Fairyland Hiking Route Recommendation

Above the sea of clouds, every step is a fairyland—conquer Huangshan’s strange pines, bizarre rocks, and sunrise lakes for 999 yuan
Huangshan is not just a mountain; it is a living Chinese ink painting. Here lies the confidence behind the saying, "After visiting the Five Great Mountains, you don’t look at other mountains; after visiting Huangshan, you don’t look at the Five Great Mountains." There are pines breaking through the clouds, ever-changing seas of clouds, jagged rocks like knife cuts, and the experience of climbing in the dark at 4 a.m. just to witness a sunrise breaking through the mist with golden light. In three days and two nights, with a budget of 999 yuan, I will take you to travel light up the mountain, stay in a mountaintop tent, watch the blazing Milky Way, and wait for the sunrise to burst forth. At the foot of Tiandu Peak, 1864 meters above sea level, complete a dual cleansing of body and soul.

Transportation | High-speed train + scenic area bus, efficient mountain access
It is recommended to start from Hangzhou or Hefei, take the high-speed train to Huangshan North Station (about 1.5 hours from Hangzhou, ticket price ¥120; about 2 hours from Hefei, ticket price ¥138). After exiting, walk to the opposite tourist distribution center and take the scenic area bus directly to Huangshan South Gate (Tangkou Town, ¥38, 50 minutes). For going up the mountain, choose the Yungu Temple cable car (¥80, saves energy), and for going down, you can hike or take the Yuping cable car (¥90). Keep the three-day transportation budget under 300 yuan, and it is recommended to buy tickets in advance to avoid queues.

Accommodation | Combination of base and mountaintop stays, cost-effective and photogenic
Stay the first night in an economy hotel in Tangkou Town (such as "7 Days Inn" or "Home Inn"), with a standard room around 180 yuan/night, convenient for early mountain entry the next day. The second night, stay in a tent or dormitory on Huangshan’s summit (near Baiyun Hotel/Beihai Hotel). A spot in a multi-person tent costs about 150-200 yuan per person (including moisture-proof mat and sleeping bag rental). The conditions are simple but the location is excellent, with the sea of clouds right outside the tent flap. Staying two nights, keep the total accommodation budget under 380 yuan for maximum cost performance.

Itinerary | Three days to fully experience Huangshan’s essence, tight schedule
Day 1: Arrive at Huangshan, rest in Tangkou
Arrive at Huangshan North Station at noon, take the bus to Tangkou Town, check into the hotel, and lightly shop for supplies: trekking poles ¥15 (rentable), flashlight (essential), chocolate, mineral water (expensive on the mountain, bring at least 2L). Dinner in town with Huizhou local dishes: small portion of stinky mandarin fish ¥68, Mao tofu ¥20, stone ear mushroom scrambled eggs ¥25, about ¥50 per person for a solid meal. Sleep early to prepare for the climb the next day.

Day 2: Hike up the mountain, stay in the sea of clouds
Enter the mountain at 6 a.m., take the cable car from Yungu Temple (¥80) to save 3 hours of energy. Then start the hiking route:
- Yungu Temple → Shixin Peak (to see the strange pines) → Beihai Scenic Area → North entrance of West Sea Grand Canyon → Paiyun Pavilion → Flying-over Rock → Bright Summit Peak (altitude 1860 meters)
The whole route takes about 6 hours, with stops for photos. Huangshan’s iconic sights are concentrated here. Arrive at the campsite near Bright Summit Peak or Baiyun Hotel in the evening and check into the tent. Dinner can be self-heating rice ¥15 or instant noodles ¥10 (mountain prices are high, prepare food in advance). At night, with no light pollution, look up to see the Milky Way filling the sky; if lucky, you might see shooting stars.

Day 3: Sunrise pilgrimage + Guest-Greeting Pine check-in + descend and return
Wake up at 4:30 a.m., head in the dark to Danxia Peak or Lion Peak to watch the sunrise (bring a flashlight and go with companions). Watch the sun burst from the sea of clouds, golden light spreading over the peaks like a fairyland. After sunrise, return to the campsite to pack up, breakfast with steamed buns and pickles ¥10. Then set off:
- Bright Summit Peak → Aoyu Peak → One Line Sky → Hundred-step Cloud Ladder → Yuping Building (check in at Guest-Greeting Pine)
- Arrive at Yuping cable car station, take the cable car down (¥90) or hike to Ciguang Pavilion (saves cable car fee but adds 2 hours)
After descending, take the bus back to Huangshan North Station to end the trip.

Food | Light supplies + Huizhou cuisine experience, practical eating
Keep the three-day food budget under 180 yuan, recommended combination:
- Breakfast: steamed buns + pickles ¥10, porridge ¥6
- Lunch: instant noodles on the mountain ¥10, self-heating rice ¥15
- Dinner: Huizhou cuisine restaurant in Tangkou Town, about ¥50 per person
- Snacks: chocolate ¥12, energy drinks ¥8
Prices are high on the mountain, so bring dry food; water can be replenished along the way (¥5/bottle).

Emergency and miscellaneous | Reserve buffer, safety first
Prepare 139 yuan for emergencies, used to buy raincoats (essential on the mountain ¥15), band-aids, trekking poles, power banks, temporary taxis, etc. Huangshan’s weather is changeable; bring windproof and waterproof jackets. Wear professional hiking shoes to avoid slipping. It is recommended to buy scenic area accident insurance (¥10).

Budget overview | Precise allocation of 999 yuan
- Transportation: 300 yuan (one-way high-speed train + bus + cable car)
- Accommodation: 380 yuan (base hotel + mountaintop tent)
- Food: 180 yuan (six meals + supplies)
- Tickets and activities: 190 yuan (ticket ¥190, student ¥95, adult peak season price)
- Emergency and miscellaneous: 139 yuan
Total: 999 yuan, extreme control, complete experience

Travel reminders | Safety first, respect nature
- Climb within your ability; those with heart disease or hypertension should be cautious
- Bring a flashlight for sunrise viewing; mountain paths are steep and difficult at night
- Do not climb over railings or enter unopened areas
- Carry out all trash to protect the alpine ecosystem
- Check the weather in advance; rainy days make the sea of clouds more beautiful but paths slippery, proceed with caution

Huangshan,
is not a mountain to conquer,
but a faith to admire.

Spend 999 yuan,
walk a cliff plank road,
wait for a sunrise breaking through the clouds,
stay one night in a starry sky tent.

You will find—
the true grandeur
is not in photos,
but the moment you stand on Bright Summit Peak,
with the sea of clouds rolling beneath your feet,
and the wind passing through your chest. 🌤️