|
Bright Summit Peak
At an elevation of 1,840 m (6,037 ft), Bright Summit Peak is the second highest in Huang Shan. North of Lotus Flower Peak and accessible via the Western Steps and trails to the northeast leading toward Beihai, it is generally regarded as the best place to catch the sunrise and watch the "cloud sea" below. It also provides great views of Celestial Capital Peak, Lotus Flower Peak, the Crucian Ridge and Jade Screen Peak.
Celestial Capital Peak
The southernmost major peak accessible from the Western Steps, Celestial Capital Peak (Tiandu Feng) is 1,830 m (6,003 ft) high. Something of a Chinese Olympus, the "Celestial Capital" takes its name from its role in legend as the home of the Immortals and location of the city of heaven.
Though slighlty lower than nearby Lotus Flower Peak, it is the steepest of them all, with a nearly vertical stretech of the narrow ascent, the Baizhang Ladder. The peak is a popular spot for couples to affix padlocks engraved with their names to the pathway railings; it's also one of Huang Shan's most popular spots and the easiest to access, so expect major crowds on most days.
Huang Shan Eastern Steps
The Eastern Steps proceed from the eastern Huang Shan park gate (RMB 130 entry), crossing the road that runs west to the Hot Springs Area and on to Tangkou a few times before arriving a the Cloud Valley Temple Cable Car southern terminal. The trail continues north past White Goose Ridge, Beginning to Believe Peak and onto the mist-filled valley of Beihai (the North Sea).
There are a number of well marked points of interest along the way, including Jade Valley, which receives alpine runoff from Liandan Peak and Beginning to Believe Peak (so named. Legend has it, as being the point where a skeptical visitor first realized that Huang Shan is every bit as mind blowing as advertised). The valley features scores of small, colorful crystalline pools.
This route is less strenuous than the Western Steps, though many feel it is also less spectacular. The steps cover about 7.5 km (4.6 miles), making for a good three to four-hour hike. A popular full-day route through the mountains is to ascend the Eastern Steps, do the Peak Circuit, then descend via the lengthier Western Steps. The whole thing takes around 10 hours at a steady pace. An alternative is to stay in one of the hotels overlooking the Beihai, rising early to catch the sunrise over the mist-filled valleys before descending on the west side, to arrive at the Hot Springs Area (at which point, your legs could no doubt use a long hot soak).
Huang Shan Hot Springs Area
Huang Shan's hot springs (wenquan) maintain a steaming temperature of 42ºC (107ºF) year round. Guests may bathe in the healing waters, purported to cure arthritis and skin problems. Don't expect gorgeous natural mountain pools, however！the waters have been channeled into functional pools in a bathhouse next to the Huangshan Hotel. There are a number of other places to stay, and many find it a quieter and more pleasant option than overnighting in Tangkou.
Huang Shan Summit (Peak Circuit)
The crowning glory of Huang Shan is the rough circle of peaks Purple Cloud Peak, Pine Forest Peak and Bright Summit Peak！arranged around Tianhai Lake and overlooking two of Huang Shan's "seas" of clouds, the Beihai to the north and the Xihai to the west. Whether you arrive from the Eastern or Western Steps via the Taiping Cable Car, you'll find yourself surrounded by stunning sights as you work your way along the trail.
In addition to the circuit that links up with the Western Steps on the south end and a pair of trails breaking east toward the northern terminal of the Cloud Valley Cable Car, several trails break off toward more isolated！and less crowded！points. You can head north toward Purple Cloud Peak or cut east toward the more distant Shixin Peak, which affords a fantastic view of mountain streams cutting through pristine woods below spectacular rock spires.
The area, often generally referred to as the "summit," can either be part of a long day's hike (about 10 hours if you do both sets of steps and maintain a steady pace) or it can be an overnight destination. The Behai Hotel is just one of several hotels good for a hot meal and a warm bed after a day of hiking, though you'll want to get up early to catch the sunrise over the sea of clouds (see our Huang Shan hotel listings for more options). Note that there's also a Bank of China ATM near the Behai Hotel.
Huang Shan Western Steps
The Western Steps pass through some of China's most jaw-droppingly beautiful scenery, meandering past a series of Huang Shan peaks Celestial Capital, Jade Screen, Lotus Flower and Bright Summit！en route to the distinctive Flying Rock (Feilai Shi) and the Xihai (West Sea) with its early morning views of clouds filling rugged valleys.
The path is paved with stones, many of them forming steep stairs that can make for quite strenuous climbing. Along the way, you're likely to encounter throngs of other visitors during peak times and see countless engraved padlocks fastened to railings by lovers who have followed the custom of consecrating their attachment by leaving a symbol hanging in the mists of one of China's most romantic landscapes (you can purchase locks on site if so compelled).
If you walk the distance at a typical pace, the Western Steps generally takes around five to six hours to complete. You can pick up refreshments along the way, whether in hotel restaurants or from vendors. If you head north from the southern Jade Screen Peak Hotel (Yupinglou Binguan), you'll end up on the Peak Circuit, which can take you away from the crowds, toward the less-frequented Purple Cloud Peak. Heading south from Flying Rock, a massive stone block balancing on an outcropping, you'll eventually arrive at the Hot Springs Area after passing the peaks and Banshan and Ciguang Temples.
Lotus Flower Peak
Reaching the dizzying height of 1,864 m (6,000 ft), Lotus Flower Peak is the highest of Huang Shan's major summits. It takes its name from the arrangement of smaller ridges and peaks around it, which are said to resembe a lotus flower. The imaginative interpretation of nature's fantastic shapes here don't stop with the peak: it's famed for pines in the shape of flying dragons. Depending on the time of year, it's also possible to see the rare Yellow Mountain Azalea in bloom.
Needless to say, the view is gorgeous, with nearby Bright Summit Peak, Jade Screen Peak and Celestial Capital Peak rising in spectacular fashion. The Yupinglou Hotel is situated below the peak just off the Western Steps, which provide access both from the north and south.
| 
