Huangshan Photography Tour
Flexible Itinerary for Tailoring
This tour is especially designed for photography lovers and professionals. The imaginatively named pines, oddly-shaped rocks, the sea of clouds, and winter snowcaps furnish marvelous themes for photography.
The itinerary will depend on what photos you want to take, and then on the weather conditions when you go.
Highlights
- Shoot the sunrise from Bright Top
- Take sunset photos from Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion
- Photograph wide-angle panoramas of the sea of clouds in West Sea Grand Canyon
- Visit charming ancient villages nearby and stay overnight in a boutique hostel
Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.
|
Excellent Encapsulation/Set of Experiences across China
It was a whirlwind across a number of cities, but a very comprehensive experience across the many sides and cultures of China. Most days had sufficient activities, but weren’t overwhelming, which was great.Across cities, we had excellent tour guides, like Kitty (Beijing), Jenny (Xian), William (Guilin/Yangshuo), Kris (Shanghai), and Tony (Yellow Mountains.) more
Mar 2024, Ryan Farnan
|
Beautiful Hongshuan
We recently spent 4 days with Alvin hosting us throughout Huangshan, Tunxi and Hongcun. The scenery was spectacular, hotels quirky, food excellent and knowledge and passion from Alvin was so invaluable and also fun! Would highly recommend. more
Jan 2024, Joanne
|
2 days in the mountains
Alvin was attentive and good company. He went to the extra effort to show us things we were interested in viewing and provided detailed information. more
Jan 2024, Robert Fleming
|
Huangshan 2-5 Jan 2024
As compared to another guide I had back in 2019 for Huangshan with another agency, Jack’s services were exemplary. He was patient and flexible to accommodate to our requests. Very knowledgeable, responsible and responsive. Throughout the trip he was always telling us the best angles and spots for nice pictures. Most importantly, he speaks English, hence we are able to communicate comfortably with a mix of Chinese and English. more
Jan 2024, Amanda Tan
|
5 days 4 nights Huang Shan trip
I had very little time to plan for this trip due to my busy schedule. Emily was very helpful and almost instantly drafted a planned itinerary for me and my family after a short chat with her. Super efficient and it took me just hours to decide on my schedule. We had also very good guide (小赵)with us. She is meticulous and knowledgeable, we were all very well taken care of during the trip. Had a great and enjoyable trip! more
Dec 2023, David
|
Huangshan
We booked a 3 day tour of Huangshan with China Highlights. Tony was our guide in Huangshan. He was very knowledgeable and spoke excellent English. I was able to appreciate the Hui culture and Huangshan more thanks to Tony. The entire trip went smoothly thanks to China Highlights! more
Dec 2023, helen
|
Wonderful experience!
Absolutely stunning at every turn. Our guide, Jack showed us wonderfully beautiful spots where few visitors go. He knew all the best spots and went out of his way to ensure our stay exceeded our expectations. The arranged hotel was very good too. Well done! more
Nov 2023, george123w2014
|
Great experience from beginning to end!
Our guide, Frank, in Huangshan, Xidi and HongCun was knowledgeable, punctual and personable. He made everything go smoothly. The trip to China was wonderful and was enjoyed by my adult kids and their partners who have never been to China. Thank you both so much!!! more
Nov 2023, Susan X. Lu
|
China 29 days trip
From our guide in Xi’an to the guide in Kwelin , they are all excellent. 韩颂 in Beijing, Susan in Xi’an, Alvin in Huang Shan, Sally in YiZhang , Peter in Zongzhing, Doyle in 昆明,Daisy in Tali, Martin in Lijiang and the last Vincent in Guilin. They all performed their services well. We are happy to have met them, hopefully we will keep in touch. more
Nov 2023, Tiong-Oen Pouw
|
Enjoyable short trip with beautiful sightseeing
The Local Guide Tony was knowledgeable and he gave lots of information about the province and towns. He was patient to us especially I have slight difficulty in walking. He was capable and managed to bring us around Huang Shan to see all the different peaks and other sights even though the weather was not ideal on the first day.Overall, we enjoyed our 4 days 3 nights trip. more
Nov 2023, Lay San Ong
|
Huangshan, Anhui Province, China
Our guide, Tony, was very kind, helpful and had an excellent level of English.This was the first time I booked directly with a Chinese travel agency, but I would certainly do it again and recommend it to everyone who wants to visit China. more
Oct 2023, Ina
|
Stunning Yellow Mountain and beautiful Ancient Villages
