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4 Days Best Huangshan Tour with Hongcun & Xidi Ancient Villages

Two World Heritage Sites Exploration

How should you visit Huangshan Mountain with Hongcun Xidi?

"No mountain near or far is comparable to Yellow Mountain, and after a visit to it, no other mountain is worth visiting". This is an old Chinese saying which has been proved by millions of travelers who had visited the Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). You will have a leisure tour on the mountain to admire its archetypal granite peaks, twisted pines, beautiful cloud sea and fabulous sunrise in good-weather days. After the memorable Huangshan Mountain tour, you will be taken to visit two remarkable ancient villages - Hongcun and Xidi which are the best examples of ancient Huizhou-style architecture and listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

This tour is suitable for all kinds of travelers - family with kids, seniors, honeymooners, photographers, etc. It can also be customized to meet your days, interests, accommodation preference, etc.

  • Type : Private Tour
  • Tour Code : CD-HST-04
  • Price : from $509
  • Theme : Culture / Landscape
  • Physical Demands :

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR

  • Take the very scenic Yungu Cable Car directly up to the top area of Huangshan Mountain directly;
  • Enjoy breathtaking landscapes of peaks, clouds sea and beautiful pine trees around Begin-to-Believe Peak and Lion Peak;
  • Use your camera to record the epic moments of the fantastic sunrise on the mountain;
  • Get a glimpse of ancient Chinese life in the beautifully preserved Hongcun Village after Huangshan Mountain trip;
  • Find the most traditional architecture esp of Huizhou style which are incredibly ornate in decoration at Xidi Village;
  • Private, customized valuable tour package accompanied by experienced local tour guide and driver;
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Itinerary Day by Day (Can Be Customized)
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Day 1 Huangshan Arrival

Airport or railway station pick up and check in hotel

Welcome to Huangshan! Upon arrival, be greeted by our local tour guide who is holding a sign with your name in the Arrival Hall of Huangshan Tunxi Airport or Huangshan North Railway Station. Then a comfortable vehicle (non-smoking) with an experienced driver will transfer you directly to your hotel in Huangshan downtown. Your guide will help you check in. The rest of the day is on your own to discover this beautiful city.

Arrival ideas: Currently, there are non-stop flights to Huangshan from Beijing, Guangzhou, Xian and Chengdu, etc., usually 2 daily flights from each city. You can also take high speed trains from Shanghai (2.5~3.5hrs), Hangzhou (1.5~2hrs), Beijing (5.5~7hrs), and Guangzhou (7hrs), etc.

  • Huangshan City Huangshan City

Day 2 Mt. Huangshan (B)

Route: Yungu Cable Way - Begin-to-believe Peak - Dispelling Cloud Pavilion - Bright Summit - Flying-over Rock

Today after breakfast, our guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel, then drive about 80 kilometers (1.5 hours) to the foot of Mount Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and one of the most beautiful mountains in China. Your memorable Huangshan trip starts!

To save energy and time, you will directly transfer by park bus from the mountain foot to Yungu Temple to take a cableway to upper beautiful sightseeing area of Huangshan Mountain – North Sea Scenic Area which is famous for marvelous precipitous peaks, beautiful giant pine trees and far-reaching vision. Walk to lofty Begin-to-Believe Peak (1668m) to stretch your eyesight over cloud seas to far distance, and then hike about 40 minutes to Dispelling Cloud Pavilion to look down the Dreamland - West Sea Grand Canyon. Walk down along the stone steps to the deeper area of the canyon while enjoying the Avatar-like rising rock peaks, unfathomable cliffs, bizarre stones and tenacious pine trees.

Generally speaking, it takes about 3 hours for an energetic hiker to hike from the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, via 1st Ring and 2nd Ring to the bottom and return to the starting point. For beginners, children, and senior travelers, you can decide the hiking length on your own according to your physical condition, usually 2 hours for the 1st Ring and 2.5hrs for the 2nd Ring. In the bottom of the canyon, there is also a monorail cable trains for those who don’t want to return by walking to transfer back to the peak area.

If time and energy allow, you can spend about one hour to explore the Sky Sea Scenic Area where you can enjoy the sunset from the second highest peak - Bright Summit (1840m), visit the incredible Flying-over Rock, then return to your hotel on the mountain and have a good rest.

