China Yellow Mountain Hike

Anhui, China · China

Moderate7 daysAsia~£500 est.

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Overview

Huangshan is the mountain China has been painting for a thousand years, and the astonishing thing is that the paintings are accurate: granite needles rising out of a sea of cloud, each ledge holding one wind-sculpted pine, the whole scene rearranging itself as the mist breathes. Walk up the eastern steps in about three hours or ride the cable car, then base yourself at a summit hotel so you are on the terraces for dawn — sunrise over the cloud sea from Beihai or Bright Summit is the classic, and the West Sea Canyon loop drops you into a labyrinth of towers on walkways bolted to sheer faces. Manage expectations about solitude: this is one of China's most beloved mountains, and the main terraces at sunrise are a shared experience — start the West Sea Canyon early to lose the crowds. The stairs are relentless (tens of thousands of granite steps; poles save your knees), and summit hotels charge resort prices, so book ahead. April-May and October-November bring the most reliable cloud seas; winter is bitter, quiet and arguably the most beautiful. Around £500 for a comfortable week from Shanghai by rail.