5 Days Huangshan Photography Tour with Local Villages

Day-by-day Itinerary

1. Day 1: Arrival Huangshan

   Welcome to Huangshan, Anhui Province! Upon arrival, our local driver, holding a sign with your name, will meet you in the Arrival Hall. Then transfer you directly to your hotel in downtown Huangshan. After check-in, the remainder of the day is yours to explore this relaxing city.

   Meal: N/A

   Accommodation: in Huangshan City

2. Day 2: Yellow Mountain Hiking Tour
   Hike to Admire Famous Pines, Enjoy Breathtaking Sunsets

   After breakfast, drive about 1.5 hours to Huangshan Mountain, one of the most beautiful mountains in China. Upon arrival, follow your guide to Mercy Light Station by shuttle bus and take the cable car up the mountain.

   Start your hiking tour on Mount Huangshan! After a short walk, you will see the famous Welcoming-guest Pine, one of the "Ten Famous Pines of Mount Huangshan", which appears in the textbooks of Chinese elementary school students. The tree is 10.08 meters tall, with a circumference of 2.24 meters, and is about 1,000 years old. It enjoys the reputation of "the most famous pine in the world" and is one of the symbols of Anhui Province.

   

   Afterward, hike up for about 1 hour to Lotus Peak (1,864 meters), the highest peak of Yellow Mountain. Continue walking past One Hundred Cloud Ladders and One-Line-Sky to Turtle Fish Peak, an excellent place to watch sunrise and sunset, and to view the sea of clouds and marvelous scenery. From this peak, a path leads you to the hotel where you will stay tonight - the Baiyun Hotel.

   Check in and take a rest. Then, you can hike to the Buxian Bridge (Fairy Walking Bridge), built in 1988. A small arch bridge is suspended between two cliffs, with an abyss below. This is a must-see for many adventurous tourists. Here you can also take sunset photos. After that, return to the hotel.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: on Yellow Mountain

3. Day 3: Mount Huangshan Photo Tour
   Capture Scenic Views of the West Sea Grand Canyon

   In the morning, we walk about 0.5 km to the Bright Summit (1860 m), the center of Mount Huangshan and the second highest peak. Here, you can spend some time taking landscape photos and sightseeing. Then, continue hiking to Peaks Top to overlook the magnificent West Sea Grand Canyon.

   Next is the famous Flying-over Rock, standing on a flat rock with a height of 12 meters and a width of 2.5 meters. The contact surface between these two rocks is so small that it appears to be flying from the sky, hence the name. Afterward, enjoy taking pictures in the West Sea Grand Canyon.

   

   The West Sea Grand Canyon, also known as the Baiyun Valley (White Cloud), is famous for its picturesque scenery and illusions. It is a wonderful scenic spot that cannot be missed in Huangshan Mountain. You will capture thin mist, peculiar rocks, and deep canyons... Starting from the Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion, hike along the first and second ring roads, and finally return. After the photography tour, go back to your hotel and rest well.

   Note: All hiking routes are determined based on one's own physical strength. (2 hours for the 1st Ring; 2.5 hours for the 1st Ring and 2nd Ring)

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: on Yellow Mountain

4. Day 4: Huangshan Mountain Tour
   Shoot the Magnificent Sunrise and See a Famous Rock

   If the weather permits, go at 6 am to capture the magnificent sunrise view. The sky gradually turns white. In a flash, the red sun jumps out of the sea of clouds, casting golden lights over the mountains. The peaks are tinted with a golden glow, and the sea of clouds is dyed a brilliant orange-red. Afterward, return to the hotel for breakfast.

   Continue your Mount Huangshan photography trip to Dawn Pavilion, and then go to Lion Peak to see the famous Monkey Watching the Sea. Finally, after passing through Black Tiger Pine and Beginning-to-Believe Peak, arrive at White Goose Ridges Station and take the cable car down to Yungu Temple. The shuttle bus will take you out of the scenic area. Last, the private driver will pick you up and escort you to the hotel in Hongcun for check-in.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: in Hongcun

   

5. Day 5: Huangshan Village Tour, Departure
   Appreciate Huizhou Architecture, Explore Scenic Villages

   Today, you will shoot some typical Huizhou buildings and explore the real local culture in old villages. Hongcun and Xidi are the two major ancient villages in Yixian County, famous for their beautiful natural scenery and Huizhou-style architecture.

   Hongcun Village is backed by the remaining veins of Mount Huangshan, in the shape of a "cow" layout. Here the South Lake and the Moon Pond are like pearls inlayed. Xidi Village, not far from Hongcun, only 30 minutes of driving, is shaped like a boat. With the lakes in front of the village sparkling, Ming and Qing dynasty ancient houses are scattered.

   

   Both the two villages have preserved a large number of ancient buildings of the Ming and Qing dynasties. Whether it is the quiet Hongcun or the idyllic Xidi, it is excellent for photography and exploring Hui culture.

   After sightseeing, you will be dropped off at Huangshan airport/train station for departure. Your 5-day private China photography tour in Huangshan ends here.

   Meal: Breakfast

   Accommodation: N/A