(Please Note: from December to the late March of next year, West Sea Grand Canyon is usually closed for the cold weather and heavy snow. Please feel free to contact us to adjust your itinerary)

  • Jack and Emily from UK -  West Sea Grand Canyon, Yellow Mountain Jack and Emily from UK visited West Sea Grand Canyon, Yellow Mountain in October, 2019
  • Anjali from USA - Yellow Mountain Anjali from USA visited Yellow Mountain Huangshan in January, 2019
  • Robert from USA - Yellow Mountain, Huangshan Robert from USA enjoyed the sea of clouds on Yellow Mountain in June, 2019

Day 3 Mt. Huangshan (B)

Route: Lion Peak - Yungu Cable Way - Tunxi Ancient Street - Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory

Get up early (usually around 5am to 6am) to enjoy the magnificent sunrise from Huangshan. We suggest you watch the sunrise from the Refreshing Terrance which is only a few minutes’ walking from Beihai Hotel. In good-weather days, you can see clearly the golden light of the sun piercing the mists, and rocky peaks rising above the frothy, ever-changing sea of white clouds. After the sunrise, get back to your hotel for breakfast.

Continue on your wonderful sightseeing on the Yellow Mountain to see the famous Dawn PavilionStone Monkey Watching the Sea on the Lion Peak (1690m). Then walk along the wood path to the cable station to take a cable car to exit the mountain. Your driver is ready at the mountain foot to transfer you back to Huangshan City for lunch.

After lunch, go for a relaxing stroll on the 900-year-old Tunxi Ancient Street to appreciate authentic old Huizhou-style architectures. Next comes an interesting visit to Hu Kaiwen Ink-stick Factory to find out how ancient Chinese people produce ink sticks (major item used to write and paint in ancient time).

The rest of today is free for you to relax and have a good rest.

  • Tunxi Ancient Street Survived Relatively Untouched Tunxi Ancient Town
  • Stone Monkey Watching the Sea (on Lion Peak) Stone Monkey Watching the Sea (on Lion Peak)

Day 4 Hongcun - Xidi - Huangshan Departure (B, L)

Route: Tunxi - Hongcun - Xidi - Airport or Train Station

Today, you are going to visit two remarkable ancient villages - Hongcun and Xidi which are the best examples of ancient Huizhou-style architecture, and listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Quite different from other traditional ancient villages in China, the layout, landscape, architectural form, decoration, and construction techniques all retain the original features Hongcun and Xidi are much more exquisite and grandiose, because they were built by successful officials or merchants returning home from official appointments and business.

Hongcun, originated during Song Dynasty (960-1276), is praised as the most beautiful village in China. It is famous as the ancient village in the Chinese painting. The most beautiful sites are the Moon Lake, the crescent-like pond surrounded by several grand dwellings, and Southern Lake Academy, a private ancient school served for the village. One interesting fact is that the whole village is arranged in the shape of an ox. The famous Oscar-winner film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was filmed in Hongcun.

Xidi Village is only about 10km from Hongcun. Its well-spaced houses with white walls, elegant decorations and black tiles are surrounded by mountains, which makes Xidi an ideal place to paint from life. Xidi is a magnificent villager of imperial officers. It contributed about 130 government officials, some of whom were dignitaries in the imperial courts, during Ming and Qing Dynasties. Currently, there are still 124 well-preserved ancient dwelling with unique style in the village.

After the sightseeing, it’s time for departure. Your tour guide and driver will escort you to catch your flight/train to the next destination. Our service ends.

  • Mr. and Mrs. Gorges from Australia - Hongcun Village, Huangshan Mr. and Mrs. Gorges from Australia visited Hongcun Village in June, 2019
  • Chen's Family from USA - Xidi Village Huangshan Chen's family from USA visited Xidi Village in May, 2019

The quotation for this trip is from $540 Per Person

1. This price is for one person, based on a group of 2 adults sharing one standard double-bed room in a 4-star hotel and traveling with our private tour in low seasons.
2. This price is subject to change according to your traveling season, group size, hotel class, change of activities in your itinerary and possible fluctuation of currency exchange rate. If you want a lower price, you can get more people to join you, or use economy class hotels.
3. This price is only valid to March 31, 2025.
4. Reference exchange rate of USD 1=RMB 7.00. The final quote is based on current exchange rate. It may change according to the currency fluctuation, while the RMB quotation will be remained the same.

What's included?