We had the most fantastic experience with our tour guide, Jack Fan, who is very knowledgeable about the Yellow Mountain and was able to get us quickly to the most stunning highlights. He was our "photographer" anytime we wanted a photo and that was very often. We made the most of our time having him guiding us. He was truly the mountain man as he is a local there. He is very passionate about what he does. He loves history, nature, and travel, which is a must for a guide. He provided historical facts about the stunning Ancient villages at Hong Cun and Xidi. He answered any questions we had about history, nature, and current things we had. I felt like he was a professor, and we were his students in a very good way. He was NEVER late, and neither was our driver. They never bought us anywhere to "sell" us things. He took us to buy tea only when we asked to buy a specific tea, staying much later than he should have! I wanted to check out lotus and rice fields, which was not on the itinerary, but he squeezed it in for us. We were very well taken care of. I highly recommend Jack for a tour guide who speaks English. more
Sep 2023, annemompt
|
Beautiful Huangshan
Our tour guide Tony was indeed very knowledgeable and helpful the entire trip. His explanation and description of the villages in English is very good. Tony is very accommodating to our requests too. The hike up in the mountains was really good and exciting and Tony managed to bring us to most of the recommended viewpoints and waited for us to catch our breath when we’re too exhausted hiking. I fully recommend getting Tony as your guide. more
Jul 2023, CindyBeezeebee
|
"The Mysterious and Gorgeous Peaks Make Yellow Mountain a MUST Visit"
My girlfriend and I went to Yellow Mountain during the Labor Day Holiday in China, and honestly were amazed by the actual beauty of it all. Our tour guide Sunny (thank you so much for your exquisite work) made our trip even better. The hotels that were chosen by the China Highlights agency were perfect, the Shanshui Boutique in the heart of the Huangshan city was so convenient to walk from, and the Xihai Hotel on the mountains was a perfect stop for the hiking we did for two days. The tour that we did was not enough to see everything of course so we shall be returning in the near future. We were so lucky about the weather and the crowds (holiday) that the perfect visit was even more marvelous as I proposed to my girlfriend on the Flying Rock peak during a breathtaking sunset. This will always be our rock and for that I am very grateful since Sunny the tour guide made it perfect for us. more
May 2023, High F
|
Absolutely Stunning Yellow Mountains
In April 23 China Highlights organised a 3 day, 2 night trip for us from Shanghai to Huangshan. From the Bullet Train to the scenery at the World Heritage Yellow Mountains to the Tea ceremony - It's a must visit for anyone visiting China, however, not often on Western Tourist Programs. more
May 2023, Megan S
|
Stunning Yellow Mountains - Huangshan
In April 23 China Highlights organised a 3 day, 2 night trip for us from Shanghai to Huangshan in the Anhui Province. From the Bullet Train to the scenery at the World Heritage Yellow Mountains, the meals and the Tea ceremony - It's a must visit for anyone visiting China, however, not often on Western Tourist Programs. Liberman who arranged the trip, and Tony who was our guide were always available to assist us. 10/10 - Thanks very much. Adam Liaws, "Destination Flavour China"(S1 Episode2 visits the Anhui province - worth a watch to see how beautiful the region is. more
May 2023, Leonie Megan
|
Mystical misty mountain tour
We three ladies took a three-day trip away from our families to enjoy the peace of the countryside and the inspiring beauty of Huangshan. China Highlights and our tour guide, Jack Fan, made the trip everything we had hoped for an even more. We started the first day with bicycle and foot tours in Bishan Village- absolutely charming! We then moved to Huangshan and… wow! It’s easy to see what artists and poets have been inspired throughout the centuries. Jack has spent years on the mountain and knows every corner of it. He made sure to take us to the best places in the limited time we had and made it all extra special by sharing the history and stories. He also knew exactly how long every path would take and planned to maximize our time with a steady pace. Early rain quickly passed and left us with the views of the moving “sea of clouds” that everyone talks about. We are all so glad we didn’t miss Huangshan- there’s a reason everyone says it’s the most beautiful mountain in China. Thanks, Jack, for a wonderful tour! more
Apr 2023, christinajeanne
|
4 Day Yellow Mountain Trip
Tony was an enthusiastic and knowledgeable guide, who skillfully dealt with any issues as they arose to make sure the days passed seamlessly and enjoyably. more
Sep 2022, Paul
|
5-Day Dynamic Huangshan Tour is a must!
