Things to Do in Huangshan City: Avoid Crowds, Discover Secrets

Last autumn, I was standing with a group from Australia at the South Gate of Huangshan Mountain. They were exhausted, the crowd was massive, and we couldn’t get a Didi for 20 minutes because the network was jammed. I swore I’d never let my clients make that scheduling mistake again. So here is the honest truth about things to do in Huangshan City — not the sanitized version you get from brochures, but the real, nuts-and-bolts guide that will save you time, money, and frustration.

How to Survive the Crowds on Huangshan Mountain

Yes, it’s beautiful. Yes, it’s crowded. On a typical October weekday, over 30,000 people ascend the mountain. But with a few tricks, you can still have a peaceful experience.

Entrance Gates: Which One to Pick?

Most tourists go to the South Gate (Yungu Temple). That’s a mistake. The queue for the cable car here often exceeds 2 hours by 9 a.m. Instead, head to the North Gate (Songgu) via the Taiping cableway. It’s less crowded and skips the infamous “Stairway to Heaven” bottleneck. The trade-off: you miss the beginning of the classic Bright Summit route. But if you want solitude, North Gate is your friend.

Timing: The Golden Window

Arrive at your chosen gate by 7:00 a.m. (the park opens at 6:30 a.m. in peak season). I know it hurts, but the reward is an empty path to the Lion Peak for sunrise. If you’re not a morning person, another window opens at 3:00 p.m. — day-trippers are leaving, and the light softens for photos.

Ticket and Logistics

Entry fee: 190 RMB (peak season) / 150 RMB (off-peak). Cable car one-way: 80-100 RMB. You must book in advance via the “Huangshan Tourism Official” WeChat mini-program. There’s no English version, so screenshot the pages and use WeChat’s translate feature, or have your hotel receptionist help. Bring your passport — scanning at the gate is mandatory.

Discovering Hongcun and Xidi: Ancient Villages Worth the Hype

Hongcun is the one you’ve seen in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Xidi is quieter, with more scholar architecture. If you have time for only one, pick Hongcun — but be prepared for coachloads of tourists.

Hongcun

Address: Hongcun Village, Yi County. Take a bus from Huangshan City (Tunxi) or from Tangkou (the mountain base). The ride is about 1 hour from Tunxi, 40 minutes from Tangkou. Buses run every 30 minutes from the long-distance station; cost ~25 RMB.

Ticket: 104 RMB (includes mandatory shuttle from the parking lot). The ticket is valid for 3 days, so you can stay overnight in the village and explore at dawn. I always tell my guests to sleep in a local guesthouse inside Hongcun — waking up to the mist over Moon Pond is worth every penny.

Xidi

Less commercialized. Entry: 104 RMB. You can walk the entire village in 2 hours. The highlight is the Hu Wenguang Archway. Combine Hongcun and Xidi in one day if you start early. There’s a direct bus between them (20 min, 8 RMB).

Strolling Tunxi Old Street: Food, Souvenirs, and a Trap to Avoid

Tunxi Old Street is a Ming-dynasty-style pedestrian lane stretching 1.5 km. It’s beautiful at night with red lanterns. But the souvenir shops? Mostly identical mass-produced trinkets. Here is what’s actually worth your time:

What to Eat on Tunxi Old Street

• Zhenzhong Food House — No. 168 Old Street. Try the braised stinky tofu (authentic, not the tourist version) and bamboo shoots with cured pork. Google Maps rating: 4.3. Prices: 40-80 RMB per person. Cash or WeChat Pay only.
• Wang Ji Ji — Near the east entrance. Their fried tofu balls with chilli sauce are addictive. Almost always a line, but it moves fast.
• Bamboo Rice — Stalls sell this sticky rice cooked inside bamboo tubes. It’s a gimmick but fun. 25 RMB.

The Trap: “Tea Ceremony” Scams

Women may invite you to a free tea tasting in a back room. They’ll pressure you to buy expensive “aged” tea at inflated prices. I’ve had guests pay 500 RMB for tea worth 50. Just smile and say “bú yào, xiè xiè” (no, thanks).

Where to Stay: Tunxi vs. Tangkou

I recommend Tunxi. You get better value, and the 1-hour drive to the mountain is easy with a Didi (about 120 RMB). Plus you can walk to Tunxi Old Street for dinner.

What to Eat: Must-Try Dishes and Where to Find Them

• Stinky Tofu  – Not actually stinky, it’s fermented and tastes like pungent cheese. Head to Da Ming Restaurant at 178 Old Street. They claim to have the original recipe. 38 RMB per dish.
• Bamboo Shoots with Ham – A spring dish. Local restaurants serve it with mountain ham. Ask for “zhu sǔn shāo huǒ tuǐ”.
• Huizhou Muffin  – Flaky pastry filled with dried meat. Perfect for hiking. Buy from Zhou’s Bakery at the west end of Tunxi.

How to Plan a 3-Day Itinerary for Huangshan City

Here is a realistic schedule I use for my clients, factoring in transport and rest.

Day 1: Arrival & Tunxi Old Street
Take a high-speed train to Huangshan North Station (from Shanghai ~3h, from Hangzhou ~1.5h). From the station, bus #21 goes to Tunxi (40 min, 5 RMB). Check into your hotel. At 5 p.m., wander to Tunxi Old Street. Have dinner at Zhenzhong Food House. Try the stinky tofu. Walk the entire street — it lights up after dusk.

Day 2: Huangshan Mountain
6:00 a.m. – Didi to Tangkou (1h, ~120 RMB). 7:00 a.m. – Arrive at North Gate (to avoid crowds). 7:30 a.m. – Cable car up. Hike: Cloud Dispelling Pavilion → Bright Summit → Begin to Believe Peak. Lunch: bring your own snacks (mountain food is bad and expensive). 3:00 p.m. – Descend via Yungu cable car (shorter queue at this time). 5:00 p.m. – Bus back to Tunxi. Dinner at local noodle shop.

Day 3: Hongcun Village
9:00 a.m. – Bus from Tunxi to Hongcun (1h, 25 RMB). Explore the village until 1 p.m. Have lunch at a village courtyard restaurant (try bamboo shoots). 2:30 p.m. – Optional: Bus to Xidi if you’re fast (20 min). Or return to Tunxi for souvenir shopping. 6:00 p.m. – Head to Huangshan North Station.