  • Professional licensed English-speaking guide;
  • Admission tickets for all attractions listed in the itinerary;
  • Accommodation as listed in the itinerary (4-star standard);
  • Necessary vehicle transfers as listed in the itinerary;
  • Airport (and train station) pick up and drop off;
  • Luggage Transfers: between airports (railway station) and hotels;
  • All meals as listed(“B” for Chinese and Western breakfast buffet in your hotel; “L” for Chinese Lunch in local restaurant; “D” for Chinese dinner in local restaurant.);
  • Accident insurance;
  • Our service charge, including tour planning, handling, operational and communication charges.

What's excluded?

  • Domestic flights or high-speed trains to/off Huangshan;
  • China visa;
  • Personal expenses;
  • Accommodation not listed in the itinerary;
  • Single Room Supplement;
  • Tourist sites which are not listed in the itinerary;
  • Recommended optional activities;
  • Excess Baggage Charges;
  • Optional tips to guides, drivers, etc.

Check What our delighted customers are saying about our services

Hi Samantha,

Thanks!

We are enjoying China very much. You made us confident that we would have the experience we wanted. That is why we booked with you and we were not disappointed.

We had a good day with Timo. Timo would have exceeded our expectations if Peter had not set our expectations so high. Timo is a very close second place.

Peter is great! Peter suggested we hike this afternoon when it is more clear and we agreed.

Lunch at Bravo Hotel was good; enough left over for dinner. We walked around the lake across from the hotel this afternoon. It is a pretty area.

Having Fun!

We are happy with China Discovery and would recommend them to others.

Joseph

Joseph‚ USA, February 28, 2024

Hi Jack,

All good, hope all is well with you too.

It was an incredible experience for my family as from the start till finish, the itinerary was meticulously planned, a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation suitable for young and old alike. This allows us to fully immerse in the activity and destination without feeling rushed or overwhelmed

I must commend our tour guide, Grace, whose dedication, thoughtfulness and patient truly enhanced our journey. Her enthusiasm for sharing the culture and history of each location made the experience more enjoyable.

Overall, our trip exceeded our expectations, leaving us with only good memories. Thank you again Jack for providing such a wonderful experience and sorry to bother you when you are on vacation. We look forward to the opportunity to travel with your company again in the near future.

Warms Regards.

Debbie

Debbie‚ Indonesia, February 27, 2024

Hi Wonder,

it was such a wonderful trip, giving me a great impression of Chengdu and Chongqing, thanks to the professional guide by Ellen and David.

Thank you Wonder and Benny for arranging the trip. It was fun, food was good and we did enjoy it very much!

Evelyn

Evelyn‚ Hong Kong (China), February 27, 2024

Dear Jack,

Apologies for delayed feedback because we were busy travelling in Jan and Feb. We have just returned to HK yesterday night. Pls find attached our comments.

1. Yes, fast and helpful responses to queries via WeChat and whatapps.

2. The tour arrangements were very professionally delivered as stated in the itinerary by our guide and driver, who were courteous and friendly. The pickup and transport were timely and safe.

3. Yes, willing to recommend. Had mentioned to our relatives and friends who enquired.

4. Very professional and helpful.

Leong

Leong‚ Singapore, February 26, 2024

Hi Rita,

Greetings from Malaysia. Thank you for your email.

We enjoyed the tour very much and are satisfied with all the arrangements from the guide picking us up at the airport, the itinerary, transport arrangements between Shanghai, Suzhou and Hangzhou and the shows recommended. Both Seven (Shanghai, Suzhou) and LuLu (Hangzhou) were excellent guides, very friendly, approachable and knowledgeable.

Definitely will recommend your services to my relatives and friends. We hope we can visit China again.

Nothing to complain about, only that our visit is too short!

Susan

Susan‚ Malaysia, February 21, 2024
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"It was an incredible experience for my family as from the start till finish, the itinerary was meticulously planned, a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation suitable for young and old alike..." read more »
Reviewed on February 27, 2024
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"It was an incredible experience for my family as from the start till finish, the itinerary was meticulously planned, a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation suitable for young and old alike..." read more »
Reviewed on February 27, 2024
Read all reviews(1,810+)

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"Highest Standards of Quality and Honesty" is the core value of each specialized team at China Discovery.

Eveyone in our company is working hard for only one goal, which is to ensure the highest level of service, luxury, and attention to detail from the minute you begin planning your trip, to the day you return home.

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Our travel consultants are professional, experienced and responsible, helping you from the very beginning to the end of your China trip!

