Huangshan 黄山
I had just returned from Harbin and was catching up over dinner with a friend. Midway through the meal, she casually mentioned she was heading to Huangshan in two days. Without thinking much, I asked if I could come along. Two days later, the two of us were joined by two more friends, making it four of us, all heading out to see Huangshan just after a rare February snowfall.
Travel
We started the trip by taking a train from Shanghai to Huangshan. The plan was to transfer to a bus that would take us closer to the mountain, but by the time we tried to book, all the tickets were sold out.
So we improvised.
Instead of the bus, we hopped on a second train that dropped us at a nearby station. From there, we tried to get a DiDi but had no luck at all. The area was remote, and no drivers were available. We weren’t keen on taking an overpriced taxi, so we ended up catching a local bus instead.
It wasn’t the smoothest transfer, but we made it.
After exploring Huangshan, we reversed the whole process: another local bus to reach the train station, then the ride back to Shanghai.
Accommodations
Since I joined the trip last minute, my friends had already booked a hotel up on the mountain. Luckily, they were able to add a cot to the room for me for just $30, and that even included breakfast. Considering the hotel itself was around $20 a night, it felt like an absolute steal. I was tucked in at the foot of the bed, right next to the heater, and somehow ended up getting the best night of sleep out of all of us.
Huangshan Scenic Area
Chinese name: 黄山风景区
Address: Huangshan City, Anhui
Cost: ¥190 (peak season; ¥99 off-peak season) + cable cars extra
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
Note: Took Yungu or Yuping cable car up, returned via a different route and cable car down. Stayed overnight on the mountain.
Budget Breakdown
These numbers are approximate. I don’t track every expense in real time, and sometimes I pay in USD instead of yuan.
Train (Shanghai to Huangshan) - ¥380-510
Accommodation (1 night) - ¥210 (but ¥1,400 total for my friends)
Transportation (DiDi and buses) - ¥45 (my portion amongst 4 friends)
Food - ¥100 (meals and snacks purchased at train stations)
Activities - ¥220+
Miscellaneous - ¥30 (cold weather gear purchased at the mountain)
Total ~¥1,000 (but would be higher if you were solo traveling)
Final Thoughts
I really wish I had brought my drone, although I’m not sure how well it would have handled the snow and cold. The mountain felt a little unpredictable, and I regret not staying until the next morning to catch the rolling sea of clouds. From what I’ve seen, that moment alone would have made the trip even more unforgettable.
I’d definitely recommend visiting Huangshan in the winter. It’s absolutely stunning. But I can’t stress enough how important it is to prepare. Bring your own cleats. The ones sold on the mountain broke super easily, and they didn’t offer much grip. One of my friends slipped and fell three times, which wasn’t just frustrating, it was genuinely concerning in certain areas.
There were parts of the trail where one wrong step could have had serious consequences. The paths are often narrow, and when they’re icy, it becomes risky fast.
I didn’t think the hike was too intense, but it’s still a lot of stairs and elevation gain. If you’re not used to long hikes, you’ll definitely feel it. I’d also recommend bringing heating packs. They made the experience much more enjoyable.