My husband and I were in awe of the natural beauty of the Yellow Mountain. Our guide Phillip Tong, with China Highlights, gave us an exceptional experience at our pace. (As an older couple this was greatly appreciated.) He shared his vast knowledge of history and cultural significance as we trekked over and around the mountain, touring Bishan, and Hongcun. We concluded our trip by making fish lanterns. China Highlights has once again provided us with great memories. more
Aug 2022, Catherine C
|
I did a 4 day trekking in the Yellow…
I did a 4 day trekking in the Yellow Mountains with China Highlights and it was even more stunning than I thought it would be. Spend two nights in the mountains and one in Huangshan, totally worth is. This is a place you must visit and according to my guide every season had it’s own beauty. I will definitely come back! Coco planned the whole trip according to my wishes and Tony was a perfect guide being very knowledgeable and supportive. If you don’t have 4 days I’m sure a three, or even two, day trip will be very nice as well! more
Aug 2022, Elizabeth
|
Suggested Itinerary
- 2–3 days
The Beihai (North Sea) region and the West Sea Grand Canyon in the Yellow Mountains - Plus 1 day (each)
Tianhai (Heavenly Sea) region in the Yellow Mountains
Hongcun and Xidi Village
Xin'an River
Wuyuan County - Plus 2 days (each)
Shanghai Highlights tour
Hangzhou Highlights tour and Xitang/Wuzhen Water Town
What you do will depend on what photos you want to take, and then on the weather conditions when you go, so there is no fixed day-by-day itinerary advertised. Check below for the recommended spots for photography and let our travel advisor know what you want to do. We will tailor-make your Huangshan photography tour in conjunction with your local guide.
Bright Top, one of the main peaks, is located in the middle of the Yellow Mountains. It is the second highest peak at about 1,860 meters above sea level.
Good to know:
To take pictures of a sunrise and sunset, photography-lovers need to arrive at the places ahead of time because the best positions in these places are only big enough for fewer than 10 people.
The U-shaped Grand Valley is 12 kilometers long, with a maximum altitude difference of 400 meters. It is the most precipitous site with the most original natural view. Stone forests are everywhere and the walking distance is so long that it is a favorite destination for backpackers.
It takes over four hours to walk through the canyon. It is necessary to have sufficient water and food because there are no supplies along the way. The West Sea Grand Canyon closes from December to March of the following year due to the snowy weather.
Flying-Over Rock is seated at the northwest part of Bright Peak. It is nearly one kilometer away from Bright Top and about 1,730 meters above sea level. Flying-Over Rock is oddly shaped, being 12 meters high and 8 meters wide. Moreover, it weighs about 360 tons. It is amazing that such a stone stands upright on a 15 meters long and 10 meters wide flat stone.
Cloud-Dispelling Pavilion is about a one kilometer (0.6 mile) walk from Flying-Over Rock. Opposite the peaks, it is an ideal place in West Sea Grand Canyon to see the exquisite stones. From the pavilion, photography-lovers can have a good view of the hills and mountains that are sometimes half hidden in the mists, like islands in the sea.
Refreshing Terrace sits on the side of the Lion Peak, projecting over a crag with three free surfaces. It is surrounded by cement balustrades which travelers can lean against to observe from the terrace. The scenery around there is wonderful: North Sea is in front, 18 spiral stone steps are below, and on the right is the Shisungang (/shrr-swnn-gung/ 'Rock Bamboo Hill'), where the rocks and stones look like bamboo.
Recommended Time
The Yellow Mountains is suitable for photography all year round, with seasonal beauties. The following recommended time will add more color to your photos:
March to April: Yellow rape flowers start to bloom in spring. The mountains are decorated with red azaleas; the hills are covered by green tea plants and golden blooming yellow rape flowers. When the colors of nature meet the white wall and black tile, a harmonious picture comes into being.
September to October: On the way to the Yellow Mountains, you can see fields after fields filled with golden chrysanthemum. The mountains are dazzled with the changing colors of the plants of the fall season.
November: The autumn scene at Tachuan Village is one of the most picturesque places imaginable with the leaves of its ancient old trees turning red and yellow. The place has become one of the most popular locations in China for photographers.