After sending us an inquiry, one of our travel consultants will get back to you within 0.5~23.5 hrs. In the next few days, he/she will be working closely with you to formulate a customized tour plan, as well as providing professional suggestions based on your travel interests, time, and budget.

Beside, he/she will keep in contact with you during your entire tour in China, continually checking if everything is going well as planned.

We're working at Chengdu Bamboo International Tours, local based in Chengdu.

Local Tour Guides

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Our local guide in every destination is not only very friendly, enthusiastic but also very informative and knowledgeable.

Once you arrive in the destination, the patient and punctual guides will pick you up and take you to get under skin of the city at your own pace. By in-depth discovery and explanation, they’ll show you more about the history, culture, customs and authentic local life. Throughout the journey, they're not only expert guides who take care of all the details but also fellow travelers who are dedicated to help you explore in comfort and style.

Our guides are passionate about what they do, and it shows all the way!

Local Drivers & Vehicle

Using our private transfer service makes you comfortable, relaxed and worry free all the way!

Our private service includes licensed drivers with many years’ driving experience and air-conditioned, non-smoking, clean and well-maintained cars/vans. Drivers are local, polite, friendly and helpful, taking you to your tourist sites, hotels, airport/train stations in safety. All kinds of vehicle are offered, and yours depends on the size of your group. Usually, we offer sedan cars, SUVs, business vans (MPV) and different types of buses, all with extra space for your luggage.

Our private transfer service guarantees you the highest comfort!

Comfortable & Homelike Hotels

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In each destination, you’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a great location!

The hotels we choose are based on star rating, great locations, well-equipped facilities, cozy bed, high quality service and guests’ feedbacks. Choices are a lot ranging from luxury 5 star, comfortable 4 star to budget 3 star. You could decide where to stay to best suit for your budget and likes. Generally, the hotels have both Western and Chinese breakfast with a wide choices.

If you have already got an ideal hotel, please feel free to tell our travel consultants and they'll book the hotel for you.

Have good sleep in our well-selected hotels in all the destinations of China.

Meals & Dining

China Tour

We can satisfy all the dietary requirements no matter you want Chinese local food, western food, vegetarian food or muslin food.

The restaurants we will take you for lunch or dinner are all designated tourist restaurants approved by local tourist administration bureau. They have very good sanitary conditions and the food is prepared fresh and clean.

There will be some meals excluded in your itinerary as you like, and your private guide will be delighted to give you some suggestions and take you to the local restaurants to taste like Beijing Roast Duck, Xian Dumpling Dinner, Sichuan Hotpot, etc., if you are interested in local food tasting.

All the dining options will satisfy your stomach!

Photo gallery of this trip

  • Huangshan City Huangshan City
  • Jack and Emily from UK -  West Sea Grand Canyon, Yellow Mountain Jack and Emily from UK - West Sea Grand Canyon, Yellow Mountain
  • Anjali from USA - Yellow Mountain Anjali from USA - Yellow Mountain
  • Robert from USA - Yellow Mountain, Huangshan Robert from USA - Yellow Mountain, Huangshan
  • Tunxi Ancient Street Tunxi Ancient Street
  • Stone Monkey Watching the Sea (on Lion Peak) Stone Monkey Watching the Sea (on Lion Peak)
  • Mr. and Mrs. Gorges from Australia - Hongcun Village, Huangshan Mr. and Mrs. Gorges from Australia - Hongcun Village, Huangshan
  • Chen's Family from USA - Xidi Village Huangshan Chen's Family from USA - Xidi Village Huangshan

Most Important Huangshan Travel Notes

1. What is Huangshan hiking like? What to pack and wear?

What is Huangshan hiking like

Hiking Huangshan Mountain can be a rewarding yet physically demanding experience. The trails vary from relatively flat paths to steep, challenging ascents. The stone-paved paths, while adding to the mountain's charm, can be tough on your knees. If you're looking for a less strenuous visit, consider following the classic route on the Back Mountain. However, for those seeking a more adventurous and rugged experience, venturing into the West Sea Grand Canyon and Front Mountain areas is an option, but be prepared for steep and challenging terrain. Thankfully, there are cableways available at certain sections to help conserve your energy and time.

