Best time to visit Huangshan (Tips, Photos & Map)

Located in Anhui Province, Mt.Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, is reputed for its breathtaking beauty and rich cultural heritage around the world. There are four wonders in Mt. Huangshan: strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs. The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO inscribed Mt.Huangshan on the list of Natural and Cultural Heritage on the World in 1990.

Check out Top 10 Attractions in Huangshan Mountain for more travel information.

The location of Huangshan Mountain

Huangshan City has a wet mild monsoon climate which features distinctive four seasons. When planning Huangshan Tour.  one of the frequently asked questions likely to perplex you is “When is the best time to visit Huangshan Mountain?”.

Best Time to Visit Hungshan : April – November

With respect to the whole scenic area in Huangshan, it is best to visit Huangshan from April to November, when all scenic spots in Huanshan are open to the public.

Tourists generally choose to come to Huangshan at this time, summer and autumn with comfortable climate, to enjoy the green and colourful mountain scenery, and the wide and open vision.

Most Beautiful Season of Huangshan: January – March

But winter is the best season to pursue a sea of clouds and winter snow scenery. And, the tourist winter low season ( January – March ) is known as “the most beautiful season of Huangshan”. You can enjoy the rime, ice, etc.

At this time you can also enjoy the off-season ticketing and hotel accommodations, if you are not afraid of cold. But the flip side is many scenic spots in winter are closed.

So generally speaking, there is no bad time to visit Huangshan Mountain. Different seasons offer distinctly different views. Use this quick  guide to help you make a smart choice about when to visit Huangshan Mountain.

Huangshan in Spring ( April – June)

In spring, the weather is very comfortable in Huangshan. In April the average temperature on Mt. Huangshan is around 10 C. With flowers blooming, streams gurgling, hills turning green and spring wind breezing, the mountains present different colors and fragrance.

Spring is also the rain season, please take your umbrella just in case.

But personally I love to visit Huangshan Mountain in the middle of May when azaleas and rhododendron flowers bloom, pine branches add new buds, feeling a person having gone through the rebirth of the winter.

You can see the sunrise on the top of the mountain in the morning. The higher you climb the mountain, the colder you will feel. So just remember to take a thick coat with you.

Azaleas bloom in May in Huangshan (Image Credit: 李金刚/NEWS.CN)

Huangshan in Summer ( July to September )

In summer, Huangshan mountain is a good place to escape the heat. Huangshan is green and the trees are full of birds. Huangshan enters summer in July and has no high temperature all the season.

The average temperature in midsummer is 20.7℃, and the average temperature at the mountain top is only 18.7℃. The highest temperature in a single day is 28℃. It is cool and sweat-free in the daytime, and can sleep peacefully under a quilt at night. It is an ideal summer resort.

Sea of clouds is one of the four wonders of Mt. Huangshan. Summer is the best season for cloud viewing, especially on clear days after rainy weather. In summer, the dashing waterfalls contrast with the crystal clear waters from the mountain streams.

Prepare for your sunscreen, hat and glasses to soften the scorching sunshine on the mountain.

Summer in Huangshan Mountain is not hot but cool. People like to climb the mountain in summer. However, some places like Bright Summit Peak or Jade Screen Tower don’t get a summer season.

Huangshan in later September

Huangshan in Autumn ( October – December)

Huangshan in autumn looks like a traditional Chinese painting and most suits for the traditional aesthetic standard. When fall comes, it is a great pleasure to appreciate the red autumnal leaves all around the mountains.Autumn is the high season for people to visit Huangshan Mountain.

By the middle of October every year, Huangshan enters the best season for viewing autumn leaves, which are covered with red, green and yellow colors.

There always many visitors from every corner of the whole world in this season. You are kindly advised to skip over China National Holiday in October when you plan your Huangshan Tours, since there are so many people during that time.

Huangshan in Mid October (Image Credit: 姚育青/NEWS.CN)

Huangshan in Winter ( January to March)

Many tourists recommend the winter landscapes of Mt. Huangshan as the most spectacular. Winter it is the most economic time to visit Huangshan.You may appreciate the beautiful Huangshan landscape by using the least money in this time.

