan Scenic Area
Includes watching sunrise, sea of clouds, and climbing Lotus Peak and the West Sea Grand Canyon.
Route 2: One-day Huangshan Tour + One-day Visit to Xidi or Hongcun
Hongcun + Xidi + Huangshan 3-Day Tour
Day 1:
Hongcun and Xidi are close to each other and are must-see highlights around Huangshan. Spend a day exploring these charming Huizhou ancient villages, tasting local cuisine, and stay overnight near Hongcun to enjoy the quiet village nightscape.
Day 2 & 3:
Climbing Huangshan is the dream of most visitors. Usually, 1.5 to 2 days is recommended to cover the sights comfortably. Spend the night on the mountain, enjoy the sunrise on the third morning, then start descending and conclude your trip.
For those wanting to explore Huangshan in depth and at the best value, consider joining a local three-day in-depth tour with round-trip transfers and carefully selected hotels.
Xin’an River Scenic Corridor + Tangyue Archway & Bao Family Garden + Huizhou Ancient City 2-Day Tour
Day 1:
The Xin’an River Scenic Corridor, known as the “Danube of the East,” is at its most beautiful when flowers bloom in spring. Enjoy a river cruise taking in the stunning landscapes on both banks — you’ll feel immersed in the scenery. Afterwards, visit the Tangyue Archway and Bao Family Garden to learn about Huizhou merchants who dominated business for over 300 years.
Day 2:
Huizhou Ancient City is the birthplace of the Huizhou School of Thought (“Huixue”) and one of China’s four famous ancient cities. Attractions include Huigarden, Yuliang Dam, Xu Guo Stone Archway, and Taibai Tower.
Tangmo + Chengkan + Qiankou Traditional Residences 1-Day Tour
Tangmo, Chengkan, and Qiankou are close by and can be explored in one day. You can choose to stay overnight in Tunxi city or in a local guesthouse. In late autumn, Chengkan’s house yards filled with drying grains create a colorful picture against typical white walls and black tiles. See autumn harvest scenes in Chengkan, ancient architecture in Qiankou, and brilliant red leaves in Tangmo.
Seasonal Huangshan Itineraries
Spring Itineraries
Route 1: Xidi + Hongcun + Wuyuan
Day 1:
Spring is the most beautiful season for Xidi (“A Peach Blossom Land”) and Hongcun (“A Village in a Painting”). The golden rapeseed flowers in bloom complement the mountains, water, white walls, and black tiles, creating a natural watercolor painting.
Day 2:
Huangshan City is near Wuyuan, a well-known idyllic countryside area. Visitors usually stay in Huangshan City for Huangshan, Hongcun, and Huizhou Ancient City tours, then spend an extra day visiting Wuyuan.
Route 2: Xin’an River Scenic Corridor + Tangyue Archway & Bao Family Garden + Huizhou Ancient City
Day 1:
The Xin’an River Scenic Corridor, called the “Danube of the East,” is at its peak beauty in spring with blooming flowers.
Day 2:
Huizhou Ancient City, birthplace of “Huixue,” is one of China’s four famous ancient cities, with sites like Huigarden, Yuliang Dam, Xu Guo Stone Archway, and Taibai Tower.
Summer Itinerary
Route 1: Huangshan + Emerald Valley + Hongcun — 3-Day Tour
Day 1 & 2:
Hike Huangshan Scenic Area, enjoy the sunset on Day 1 and sunrise on Day 2, covering classic mountain sights. In the afternoon of Day 2, visit Emerald Valley (Feicui Gu) if energy permits. Stay overnight near Hongcun.
Day 3:
Visit Hongcun in the morning. If time permits, explore nearby Xidi or Mukeng Bamboo Sea. Pre-book Emerald Valley tickets online to avoid queues.
Autumn Itineraries
Route 1: Huangshan + Hongcun + Tachuan — 2-Day Tour
Day 1:
Explore Hongcun and Tachuan villages. Hongcun can be crowded during the day, so staying overnight to enjoy the quiet nightscape is recommended. The most scenic route is Hongcun — Xieli — Tachuan, which can be hiked or biked.
Day 2:
Watch sunrise and sea of clouds over Huangshan. Spend the morning at Hongcun before heading to Huangshan for hiking. Two days on Huangshan allow you to see classic spots and stay overnight on the mountain to capture sunrise, sunset, and starry skies.
Route 2: Huizhou Ancient City + Xin’an River Scenic Corridor + Yangchan Tulou — 2-Day Tour
Day 1:
After climbing Huangshan and admiring ancient Huizhou architecture, take a boat trip on the Xin’an River. Huizhou Ancient City is a grand historical museum with bridges, towers, streets, dams, and archways.
Day 2:
Visit Yangchan Tulou. After exploring Huizhou Ancient City and Xiong Village, head to Yangchan Tulou and stay overnight in a local guesthouse. Experience 300-year-old earthen buildings nestled in the southern Anhui mountains.
Winter Itinerary
Route 1: Hongcun – Nanping – Huangshan — 2 or 3-Day Tour
Day 1:
Sightsee Hongcun and visit Nanping for couplet writing and drum-beating blessings. Hongcun is known as the “Village in a Chinese Painting,” a representative Huizhou ancient village. Nanping is famous for ancestral hall culture and as a filming location for movies like Ju Dou and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , earning the nickname “China’s Film Village.” Spend the day exploring ancestral halls, writing couplets, beating drums, and learning bamboo weaving.
Day 2:
Climb Huangshan and enjoy spectacular winter scenery. Huangshan’s winter snow, one of its “Five Wonders,” attracts visitors from December to February — the peak snow season and best time for winter visits. This is also the perfect season for hot springs. Witness rime ice, sea of clouds, and sunrise, with tickets and hotel prices at their lowest all year.