Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Ascending & Descending the Mountain
Regardless of how you ascend
Huangshan
(admission 1 Mar-30 Nov ¥230, 1
Dec-29 Feb ¥130, seniors year round ¥60, child 1.1-1.3m ¥60)
, you will be
stung by the dizzying entrance fee. You can pay at the eastern steps near the
Yungu Station ( Yungu Zhan) or at the Mercy Light Temple Station ( Ciguang
Ge Zhan), where the western steps begin. Shuttle buses (¥13) run to both
places from Tangkou.
Three basic routes will get you up to the summit: the short, hard way (east-
ern steps); the longer, harder way (western steps); and the very short, easy
way (cable car). The eastern steps lead up from the Yungu Station; the west-
ern steps lead up from the carpark near Mercy Light Temple. It's possible to do
a 10-hour circuit going up the eastern steps and then down the western steps
in one day, but you'll have to be slightly insane and in good shape, and you'll
definitely miss out on some of the more spectacular, hard-to-get-to areas.
Most travellers do opt to spend more than one night on the summit to ex-
plore all the various trails.
Make sure to bring enough water, food, warm clothing and rain gear before
climbing. Bottled water and food prices increase the higher you go.
EASTERN STEPS
A medium-fast climb of the 7.5km eastern steps from Yungu Station at 890m
to
White Goose Ridge
( Bai'e Feng; 1770m)
can be done in 2½ hours. The
route is pleasant, but lacks the awesome geological scenery of the western
steps.
Much of the climb is comfortably shaded and although it can be tiring, it's a
doddle compared with the western steps.
Trail
WESTERN STEPS
The 15km western steps route has some stellar scenery, but it's twice as long
and strenuous as the eastern steps, and much easier to enjoy if you're clam-
bering down rather than gasping your way up.
The western steps descent begins at the
Flying Rock
( Feilai Shi), a
boulder perched on an outcrop half an hour from Beihai Hotel, and goes over
1841m
Bright Summit Peak
( Guangming Ding.
Trail
