Majestic peaks and clusters of bizarre rocks and ancient pines — Huangshan in Anhui is even more spectacular than China’s Five Great Mountains.

▲ Huangshan, known as “China’s No.1 Fantastic Mountain,” is world-famous. (Photo/CFP)

Travel Centre / Comprehensive Report

Vast and resource-rich China boasts countless scenic wonders, among which the Five Great Mountains have long been regarded as iconic peaks. Mount Tai stands for grandeur, Mount Heng for elegance, Mount Hua for sheer cliffs, Mount Heng (Shanxi) for uniqueness, and Mount Song for profundity — each offering rare and breathtaking views. But beyond these famed mountains,Huangshan, known as “China’s No.1 Fantastic Mountain,” is equally renowned around the world. Since ancient times, poets and scholars have penned numerous odes to Huangshan, and after visiting, Xu Xiake, the famous traveler, praised it with the words: “After seeing the Five Great Mountains, you don’t need to see any others; after seeing Huangshan, you don’t need to see the Five Great Mountains.”.

The Huangshan Mountain range stretches 250 kilometers, with thousands of peaks competing in beauty and valleys rising in grandeur. There are 77 peaks over 1,000 meters high, including 36 major and 36 minor named peaks. Huangshan has not only been selected as one of China’s Top Ten Scenic Spots but is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Global Geopark. Huangshan consists of six scenic areas, each with its own distinctive character and style. Among them, the North Sea (West Sea) Scenic Area is located in the central part of Huangshan and is the mountain’s main scenic zone, featuring an assembly of peaks, rocks, valleys, terraces, pines, and clouds. The ingenious layout crafted by nature forms a series of majestic, extraordinary, surreal, and thrilling natural masterpieces.


▲ The sunrise at Huangshan is also very famous. (Photo/CFP)

The North Sea area boasts a gathering of remarkable peaks, such as Shimen Peak and Gongyang Mountain, both exceeding 1,800 meters in elevation and resembling barriers that separate the northern and southern parts of the mountain. The three main peaks — Lotus Peak, Bright Summit Peak, and Heavenly Capital Peak — tower majestically beyond the clouds, collectively referred to as the “Three Heavenly Capitals.” Although Shixin Peak is not as high as Heavenly Capital or Lotus Peak, nor is it among the 36 major peaks, it stands boldly atop a perilous ravine, sheer and steep on three sides. Legend says that visitors who reach this point will “begin to believe in the wonder of Huangshan,” hence the name “Shixin Peak” (Peak of Beginning to Believe). Shixin Peak is covered with ancient pines, including the Greeting Pine, Black Tiger Pine, Twin Pine, Dragon Claw Pine, Reclining Dragon Pine, and Sea-Exploring Pine.

Additionally, the North Sea Scenic Area features well-known attractions such as unique rocks like the Flying-over Rock, Dream Pen Blossoming, and Eighteen Arhats Facing South Seas. At the summit of Lion Peak, you can see another peak that resembles a monkey sitting alone atop the summit. When surrounded by sea of clouds, it looks as if the monkey is gazing at the clouds, hence the name “Monkey Gazing at the Sea.” Furthermore, Qingliang Terrace, Bright Summit Peak, and Danxia Peak are some of the best spots to watch the sunrise over Huangshan.

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