In winter, the mountains and trees in Huangshan are covered with snow and ice making the entire area appear like a crystal wonderland.

Huangshan in Winter

Huangshan winter snow scenery has been listed as Huangshan’s Top Five after strange pines, absurd stones, sea of clouds and hot springs.

Hassle-free Huangshan Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for guided tours to Huangshan:

Huangshan Tour
Huangshan Highlight One Day Group Tour
3 Day Huangshan & Hongcun Village Tour
Beijing Huangshan Hongcun 3 Day Round Trip by High Speed Train
Hangzhou Huangshan Hongcun 3 Day Tour By High – Speed Train
Shanghai Huangshan 3 Day Tour by High Speed Train
Anhui Tour

Further Readings

Best Time to Visit Huangshan
Top 10 Attractions in Huangshan
Where to Stay in Huangshan
My First Day on Mount Huangshan (1)
My First Day on Mount Huangshan (2)
My Second Day on Mount Huangshan (1)
My Second Day on Mount Huangshan (2)
My Third Day on Mount Huangshan
Huangshan Snowy Wonderland
Hongcun Village
She County Photography Tour
Huangshan Travel Blog
Top 10 Attractions in Jiuhuashan
Top 7 Attractions in Anhui

Huangshan Taxi: Huangshan Taxi Fares, Tips and Phones
Shanghai Huangshan Transportation
How to drive from Huangshan City Center to Huangshan Scenic Area

Any questions, just drop a line.

13 thoughts on “Best time to visit Huangshan (Tips, Photos & Map)

  1. Hello,

    What months are spring, summer and autumn in Huangshan? Do we climb up Huangshan by foot for the entire tour?

    Thanks,

    Grace Tan

  2. Which month (Spring or Autumn) would you recommend to take best scenic shots ( with floating clouds like Chinese painting at Huanshan ? Need to avoid heavy rain also ?

  3. Hello Laurence Lim,

    Just avoid the plum rain season from March to June. The best time to visit is between September and October.

  4. Hi Daniel,

    Thanks for your valuable advice and looking forward to going to Huanshan soon.

    Warmest regards
    Laurence Lim

  5. I am going to visit Huangshan in December. is it possible to bring 20 kg suitcase to beihai hotel? How is the trails? is it difficult? if I cannot bring it, is there any place in the mountain foot where I can store my bags? thank you….

  6. Hello Novia,

    You have two choices to tackle the 20 kg suitcase problem.

    1) Pay a local porter to carry the suitcase for you. Many people have the same problem, hence the business of luggage transfer on the mountain.

    2) Leave your large suitcase in the hotel at the base of Huangshan and only carry a bag with some daily necessities.

    Have a good time in Huangshan!

  7. In December, what is the highest temperature on top of Huangshan during daytime and nightime? What kind of winter clothing should we wear? Does it snow a lot? What is the chance of seeing the beautiful sea of clouds? Do we also have a better chance to watch the sunrise and sunset?

  8. Hi Lucy,

    1) Huangshan Temperature in December: average 3℃ (day) and -3℃ (night )
    2) Clothing: down jacket ( wear warmly )
    3) Not often snow, but sometime snow
    4) If fine day, you will see sunrise or sunset
    5) Yes, in winter you have a better chance to view the sea of clouds, especially after rain or snow when it suddenly turns into a fine day.

  9. For mist in the valley,s rising up the mountain early morning. Best season? i was there in winter, day one overcast day two white out as was day three on departure very surreal!
    Buts very best season for mist rising?

  10. For mist in the valley,s rising up the mountain early morning. Best season? i was there in winter, day one overcast day two white out as was day three on departure very surreal!

  11. Dear Jane Ebel,

    It is all right to visit Huangshan in April since it is not crowded and most of the attractions in Huangshan are open to the tourists in April. Just a kind reminder: April is the rain season and please bring your umbrella just in case. Have a good time!

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