Why China's Yellow Mountains Will Ruin All Other Mountains For You
There's an old Chinese saying: "After visiting the five great mountains, one does not need to see other mountains. After visiting Huangshan, one does not need to see the five great mountains." After spending a day here, you will understand this is not an exaggeration. Huangshan, the Yellow Mountains, is a living, breathing masterpiece of Chinese landscape painting.
The mountains are famous for "Four Wonders." First, the grotesquely beautiful, twisted pine trees that seem to grow directly from the granite rock. Second, the bizarrely shaped granite peaks that have names like "Beginning-to-Believe Peak" and "Monkey Gazing at the Sea." Third, and most famously, the sea of clouds that fills the valleys below, making the peaks look like islands floating in a heavenly ocean. The fourth is the hot springs, though most visitors come for the views. To watch the sunrise from a high peak, as the light breaks over that sea of clouds, is a truly spiritual experience.
Insider Tip:
To see the legendary sunrise, you absolutely must stay overnight at one of the hotels on the mountain summit. Book your room far in advance, especially for weekends or holidays. Pack as light as possible for the climb (you can leave your main luggage at a hotel at the base), but be sure to bring warm layers. The temperature drops significantly at night, even in the middle of summer.