Traveling light is essential. Before ascending the mountain, pack a small backpack with important travel documents, valuables, and overnight necessities. You can leave your larger, heavier luggage in your hotel in Tunxi (Huangshan City) or arrange storage with your tour guide at a hotel located at the mountain's base. For a comfortable and enjoyable hike, consider packing the following essentials: breathable and comfortable clothing, sturdy hiking shoes, trekking poles, sunscreen, a raincoat (especially from May to October), a small bag, and some cash. With these preparations, you'll be better equipped to make the most of your Huangshan Mountain hiking adventure.

2. Hiking routes and distances on Huangshan

Huangshan Hiking Route Maps

The hiking routes on Huangshan can be customized according to your days, energy condition and interest, basically for one day, two days or three days. It doesn't matter a lot to start your hiking from the Front Mountain or the Back Mountain.

1.5 Days Back Mountain + West Sea Grand Canyon Leisure Hiking:

- Day 1: Yungu Cableway - Begin-to-Believe Peak - Lion Peak - West Sea Grand Canyon (hiking around 9km/6hrs)
- Day 2: Sunrise - Flying-over Rock - Bright Top (hiking around 7km/3hrs)

2 Days Front Mountain + Back Mountain + West Sea Grand Canyon Full Highlights Hiking:

- Day 1: Yuping Cableway - Greeting-guests Pine - One-line Skye - Bright Top - Flying-over Rock (hiking around 11km/6hrs)
- Day 2: Sunrise, West Sea Grand Canyon, Lion Peak, Begin-to-Believe Peak, Yungu Cableway (hiking around 7km/5hrs)

3 Days In-depth Hiking:

- Day 1: Mercy Light Pavilion - Half Way Temple - Greeting-guests Pine - One-line Skye - Baiyun Hotel (hiking around 14km/7.5hrs)
- Day 2: White Cloud Stream, Fairy Walking Bridge, Sanxi Bridge, 2nd Ring, 1st Ring, Dispelling Cloud Pavilion (hiking around 11km/7hrs)
- Day 3: Sunrise, Flying-over Rock, Bright Top, Lion Peak, Begin-to-Believe Peak, Yungu Cableway (hiking around 9km/4hrs)

Please feel free to let us know your idea if you have no idea where to start.

3. Accommodation on the mountain

To stay one night or more on the mountain is very worth doing as you will have more time to enjoy as much as landscape of Huangshan especially the amazing sunset and sunrise. There are only 6 hotels on the mountain - 2 hotels (Yupinglou Hotel and Baiyun Hotel) in the Front Mountain, and 4 hotels (Beihai Hotel, Xihai Hotel, Shilin Hotel, Paiyunlou Hotel) in the Back Mountain. The South Building of Xihai Hotel is the only 5-star hotel on the mountain. Beihai, Shilin, Baiyun are 4-star, while Paiyunlou and Yupinglou are 3-star. Our guests usually accommodate at Xihai Hotel, Beihai Hotel and Baiyun Hotel as they have better rooms, facilities and foods. Please kindly know the hotels on the mountain are not as good as the 4-star and 5-star hotels in the big cities while the prices are sometimes higher because there is no vehicle road can be built to the top area of the mountain, which made these hotels cost much longer time and much more money during their constructions. Besides, the supplies of the hotels basically rely on porters who usually walk for many hours to carry the foods, drinks, vegetables, eggs, bedding from the foot of the mountain.

4. Food on the mountain

Only hotels provide foods on the mountain, usually Chinese dishes of local Hui-style Cuisine cooked by seasonal vegetables, pork, chicken, beef, fish, etc. Beihai Hotel and Xihai Hotel's buffets are most popular. Western food is usually not provided, but if you ask, Beihai Hotel and Xihai Hotel can arrange. Basic western breakfasts, such as breads, jam and coffee, can be offered in Beihai Hotel and Xihai Hotel.

5. Best time to hike Huangshan

Huangshan mountain area features a humid subtropical monsoon climate. Summers and Winters are longer than Springs and Autumns. There are plenty of rainfalls, usually more than 180 rainy days through the whole year. It often snows in the Winter days, usually around 50 days per year. Clouds and fogs occur easily, and go fast sometimes. The average temperature in Summer is around 20°C. In winter days, it will drop to below 10°C. Basically speaking, Huangshan can be visited all year around. But Lotus Peak, Celestial Capital Peak and West Sea Grand Canyon are not open during Winter days (December to March). The best time to visit is from March to October. If you want to escape from crazy crowds, you can avoid travelling to Huangshan during Chinese holidays and School summer holidays (July~August).

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