A Travel Guide to the MT.Huangshan (Part II)

When touring the Huangshan Mountain area, there are a few special features a traveler should be aware of and look for.

With the 1,668-meter high Jade Screen Peak as a backdrop, the Jade Screen Tower pierces the skyline of the mountain range. Originally the site of Manjusri Temple, it is now houses complete facilities to welcome guests to the Mountain. Around the Tower visitors will find geological formations well known to locals residents, as they insist upon their resemblance to certain animals! There are boulders that bring elephants to mind, lion-shaped rocks, and ancient pines like dancing dragons. In front of the Tower, just to the left, Celestial Capital Peak and Ploughing Cloud Peak swell from the ground; there, too, one can make animal friends of rocky outcroppings. On Ploughing Cloud Peak a stone "squirrel" leaps towards Celestial Capital Peak. Below the peak there is another odd shaped rock, which conjures up the image of an immortal rising off of a sedan chair. To the right are Lotus Peak, Lotus Pistil Peak and Holy Spring Peak. Make sure to get a good look at Lotus Pistil Peak-- viewed from distance, the rock atop the apex resembles a small boat sailing through an ocean of clouds. Also on Lotus Pistil, one can discern a peacock playing in the lotus (naturally made of stone, of course). Going further north and continuing towards Lotus Peak, tourists pass two magnificent trees: the Farewell Pine and the Hassock Pine. Throwing a glance backwards, an ox shaped rock on the aptly named Ox Nose Peak comes into sight. The scene is known as Rhinoceros Watching the Moon. A visit to the Jade Screen Tower has long been considered a must for anyone touring Mt. This is clearly a place to let the imagination run wild!

The distance from Jade Screen Peak down to the bottom of the Lotus Ravine is about two and half kilometers. Here, the terrain rises and visitors climb several hundred steps to crest Lotus Ridge. Looming just to the right is Lotus Peak. At an altitude of 1,873 meters, Lotus Peak is the highest peak in the Huangshan Mountain Range. How did it acquire its name? A series of smaller hills encircle the Peak, giving it striking similarities to a lotus blossom. The title also speaks to its quiet elegance—it is as though the mountain, itself, is deep in thought. A one- and- a- half kilometer long path links Lotus Ridge and the apex of Lotus Peak, winding past four mysterious caves along the way before reaching the final destination. Atop the Peak, pines grown in the shape of flying and double dragons, as well as the Mount Huangshan Azalea provide natural floral decoration, covering the slope. Lotus Peak, along with Celestial Capital Peak and Brightness Top, stand together as the majestic central section of the Huangshan Mountain Range.

Proceeding along the same route northwards, towards the One Hundred Step Cloud Stairs, tourists can examine turtle and snake shaped rocks. The animals are accompanied by an old monk, who forever watches the sea under Rongcheng Peak; he, too, is a stone figure. Venturing away from the stairs, tourists cross Lotus Cave and Huge Turtle Cave to arrive at the Heavenly Sea. Central to the area is the beautiful Central Sea Pavilion, flanked on the left by Stone Column Peak, and on the right by the Phoenix Pine. After basking in the tranquility of the Heavenly Sea, hikers can continue climbing the stairway, enjoying a beautiful view unfolding both in front and behind them. Looking back, they will see the famous rock formation known as Huge Turtle Carrying a Golden Turtle on Its Back, and on their right, hikers can’t miss the massive Alchemy Peak and Brightness Top (1,840.9 elev.) the second tallest peak of the Huangshan Mountains. The view is stunning—spread before you is a sea of ridges, jutting peaks, and picturesque valleys.

From Brightness Top, hikers have two route options: west, towards the West Sea, or north, towards the North Sea. Both enjoy solid reputations as scenic wonders.

The West Sea:
Descending from Brightness Top, hikers arrive at the West Sea via a newly opened tourist road. The mystical Peak Flying From Afar is the first feature that comes into sight, capped by a huge 10-meter rock weighing 600 tons. Crossing over several nearby peaks nearby, visitors come to Dispelling Cloud Pavilion, where an excellent panoramic view is waiting. Directly in front of the Pavillion, there stands a chaotic cluster of variously shaped peaks that have, through the centuries, inspired imaginative tales of fairies and magic. These geologic wonders turn the whole West Sea into a natural art gallery! If tourists plan to arrive at the West Sea in time for sunset, a famously special time of day for the Huangshan Mountain Range, they can expect to be dazzled by a myriad of sunrays shining through the valleys. If tourists choose to view sunset from a mountaintop, an equally impressive choice is the 1,712-meter high Rosy Clouds Peak located behind the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion. Standing on the peak, one can watch the sun set behind Peak Flying From Afar and Nine Dragon Peak in all their grandeur.

