3-Day Huangshan Tour: Mountain Hiking with Hongcun Village

Sleep on the mountain, hike at sunrise, descend through a canyon

A 3-day private tour of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) combines two nights of accommodation (one at the base, one on the summit) with full-day hiking, sunrise viewing, and visits to Hongcun Village and Tunxi Ancient Street. Your guide tailors the hiking route to your fitness level, and all transfers from the airport or train station are included. You choose between a 4-star or 5-star mountain hotel at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, Hongcun, Tunxi, Ink Factory

• Pick up from airport or station
• Enjoy authentic Hui style lunch
• Explore Hongcun Village
• Walk Tunxi Ancient Street
• Visit Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory

Day 2: Hiking Mt. Huangshan Highlights

• Drive to foot of Yellow Mountains
• Take Yungu cable car up
• Visit Yungu Temple cableway
• Walk to Shixin Peak viewpoint
• Hike to hotel, see pines
• Explore West Sea Grand Canyon
• Visit Sky Sea Scenic Area
• See Flying-over Rock
• Rest at mountain hotel

Day 3: Sunrise and Departure from Huangshan

• Wake early for sunrise at Refreshing Terrace
• Return to hotel for breakfast
• Visit Dawn Pavilion
• See Refreshing Terrace views
• View Stone Monkey Watching the Sea
• Visit Lion Peak
• Take Yungu Cableway down
• Transfer to airport or train station

The experience

You'll be picked up from Huangshan Airport, Train Station, or Bus Station on arrival and taken to Hongcun Village, an 800-year-old settlement of traditional Hui-style architecture built around ponds and courtyards. After lunch at a local restaurant, you walk through the village at your own pace, then head to Tunxi Ancient Street in the old city center: rows of preserved shops where you can browse for antiques and trinkets. If time allows, you stop at Hu Kaiwen Ink Factory, a centuries-old workshop on the same street where artisans still hand-craft traditional Chinese ink using techniques passed down through generations. You'll spend your first night in Tunxi.

Day two is a full day on Yellow Mountain itself. After a one-hour drive from the city, you take the Yungu cable car up (a 10-minute ride) and meet your professional English-speaking guide, who spends over 200 days a year on these peaks and will build a hiking route suited to your energy level. For energetic hikers, the day includes a 30-minute walk to the hotel, a lunch break, then a 3-hour exploration of the West Sea Grand Canyon (the 1st and 2nd rings plus the canyon floor) with options to push further to Flying-over Rock and watch the sunset from Bright Summit (1,840 meters). For beginners, children, and older travelers, the route is gentler: a 30-minute walk to the hotel, lunch, then a 2- to 2.5-hour walk into the canyon at your own pace, ending with sunset at Cloud-dispelling Pavilion. Either way, you spend the night in a mountain hotel: your choice of the 4-star Beihai or 5-star Xihai at checkout.

On day three, you wake around 5 or 6 a.m. to catch the sunrise from Refreshing Terrace, a short walk from the hotel. After breakfast, you visit Dawn Pavilion, Stone Monkey Watching the Sea (a rock formation that resembles a monkey gazing over clouds), and Lion Peak before taking the Yungu cable car back down. Your guide then transfers you to the airport or train station. If your flight or train is late, three optional cultural add-ons are available: a 1.5-hour calligraphy and painting session, a workshop to craft your own Huizhou incense pendant, or a group brush-making class at Yangwen Brush Workshop (additional charges apply).

What’s included

• Round-trip private transfer from airport, train station, or bus station.
• professional English-speaking guide who tailors the hiking route to your fitness level.
• one night accommodation on Yellow Mountain (choice of 4-star Beihai Hotel or 5-star Xihai Hotel at checkout).
• one night in Tunxi.
• breakfast each morning.
• bottled water daily.

Options for this experience

2 options

Private tour with a 4-star hotelGuide in English · 09:00One night in a twin-shared room at a 4-star hotel: Beihai Hotel, newly opened on the mountain in September 2025, with breakfast included for one night. Private tour: your own personal tour guide will accompany you for the entire tour, and the guide will also stay overnight on the mountain. Duration: 3 days. Daily bottled water: breakfast is provided by the hotel, and bottled drinking water is available each day. Lunch is at your own expense. Private air-conditioned vehicle: the vehicle depends on the size of your group and offers spacious seating. Pickup is included.

Private tour with a 5-star hotelGuide in English · 09:00One night in a twin-shared room at a 5-star hotel: the top 5-star option on the mountain, Xihai Hotel (New Wing), with breakfast included for one night. Private tour: your own personal tour guide will accompany you for the entire tour, and the guide will also stay overnight on the mountain. Duration: 3 days. Daily bottled water: the hotel provides Chinese and Western breakfast, and bottled drinking water is available each day. Lunch is at your own expense. Private air-conditioned vehicle: the vehicle depends on the size of your group and offers spacious seating. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Infant (under 3)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 72 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 66

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Trippest Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the 5-star mountain hotel if you want more comfort after a full day of hiking. The 4-star option keeps costs lower while still placing you on the summit. If you're arriving with a tight schedule or prefer to manage your own lodging, the tour-only option (without hotels) lets you hike the full route and visit both villages while staying elsewhere. The private guide and flexible routing mean you set the pace: energetic hikers can tackle the full canyon and multiple peaks, while those with less stamina or older travelers can enjoy the same views and villages at a gentler speed.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (under 3).

What's the hiking difficulty like on Yellow Mountain?

Your guide tailors the route to your fitness level. Energetic hikers can cover the West Sea Grand Canyon's three rings and reach Flying-over Rock in about 3 hours. Beginners and older travelers can walk 2 to 2.5 hours into the canyon at their own pace. The full tour involves around 5 kilometers of easy walking and climbing, and you choose how far to push each day.

Do I need to carry my luggage up the mountain?

No. Your guide will store your large suitcase at your hotel in Tunxi or at the foot of the mountain (about CNY 20 / US$4 per piece), and you'll collect it on the way back. Bring only a small bag or backpack for your overnight stay on the summit.

What happens if I want to see the sunset and sunrise?

The itinerary is built around both. On day two, you have time to watch the sunset from either Bright Summit (if you're hiking the full canyon) or Cloud-dispelling Pavilion (if you're on the beginner route). Day three starts before dawn so you can catch the sunrise from Refreshing Terrace, just a short walk from your hotel.

Is the West Sea Grand Canyon always open?

The West Sea Grand Canyon is closed annually from December through March. If you're traveling during those months, your guide will adjust the itinerary to other highlights on the mountain.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes round-trip private transfer from the airport or train station, one night at a 4-star or 5-star hotel on the mountain (your choice), one night at a hotel in Tunxi, breakfast each morning, bottled water daily, and a professional English-speaking guide. Entrance tickets to the mountain and villages are not included.

Can I do this tour without staying overnight on the mountain?

Yes. One of the five booking options is "3 Day tour (without hotels)", which includes the guide, transfers, and itinerary but no accommodation. You would arrange your own lodging in the area or stay in Tunxi both nights.