Anhui Huangshan: A Super Comprehensive Guide to Avoid Tourist Traps

1️⃣ Pre-trip Preparations ✅ Documents: Be sure to bring your ID card.🪪 Students, don't forget your student ID, as some scenic spots offer discounts. ✅ Electronics: Mobile phone📱, charger, power bank, camera📷, etc., to conveniently record the beautiful scenery. A selfie stick can also help you take great photos. ✅ Medicine💊: Prepare common medicines such as gastrointestinal medicine, cold medicine, and motion sickness medicine in case of physical discomfort. ✅ Toiletries: Travel-sized toiletries and skincare products are sufficient, as they are lightweight and space-saving. ✅ Clothing: Huangshan has a high altitude and low temperature, so bring a thick jacket even in summer. Wear comfortable athletic shoes👟 for hiking. ✅ Other: Check the weather in advance and prepare an umbrella for both sun and rain. Sunglasses🕶️, sunscreen, a thermos to keep water hot, and a backpack to carry your belongings. 2️⃣ Transportation Tips 🌟 External Transportation: ✈️ Airplane: Huangshan Tunxi Airport is close to the city center, but there are few flights. Don't trust the accommodation and transportation recommendations of solicitors at the airport, as they may charge high fees. It is recommended to book a formal airport transfer service in advance. 🚞 Train/High-speed Rail: Huangshan Station is located in the city center, while Huangshan North Station is closer to the scenic area. Plan your itinerary in advance to avoid delays due to choosing the wrong station. 🌟 Internal Transportation: 🚌 Scenic Area Bus: To reach Huangshan Scenic Area, you need to transfer to a bus at the Tangkou transfer center. There are frequent buses, but it can get crowded during holidays, so allow extra time for queuing. 🌟 Cable Car: Cable cars such as Yungu Cable Car, Yuping Cable Car, and Taiping Cable Car can save you energy, but they close early, usually around 4:30 PM - 5:00 PM. ⏰ Plan your itinerary accordingly, otherwise, you'll have to hike down the mountain. 🚗 Taxi/Ride-hailing: Convenient for traveling within the city, but expensive to the scenic area, and you may encounter price gouging. Confirm the price before getting in the car. 🚗 Self-driving: Drive to the Tangkou transfer center, where parking is available, but parking spaces are limited during peak season. Be cautious when driving, as the mountain roads have many curves and steep slopes. 3️⃣ Scenic Spot Tips ✅ Huangshan Scenic Area: ✅ Weather: The mountain weather is changeable, so bring a raincoat instead of an umbrella.☔️ Using an umbrella during thunderstorms is dangerous and can attract lightning. ✅ Route Planning: For a one-day trip, choose the classic small loop, such as Yungu Temple - Bai'e Ridge - Guangming Peak - Welcoming Pine - Yuping Cable Car. Don't be too ambitious, otherwise, you'll be exhausted from rushing. ✅ Holidays: Try to avoid holidays, as the crowds can be overwhelming, making it difficult to take photos📷 at popular attractions and diminishing the overall experience. ✅ Hongcun Village: Tickets are valid for three days and allow multiple entries, so don't buy tickets repeatedly. Wear flat shoes🥿 or athletic shoes👟 for comfortable walking on the many stone roads in the village. ✅ Xidi Village: Similar in style to Hongcun Village, the recommended visiting time is 2-3 hours. Don't allocate too much time. Be mindful of protecting the ancient buildings and refrain from graffiti. ✅ Huizhou Ancient City: Entry to the ancient city is free.🆓 Tickets are required for attractions such as Huizhou Government Office. Check the opening hours⏰ and ticket prices in advance. ✅ Xin'an River Landscape Gallery: General admission tickets only allow access to the first floor of the cruise ship. You need to pay extra to access the second and third floors. Pay attention to safety and keep your belongings safe during the cruise. 4️⃣ Accommodation Tips🏨 ✅ Huangshan City: There are many accommodation options at relatively low prices. Avoid staying in cheap small hotels, as hygiene and safety may not be guaranteed. Hotels🏨 near the high-speed rail🚄 station and bus station are convenient for transportation. ✅ Tangkou Town: Close to the scenic area, convenient for climbing the mountain the next day.⛰️ Book your accommodation 1-2 months in advance during peak season, otherwise, it will be difficult to find a room. Don't trust roadside accommodation recommendations,👍 as the conditions may be poor. ✅ Huangshan Scenic Area: There are few hotels🏨 on the mountaintop, and prices are high. Book early if you want to stay on the mountaintop to watch the sunrise and sunset.🌄 Be prepared for outdated facilities in some hotels.🏨 5️⃣ Food Tips 🌟 Local Specialties: 🍤 Stinky Mandarin Fish: Smells stinky but tastes delicious. Avoid eating it at roadside stalls in the scenic area, as it may not be authentic and is expensive. Go to reputable Huizhou restaurants. 🍤 Hairy Tofu: Covered with white fuzz, it is made through fermentation and eaten with sauce after being deep-fried. Some tourists may not be accustomed to the taste, so order a small portion to try first. 🌟 Dining in the Scenic Area: Food on the mountain is expensive. You can bring your own instant noodles, self-heating rice🍚, etc. Avoid buying snacks like fruit salad🥭, sausages, etc., at the entrance of the scenic area, as they are expensive and may not be fresh. 🌟 Food Street: Tunxi Old Street offers a variety of food, but carefully select souvenirs such as Huangshan sesame cakes🫓 and tea to avoid buying inferior products. 6️⃣ Other Tips 🌟 Tour Guides and Day Trip Groups: Be cautious when choosing low-priced day trip groups, as they may involve forced shopping. Find tour guides through formal platforms and don't trust unofficial tour guides. 🌟 Shopping🛍️: Most souvenirs in the scenic area are wholesale from Yiwu. If you want to buy local specialties, go to formal supermarkets or specialty stores to avoid being overcharged.