Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, in Anhui province is the landscape that launched a thousand Chinese ink paintings — granite spires, gnarled pines clinging to cliffs, hot springs, and a famous sea of clouds that pools between the peaks at dawn.

What to do

• Ride a cable car up (or hike) and walk the cliff-top trails between viewpoints.
• Catch sunrise from a summit lookout for the cloud sea — the signature Huangshan experience.
• See the iconic Welcoming Pine and the dramatic Flying-Over Rock.

Getting there

High-speed trains reach Huangshan North station, then a bus to the cable cars. Book on Trip.com (affiliate). Day and overnight tours are on Klook (affiliate).

Tips

• Stay overnight on the mountain to catch sunrise (book summit hotels early — they’re pricey and limited).
• Pack layers — it’s much colder and windier up top.
• Go midweek and outside Chinese holidays to dodge the worst crowds.

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