Huangshan, located in Tangkou Town, Huangshan District, Huangshan City, Anhui Province, covers an area of approximately 1200 square kilometers and is a national 5A-level scenic area. Huangshan is primarily renowned for its ‘Five Unique Wonders’ and ‘Five Excellences’. The ‘Five Unique Wonders’ include peculiar pines, sea of clouds, grotesque rocks, hot springs, and winter snow; the ‘Five Excellences’ encompass historical relics, legends, calligraphy and paintings, literature, and famous personalities.
Additionally, there are the ‘Three Waterfalls’: the Renzi Waterfall, Bai Zhang Spring, and Jiu Long Waterfall, among other beautiful scenes. The beautiful, magnificent, and peculiar Huangshan is thus hailed as ‘The Most Wonderful Mountain in the World’, and it also bears the name ‘After returning from the Five Great Mountains, one does not need to see other mountains; after returning from Huangshan, one does not need to see the Five Great Mountains’. Below are the ten main landscapes or scenic spots of Huangshan:1. Peculiar Pines – The top ten famous pines of Huangshan include the Welcoming Guest Pine (symbol of Huangshan), Farewell Pine, Guide Pine, Pu Tuan Pine, Harp Pine, Sea-Exploring Pine, Lian Li Pine, Qilin Pine, Black Tiger Pine, and Dragon Claw Pine. Among them, the Welcoming Guest Pine is a must-shoot subject for photographers.
2. Sea of Clouds – Huangshan’s sea of clouds, depending on its distribution, can be divided into the East Sea, South Sea, West Sea, North Sea, and Heavenly Sea. The sea of clouds is especially spectacular after rain on a clear day, during sunrise, and sunset, with rolling clouds merging seamlessly with grotesque rocks, peculiar pines, and peak forests, resembling a fairyland and a favorite among photography enthusiasts. 3. Grotesque Rocks – Huangshan features rugged peaks and extensive distribution of granite stone forests and pillars, with a significant number of peculiar rocks, over 120 of which have names, such as Squirrel Jumping to Tiandu, Monkey Watching the Sea, Sky Dog Looking at the Moon, Fairy Playing the Harp, Lion Seizing the Ball, Immortal Playing Chess, and Immortal Guiding the Way. 4. Waterfalls (Three Waterfalls) – Renzi Waterfall, as the name suggests, is shaped like the character ‘Ren’ and can be best viewed from the ‘Waterfall Viewing Pavilion’ in the Hot Spring Area. Jiu Long Waterfall, cascading down in nine levels between the Arhat Peak and Censer Peak, with a pool at each level, hence the name Jiu Long Tan, is one of the more spectacular waterfalls in Huangshan. Bai Zhang Waterfall, located between the Ziyun Peak and Qingtan of Huangshan, can be admired from the Waterfall Viewing Pavilion at Bai Zhang Terrace, as it plunges down a thousand-foot cliff. 5. Yu Ping Scenic Area – Major attractions include the Lotus Peak (elevation 1864.8 meters, the highest peak of Huangshan), Bright Summit (elevation 1860 meters), Tiandu Peak (elevation 1810 meters), Hundred Steps Ladder, Ao Yu Peak, and Tianhai, among others. 6. Bai Yun Scenic Area – Also known as Bai Yun Xi Scenic Area or Diao Qiao Scenic Area, the Huangshan Bai Yun Scenic Area covers an area of about 16.5 square kilometers with a height difference of nearly a kilometer, earning it the nickname ‘The Mysterious Western World of Huangshan’ from visitors. 7. Xi Hai Scenic Area – In the Xi Hai Scenic Area of Huangshan, it is particularly suitable for viewing the sea of clouds and is also a good place for shooting sunset works. 8. Bei Hai Scenic Area – One of the central scenic areas of Huangshan, the Bei Hai Scenic Area features major attractions such as Lion Peak, White Goose Ridge, Shi Xin Peak, and Flying Rock, among others.The Huangshan Scenic Area is renowned for its abundance of peculiar pine trees, offering views of the Black Tiger Pine, Dragon Claw Pine, Twin Dragon Pine, Sleeping Dragon Pine, and Peacock Pine. 9. Songgu Scenic Area: Comprising the valley between Lion Peak, Camel Peak, Pagoda Peak, and Book Box Peak, the Songgu Scenic Area features towering and perilous peaks such as Furong Peak, Danxia Peak, and Pine Forest Peak; grotesque rocks like Immortal Sea-Viewing, Tiger Carrying Sheep, and Sleeping Tiger Rock; enchanting water features like Emerald Pool and Five Dragon Pond; and distinctive ancient architecture including Furong Residence and Songgu Zen Forest. 10. Yungu Scenic Area: The heart of the Yungu Scenic Area is Yungu Temple. Key attractions within the Yungu Scenic Area include Yungu Temple, peculiar rocks, ancient trees, the ‘Nine Dragon Waterfall’, and the ‘Hundred Foot Spring’.
