We want to get out of Shanghai next week and have 3 days to spend.We've set our sights on Huangshan and I'm a little confused by the options that are there.

My questions :

1. How do I get to Huangshan ? Bus to Huangshan? Do we stay in Tunxi?
2. How do we get up ? Cable car from tunxi? or do we go somewhere else ?
3. What are the options to stay on the mountain? Hotel suggestions? and How do I book ?


Thanks!!!

Hmm other ppl can definitly give you more specifics but basically you usually stay in a town down from the mountain, forgot the name, and travel up in buses. Each bus is a tour group that you pretty much trek up the mountain with.

Yes there are hotels on the mountain, but I think they are a little expensive. We went up and down in one day and it was awesome fun and some of the most amazing scenery I have seen in China.

Hope this helps it was definitly a great trip.

Hmm other ppl can definitly give you more specifics but basically you usually stay in a town down from the mountain, forgot the name, and travel up in buses. Each bus is a tour group that you pretty much trek up the mountain with.

Yes there are hotels on the mountain, but I think they are a little expensive. We went up and down in one day and it was awesome fun and some of the most amazing scenery I have seen in China.

Hope this helps it was definitly a great trip.

I can't answer all your questions, but I can address some.

When I went, I stayed at Huangshan City which is a normal launching pad for the mountain. To get to the mountain, you will need to take a bus to the base of the mountain and then another bus to get further up the mountain and can begin your ascent from there. Many options for ascending. Many different routes - some utilizing a cable car, others simply walking. There are also hotels on top of the mountain that you can stay at, which I've heard are nice. There are loads of routes to take and something like 72 peaks I think. Likely won't be able to see it all in 3 days, which is a nice problem to have.

Unfortunately, I can't give specific advice as getting to Huangshan or hotels as when I went my company did all the bookings. But, it was a great experience and I'm sure you will enjoy it.

So is there a bus that goes from Shanghai ? and if so , where do i get catch it ? If i have to get a train, how do i book tickets ?

If i have to go through a travel agent, any suggestions ?

If money is no object, fly. The train is something like 11 hours from Shanghai, though maybe you can find a Dongche (the new bullet trains) now that will get there faster.

If you go to any travel website, or google Huangshan, you'll find bunches of hotels. The ones on the mountain are 800rmb per night for single rooms, and pretty spartan. There are dormitory style rooms that the Chinese tour groups use, and I've seen people carrying their own noodles and such, I would guess they don't buy any food on the mountain.

It will be cold on the mountain, I was there in late April, and after dark and in the early morning it had to be close to zero. You'll need some serious layers. The hotel gave us big down coats to wear to watch the sunrise -- otherwise we wouldn't have been able to stay out for the sunrise.

If you do go on your own, when you get off the bus in the town, there's a local Chinese who sort of owns the expat trade. I've forgotten is name. His English is good, his restaurant makes overpriced dishes that are palatable to westerners, and he will arrange travel and lodging if you need it.

I will go next week too!

I will take buss, which will be around 6 hours to get to HuangShan city. Then we will go to Hongcun, an acient town nearby, in the same afternoon.
Day 2: climb!
Day 3:back to Shanghai

I dont think get on and down the mountain in one day is smart. In winter the day is much shorter in the moutain areas and it may be very slippy

alicef wrote:I dont think get on and down the mountain in one day is smart. In winter the day is much shorter in the moutain areas and it may be very slippy

Agreed. Climbing up and down concrete stairs is much more stressful than real mountain climbing. I went with a very seasoned climber who walks 4-5 miles a day, and she was stiff and sore for a couple of days. My other friend is fairly sedentary, and she was downright lame for close to a week. Plan your climbing carefully, based on your ability to handle the physical stress.

yleo wrote:So is there a bus that goes from Shanghai ? and if so , where do i get catch it ? If i have to get a train, how do i book tickets ?

If i have to go through a travel agent, any suggestions ?

usually travel agency charges foreigners more. And their services, including translating, you should not expect much....

I have been looking into HuangShan for a trip in January.

From Shanghai , there is an overnight train and by air.
Both get you to TunXi (HuangShan city), you have to take a bus/taxi to the cable car ascent area.

i also read but haven't confirm

"There are 4 buses from Shanghai South Bus Station (located on No. 666 Shilong Road) to Huangshan City (Tunxi) everyday, departing at 07:40, 08:35, 09:40 and 15:15 respectively. The bus ticket price is RMB110. Inquiry of Shanghai South Bus Station: 021-54353535"

ctrip destination guide
"Buses:
There is one bus daily to Huangshan City from Shanghai, and two daily returns:
The first leaves Shanghai at 16:00 and arrives in Huangshan at 24:00 (RMB111 for a soft seat). The return buses (Huangshan-Shanghai) leave at 05:40 and 19:10 and take around 10hrs (RMB60). Buses leave from opposite the Huangshan train station, and tickets can be bought from here. "

my guess there are buses from Shanghai- HuangShan, one should confirm the schedules before planning a trip using buses.

I will probably take a train to HangZhou, then charter a van (about 3 hrs from there)

For hotels on HuangShan mountain top, travel agents should work.
We will book on ctrip.com

yes there are buses to Tunxi. When I get back next week from Huangshan I could provide more information ^_^