LOCATED in eastern Anhui Province, Huangshan Mountain is one of the most well-known scenic spots in China. Each of the four seasons on Huangshan Mountain has their respective beauty, so why not take a tour to the mountain this winter and experience “China’s Crystal Palace” with families and friends.

    Huangshan Mountain, literally translated as Yellow Mountain, ranks among the Great Wall and the famous Terracotta Warriors as one of China’s most luring tourist attractions.

    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, the mountain is called “the No.1 mountain under heaven.” With close to 80 awe-inspiring peaks in excess of 1,000 meters tall, Huangshan Mountain is actually an entire range of mountains and valleys. The jutting rocks, shimmering pools, gurgling waterfalls and the ephemeral clouds make the mountain as beautiful as a traditional Chinese painting.

    The pine trees are on the top of the “four wonders of Huangshan Mountain.” They can be seen in every corner of the mountain. Visitors are amazed by their vitality and strength. The seeds fall into crevices where they take root and grow with great vigor. The uneven terrain prevents them from growing upright. Instead, they become crooked, and some even grow downward. Their branches grow on only one side of their trunks. They grow very slowly because of the poor soil and climate. It can take a hundred years for a tree to grow a mere three meters tall. The roots of the pine trees are often several times longer than the trunks; therefore, they stand firm with dignity, withstanding wind and rain.

    Other recommended spots around the mountain include North Sea, Jade Screen, Pine Valley, Cloud Valley, and the White Cloud.

    Tips for

    winter travel

    Each of the four seasons on Huangshan Mountain has their respective beauty, but even this can vary from day to day thanks to variations in the weather, light and shade as clouds pass overhead and even around you at higher altitudes.

    Winter at Huangshan Mountain is very long. It snows from November to March on average, and the snow normally melts in early April.

    The snowy mountain is like a crystal palace. Though winter lasts a long time here, it is not as cold as you might expect. One famous poem says that the mountain is beautiful all year round, but winter is the best.

    The winter period is the perfect time to enjoy the sea of clouds, which is another one of the “four wonders” of the mountain. They appear more often in winter than in any other season. The spectacle of rimed trees sparkling in the sun is the privilege of winter alone, for it is then that you may find yourself in a silver world with icy peaks and clusters of frosty corals suffused with a plentiful supply of the freshest air.

    The beautiful sunrise is very famous in winter, too. The best places to see the sunrise are the Dawn Pavilion, the Refreshing Terrace, the Lion Peak, the Bright Summit, the Beginning-to-Believe-It Peak, the White Goose Ridge, the Jade Screen Peak and the Lotus Peak.

    Winter is the most economical time for visiting the mountain as the prices for hotels and the entry fee are lowered by 15 to 40 percent compared to those of the peak season.

    Every day, there are workers cleaning the paths of the mountain. The paths are very clean even after a snowfall. Travelers don’t need to worry about slipping, but a pair of comfortable hiking shoes is a must.

    The front mountain is dangerous while the back mountain is elegant. Elderly people may climb the mountain by cable car in the winter. For those who like to hike, they may climb the mountain step by step, going across the Walking Fairy Land Bridge or the West Sea Grand Canyon.

    Transport: Fly to Huangshan City from Shenzhen airport, and take a taxi to the mountain. (Wang Yuanyuan)