Huangshan, literally translated as Yellow Mountain, ranks among the Great Wall and the famous Terracotta Warriors as one of China’s most luring tourist attractions. Located in the eastern province of Anhui, it is convenient to take train or bus from urban centers like Hangzhou and Shanghai—a perfect getaway for visitors in search of fresh air and a chance to experience China’s natural beauty. As an international ecotourism point of interest, UNESCO listed the mountain as an official World Cultural Heritage Site in 1990. Known for its unique pines, geological formations, dream-like clouds and clear hot springs, Huangshan is known in China as "The Number One Mountain Under Heaven;" though, with close to eighty awe-inspiring peaks in excess of 1,000 meters tall, Huangshan is actually an entire range of mountains and valleys, sure to impress the dedicated outdoor tourist or those in search of China’s best mountain resorts. The jutting rocks, shimmering pools, gurgling water falls and the ephemeral clouds that make up the mountain’s dreamlike ambience are sure to invoke images of the most famous Chinese art.
Of Huangshan’s many peaks, the three most widely known are The Lotus Peak, The Brilliant Top Mountain, and The Celestial Capital, all of which rise a stunning 1,800 meters above sea-level. The granite mountains are dotted with massive natural stone colums, webbed with deep crevices, and feature the jutting peaks so often illustrated by Chinese artists. Sprouting forth from many rocks are the gnarled pines that are frequently the subjects for Chinese painters, of both bygone eras and contemporary times. These attributes, rather than diminishing in beauty, change along with the seasons. Spring is marked by blooming flowers that decorate the slopes in a riot of pastels, accompanied by a symphony of scents and wildlife followed by the verdant slopes of Summer; Autumn and Winter are no less lovely, dressing the mountains in blazing reds and purples as the maple leaves turn. A classic Winter scene on the mountain features frost, ice and silver branches—peaceful and inspiring.