Need info about Huangshan

[Battosai]

I love Chinese mountains but have never been to Huangshan

I want to go next week , but afraid that it might be too hot and too crowded

so my questions are :

how hot is Huangshan compared with Shanghai?

how crowded is Huangshan?

how big is it ? how long does it take to get to the top ?

any info will be much appriciated....

[bloove]

1)Weather:It's around 10 degrees lower than Shanghai,example tomorrow weather:

ShangHai: Tem:26℃～32℃ Wind:4-5 souther rainy 2007-08-13

Huang Shan: Tem:16℃～21℃ Wind:3-4 northwest rainy with thunder 2007-08-13

Taking a umbrella is needed.

2)I suggest you climbing at weekdays,especially monday is best choice,It always crowded at weekend,Don't try it at public vacation.

3)Ticket:200rmb

4)Info reference:

Area:1200 square kilometers

Mountain num:72 special peaks,involve tiandu,lianhua,guangming are more than 1800 meters in height.

[bloove]

If you want to climb mountain only,you can see the sunrise in the morning.

Sunrise.doc

[bloove]

Other more info about Huangshan,please look at http://www.uhuangshan.com/english.htm

[simonlaing]

Hi Battosai,

I went to Huangshan 1 year and half ago. It was very beautiful. The hike up the mountain does take awhile 2-3 hours on the short side and 4-5 on the long side though we took the cable car because we were late to meet the bus.

You can stay in the town and on the Mountain. But it is best to stay on the mountain if you want to see the sunrise which every one likes to see. There are about 4 -5 peaks that people usually go to see. (each with chiseled stairs and hand rails . so it is just takes time.) The tour guide and the group we were with wimped out on the last tallest peak.

Also there are hostels and normal hotels. You should book the hotels before you get there because like the water on the top of the mountain it is twise as expensive.

Most of the people in our tour group stayed at the hostel. There was two old Taiwan people who snored all night we were told and the rest of the group had trouble sleeping .We splurged on a 360 room with AC and singapore satellite TV. (it was a bit further around the mountain as well.)

I recommend taking the cable car on the "shorter " side as the hike up takes its toll espicially if you packed too much water and instant noodles in your bag.

If you're going with a girl friend you should bring a lock with your initials etched into it to hang on the mounatin. It is a tradition. (there are vendors there if you forget to bring it also.)

The views were fantastic and there were only a couple buildings that spoiled . we were on the mountain a full 2 days but oly saw about 3/4s. There are also other peaks and caves, streams around Huangshan as well. (Also a fake hot spring bath, we didn't have time for it.)

If you do choose to walk up the mountain instead of taking the cable, and your bags are minimally heavy pay for a porter. You will get up a 1/3 of the way and collapse and pay for one anyway so just do it sooner.

Along the way there are mountain streams the guides will say you can't drink them but they are safe, cool and refreshing. Fine for filling you water bottle again.

If it has been dry there may be a restriciton on shower time aswell.

This holiday was totally worth it and I would recommend it to anyone. (except the infeeble, your legs will feel sore for a fews day after.)

Good luck,

simon:)

[Battosai]

Thank you simonlaing and bloove

One more question - I'm going with wife and son, we checked out the accomodation options on http://www.uhuangshan.com/english.htm and it seems like 500 RMB is the cheapest price for a single room. Is there more variety of accomodation on the top of the mountain? like staying at farmers' house or something (we did that in Jiuhua Shan)?

[simonlaing]

Hi Battai,

There are several different places on the huangshan, We went through a travel agent that specialized in students. I think it was called hope travel, I am not sure if it was connected to the scholarship. I know there is inflation, but try using a travel agent. Also if you get offered a package with just transport and lodging that would work as well since the paths are easy to follow and it is hard to get lost.

How old is your kid? Climbing stairs can be tiring so perhaps the highest peaks you may have to pass on. Most of the mountain is fairly flat after you get to the first few peaks.

Also with the travel agents it can pay to look around as they may get discounts on entry and meals as well if you're interested. (Though most Huangshan tours make you arrange your meals)

Have fun,

SimoN:)

P.S. bring extra memory cards and film as it is pretty. (Though every so often there are some clouds and it is not as impressive as it usually is. )

P.p.s there are lots of options in the town at the bottom of the mountain. I think you could find a farmers house or two there. There were more than a few inviting us to their restaurants and such.

[Battosai]

Thank you simon !

your information was very helpful

[jwoen]

Hello all,

I am planning to hike Huang Shan in early or mid January. Did anyone hike this mountain during winter months? If so, please let me know your experience and other things I need to prepare.

Thanks in advance.

Justine

[SunDaYu]

I actually lived in Huangshan (the city) for a few months. It's a really big tourist trap but you don't really have a choice when you're on the mountain.

I would stay near the "old street" and you can find an International Youth Hostel and a few other decent hostels. There are also some pretty chill bars in the area.

Just wake up really early and then take a shuttle to the mountain.

I went there during in April. There was still some snow and it was mildly cold, but it was really foggy so you couldn't see too much.

Oh, and another thing, if you're going to Huangshan during the winter months, be warned that it will be extremely cold on the mountain, much less the city itself (no central heating). Even in April when it got to be around 5 pm we were told to take the cable car down the mountain because there was still a ton of ice and there was a chance of falling.

By the way, wow this post is so random, sorry, there are a few places on the mountain that are really narrow and don't have handrails. You are in danger of falling in those places. Just from the top of my head, I remember two areas where if you didn't lean into the mountain while walking down you could fall.

Also, since you're in the Huangshan area, you might as well check out one of the neighboring villages. They have one where Crounching Tiger Hidden Dragon was filmed. It's really beautiful and has a long history. For the life of me I forget the name though, it was Hong something. The locals should know though. The bar owners there speak fluent English.

[Meng Lelan]

I may well be going to Huangshan next August in 2010 so I appreciate this thread. I think the Lonely Planet guide suggested the cable car going up then walking down.