Huangshan city in southern Anhui is a gateway to Huizhou culture as well as the mountain's granite peaks, pines and cloud seas. Allow ample time for the mountain scenery. Hongcun and Xidi reward close attention to waterways, ancestral halls and traditional homes shaped by merchant culture. Tunxi Old Street adds trading history and Huizhou food; the city, mountain entrances and villages require separate transfers.
The best of Huangshan City
Huangshan DistrictAbout 8 hours
Huangshan
Huangshan's granite cooled underground before uplift and weathering exposed its steep peaks, pillars and isolated boulders. Pines root in fractures, their forms shaped by position and exposure; the Welcoming Pine is the best-known example. Lotus Peak, Bright Summit and the West Sea Canyon reveal different degrees of dissection, with routes moving between summit platforms, narrow ridges and deep valleys.
BookingUse the official 黄山旅游官方平台 for real-name bookings by time and entry direction. Tiandu Peak requires a separate reservation and is subject to current opening notices.
Admission
The retrieved CNY 190 reference is from an older notice; October 2026 pricing was not confirmed. Cableways and transfer transport are separate products.
Yi CountyAbout 3 hours
Hongcun
Hongcun channels mountain water through the village into Moon Pond and South Lake, passing many house entrances along the way. Its famous ox-shaped interpretation accompanies a traceable system of supply, distribution and drainage. Houses such as Chengzhi Hall display merchant wealth through intricate carving, while courtyards and channels serve everyday needs. Elaborate domestic architecture therefore remains connected with a practical communal water network.
Location
Hongcun Town, Yi County, Huangshan, Anhui
Admission
A 2023 government listing quotes CNY 104; the current adult price was not established.
Yi CountyAbout 3 hours
Xidi
Xidi developed through the Hu clan, with Hu Wenguang's arch, ancestral halls and merchant residences recording success in office and trade. High walls enclose courtyards for light and drainage, while carving and hall arrangements express status and family values. Branching lanes follow the terrain, and modest exteriors often conceal successive inner courts. The village route moves naturally from public commemoration into private domestic space.
Location
Xidi Village, Xidi Town, Yi County, Huangshan, Anhui
Admission
Current standard adult admission was not verified; restricted promotional exemptions are not general prices.
What to eat
Fermented mandarin fish
Fermented mandarin fish is a classic of Huizhou cooking. The fish is cured in light brine for several days and develops a pungent aroma, but braised it becomes deeply savoury, with firm flesh that flakes into cloves.
Huizhou fermented tofu
Hairy tofu is fermented until a fine white fuzz covers each piece. Pan-fried golden on both sides, it is crisp outside and creamy within, eaten with chilli sauce. It is a taste found only in Huizhou.
Arrive, explore, settle in
Arriving
Huangshan North station and Tunxi Airport are gateways to the wider city; the mountain entrance and villages need onward transfers. Check whether your base is in Tunxi, Tangkou or Yi County.
Getting around
Plan town, Huangshan scenic area and Hongcun–Xidi as separate outings. Choose the mountain entrance, cableway or walking route and return arrangement, adjusting for weather and peak access.
Where to stay
Tunxi suits arrivals and the old street; Tangkou suits mountain access; Yi County villages suit a slower Huizhou visit. For an overnight mountain stay, arrange accommodation and luggage first.
Give the mountain its own main outing with a defined route matched to your energy. Do not assume every peak is open or every route fits in a day.
Route 2
Hongcun and Xidi
Study village waterways, ancestral halls and houses. If visiting both villages, plan the transfer and allow walking time in each.
Route 3
Tunxi Old Street
Use Tunxi Old Street as an arrival or departure addition for Huizhou commerce and food, keeping it separate from a packed mountain day.
More planning advice
Choose accommodation around each day's main destination: plan central Tunxi, the mountain scenic area and Yi County's villages separately. An address in Huangshan City does not by itself mean a stay near a mountain entrance.
For the mountains, choose your priority among summits, ridges and valleys according to your walking ability. Check the proposed route's access and booking details with official channels before assuming every section can be combined.
Use different themes for the villages: follow Hongcun's channels to understand Moon Pond, South Lake and the houses, then trace Xidi from its arch and ancestral halls to courtyard homes, comparing public and domestic spaces.
Good to know
How many days do I need in Huangshan City?
Allow 3–5 days, excluding intercity travel. Leave room for journeys, queues and meals.
When should I visit Huangshan City?
Suggested months: Apr · May · Sep · Oct · Nov. Check weather, holidays and opening arrangements for your actual dates.
Which sights need advance booking?
Read each sight’s booking note and check official information before fixing your dates. Foreign passport booking channels may differ. Booking with a foreign passport →
Make Huangshan City your own
Put your favourite places on the map, then decide how to spend each day.
