Guides
Every destination we cover, with the practical pages that go with it.
China
Cities
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Chizhou
Chizhou is the rail gateway to Jiuhua Shan, a sacred Buddhist mountain with temple stays and pilgrimage routes unlike Huangshan.
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Hefei
Hefei is mostly an interchange for Anhui travellers, but a short layover can include the Anhui Museum and a decent Huizhou meal.
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Huangshan City
Tunxi is not Anhui's prettiest town, but its rail station, bus hub and Old Street make it the most useful base.
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Xuancheng
What Xuancheng prefecture offers travellers moving between Huangshan and the Yangtze, from paper-making towns to quiet bamboo valleys.
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Yixian
Yixian county contains Hongcun and Xidi, but Bishan, Nanping and Guanlu reward travellers who stay longer and move slower.
Guides not tied to one destination
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Reaching Anhui Visa-Free Through China's Transit Rules for a Huangshan Side Trip
How China's 240-hour visa-free transit rules let you reach Huangshan and the Huizhou villages without a full visa.
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Golden Week in Anhui, the Weeks to Avoid and What to Do If You Cannot
What Golden Week does to Huangshan, Hongcun and Anhui transport, and the few ways to reduce the damage if you must travel then.
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Staying on the Huangshan summit what it costs and how to book
Huangshan summit hotels are expensive and sell out weeks ahead. Here are the names, prices, dormitory options and booking windows.
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Why Huizhou Villages Look Like That, From Horse-Head Gables to Courtyards
Horse-head gables, whitewashed walls and narrow stone lanes: how to read the architecture of Anhui's Huizhou villages.
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Keemun and Maofeng Tea in Anhui, What They Cost and How to Avoid Fakes
What Qimen black tea and Huangshan Maofeng should cost, where to taste them in Anhui, and how to spot low-grade leaves.
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Climbing Huangshan on foot versus taking the cable car
Walking up Huangshan takes hours on steep granite steps. Compare the eastern and western routes with cable car queues to decide.