The West Sea area, long known as the Mystery Valley for the many clusters of peaks and the fathomless depth of the valley, has been opened up to tourists as the White Cloud Stream Scenic Area. A newly paved staircase extends for seven kilometers from the Hook Bridge Nunnery inside the West Gate of the Huangshan Mountains, across the bottom of the valley, and reaches the newly built Central Sea Pavilion at the Heavenly Sea. From the Hook Bridge Nunnery, tourists may also go to Qianxun Falls, the highest falls in the entire mountain range, boasting a 140 meter drop. The falls’ thunder can be heard at Swan Rock ,and, once at Swan Rock, visitors can also take in the "Immortal Walking on Stilts". Passing the Dropping Spring and the Lucky Cloud Bridge, one comes to the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion. Then, a twisting path leads hikers over Buxian Bridge, through the Goddess Flower Bed, and finally to the Central Sea Pavilion at the Heavenly Sea.

The North Sea:
The North Sea is just a few kilometers away from the Dispelling Cloud Pavilion in the West Sea. From the Dawn Pavilion in front of the guesthouse, guests may enjoy the breath- taking scenery of Beginning to Believe Peak and Goddess Peak, as well as the Stalagmite Bridge that has inspired the painting of countless magical landscapes. Located to the right of the guesthouse is the Flower House, and just in front of that is the Sunken Flower Bed. Turning left from the guesthouse, passing the Unicorn Pine, leads hikers onto the Cooling Terrace and to Lion Peak, below which is the Ten Thousand Pines Forest. Reaching out from the cliff and facing the valley in three directions, the terrace is an ideal place for watching sunrise and the viewing the innumerable rocks on Pingding Hill, among which one is famous for resembling a monkey gazing down at the sea. Turing right from the guesthouse, visitors pass through a veritable tunnel of ancient pines, traverse the lmmortal Bridge and ascend Beginning to Believe Peak. Beginning to Believe Peak is home to some of the most incredible stalagmites on earth.

Leaving the North Sea Guesthouse, and descending the mountain trail from Cooling Terrace, visitors proceed to the Pine Valley Nunnery Scenic Area. Follow the winding Eighteen Fold Path and cross Flower Brook and Bird Valley to visit swan and brush shaped rocks, with Camel Peak situated to the left. Once at the Three Way Pavilion, hikers can view the three Buddha shaped rocks on Pagoda Peak to the east and, further ahead, peaks resembling a rooster,a bookcase, a medicine case and a sedan chair roof. Coming to the Two Way Pavilion, sightseers should look right to see two other rock formations known as "the lmmortals Watching the Poster" and "the Poet Li Bai Gets Drunk". Finally, the Pine Valley Nunnery lies just ahead of the One Way Pavilion. Lotus Ridge is two and half kilometers away, and to get there from the Nunnery, one passes by a number of pools: the Jadeite Pool, the Black Dragon Pool, the White Dragon Pool and the Aged Dragon Pool. The water scene is most enchanting at the Jadeite Pool, which, it is said, used to be the bathing place of the ocean dragon princess.

If the Cloud Valley Temple Scenic Area in the East Sea is your destination, turn left from the North Sea Guesthouse, heading eastward. Visitors reach White Goose Ridge and the beautiful White Goose Peak, notable as the terminal location of the newly installed 2803.96-meter long cable car route conecting the Cloud Valley Temple and the North Sea. Traveling on the telpher is a must-do for visitors to the area, as it gives a one- of- a- kind birdseye view of the East Sea! Descending White Goose Ridge, bizarre rocks, a brook, and a picturesque scene greet trekkers to the valley. Hikers then pass through the Fascination Pavilion, and are thrilled to see the Cloud Valley Temple in sight.

At an altitude of 890 meters, situated between Arhat Peak and Incense Burner Peak, Cloud Valley Temple is the half- way pointon the way back from the North Sea to the Hot Spring, as well as the departure station of the cable car route to the North Sea. Tourists going both ways can find accomodation here. In particular, Cloud Valley Mountain Villa, a new, spacious hotel built in the traditional Ming Dynasty style of architecture, provides comfortable services for guests. Here, guests can see the rare, aged Yellow Chinese fir and Iron Chinese fir while relaxing with a cup of Huangshan’s famous Maofeng Tea.

On the last leg of the path to Cloud Valley Temple, hikers passthrough a bamboo grove to watch the spectacular Nine Dragon Falls, only four kilometers away. Another famous waterfall, Thousand Feet Falls, can be viewed up-close from trail, finally taking hikers back to the Hot Spring Scenic Area.

The above information is quoted from the official website of Mt.Huangshan