December to March of the following year: The top of the Yellow Mountains will be covered with snow and ice from time to time in winter. The mountains turn into a winter wonderland and it's the best time to photograph the seas of clouds.
Extension
Ancient Villages
Besides the Yellow Mountains, the ancient villages nearby will add much cultural charm to your photos. By adding trips to two to four villages, you can extend the tour by one to two days.
Hongcun
With a history of over 800 years, this charming village will show you the original Hui style architecture (a type of traditional Chinese architecture) and everlasting stories left behind.
Xidi
As a World Cultural Heritage site, Xidi was first built 900 years ago in the Song Dynasty. Its traditional architectures are well preserved. The buildings and the street patterns reflect the socio-economic structure of an enduring period of Chinese history.
Chengkan
About 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the Yellow Mountains, Chengkan is a living historical document of the application of feng shui principles into architecture. From a bird's-eye view, twisted lanes, ancient drainage systems, and high walls create a maze-like layout.
Shexian Tangyue Memorial Arches
Known as the "Town of Arches", Shexian is a must-see for fine examples of residential architecture and memorial arches from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Chinese name "Paifang" is given to an arch, usually made of fine wood or stone, as a memorial and decoration.
The Bao Family Garden is near the Tangyue Memorial Arches. This private garden, once owned by successful businessman Bao, was as famous as the Humble Administrator's Garden in Suzhou. It blends perfectly with the Tangyue Memorial Arches, and is a fascinating way to spend a few hours.
Xin'an River
Xin'an River is renowned for its elegant riverside scenery on both sides. You will hike about 10 kilometers (6 miles) and the hike will take 4–5 hours. During the hike you will stop off to visit a primary school and a local family in the countryside, which will allow you to learn more about the local people's life in the region. We could also arrange biking along the riverbank for you, which is more relaxing and takes about two hours.
Recommended months: March and April are the perfect times to see yellow rape flowers in full bloom; May is the harvest time for ripe loquats; September and October are the best times to taste tangerines along the way and admire the chrysanthemums.
Wuyuan
Wuyuan is considered to be the most picturesque village of China. It takes about one hour to get there from Huangshan and a one day tour is recommended. There you could capture the well-protected ancient villages of the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1636–1911) Dynasties and the pastoral landscape. Spring is the most pleasant time, especially in March and April. However, there will be many Chinese tourists during March and April. Avoid coming on weekends during this period.
Feel free to tell us your requirements and interests, and we will be happy to help you arrange a trip with our professional knowledge and experience.
Trip Notes
1. The Weather
The weather plays a very important role in a photography tour. Your guide is flexible, and can make appropriate changes based on the weather, after a discussion with you. If you encounter some bad weather for photography, your guide will try his/her best to take you to the place best suited to the weather conditions.
2. Luggage
Your guide will assist you to store big suitcase in your hotel in Tunxi (Huangshan City). You can collect it on your way back. You could also store the luggage at the foot of the mountain. The cost is about CNY20 (US$4) for each piece. If you need to carry heavy equipments onto the mountains, your guide can hire porter for you and the cost is CNY80-120 (US$13-20) for each piece.
3. Photography Guide on the Yellow Mountains
Your guide helps to maximize your time on the mountains: Our guides are local and experienced, who spend over 200 days on the mountains every year. They know the mountains like their own backyard. Just follow them and you didn't have to bother about looking at signs and maps. When you get tired climbing the endless steps, they can tell you how much longer to reach the destination. Even purchasing cable car tickets are easier as the guide will do it. Based on your strength and weather, our guide will show you the best route for sightseeing and inform you the dangerous parts during the tour. During different seasons of the year, the best position and angle for taking photos vary with the height of the sun. Your guide will show you the best time and locations. They will accompany you during your staying on the mountain until you go back to hotel for rest.
4. Reminder
West Sea Grand Canyon, Celestial Capital Peak, and Lotus Peak usually close from December to March of the following year due to the snowy weather. The guide will adjust the itinerary to cover other highlights to make the most of your time.
From October 8th, 2014 to April 30th, 2015, Yuping Cable Car stops operation for its rebuilding work. During this period, more tourists will take Yungu Cable Car, so queuing is possible. Your guide will adjust the time and schedule flexibly to avoid crowds.
Price includes: