Differences Between Huangshan City, Huangshan District, and Huangshan Scenic Area
Huangshan itself is the name of a group of mountain peaks. Due to historical evolution, the term "Huangshan" has increasingly taken on different meanings and connotations. For locals, many place names and common terms related to Huangshan tourism are readily used—each name carries both familiarity and specificity, with clear references. But for visitors from elsewhere, it’s often confusing—unclear about what is where.
Huangshan City (Tunxi)
Huangshan City is a prefecture-level city in Anhui Province, comprising three districts and four counties: Tunxi District, Huizhou District, Huangshan District, She County, Xiuning County, Yi County, and Qimen County. The urban area is located in Tunxi District, locally referred to as Tunxi. Official publications, highway signs, and the like that indicate "Huangshan" generally refer to Huangshan City. For example, the Huangshan exit on the G3 Expressway points to Tunxi, the location of the Huangshan municipal government. Huangshan Airport, the Huangshan City Bus Terminal, Huangshan Railway Station, and the high-speed railway Huangshan North Station are all in the urban area of Huangshan City (Tunxi) or very close to it. It is about 70 kilometers from here to the South Gate (Tangkou) of Huangshan Scenic Area. If you arrive by high-speed rail, plane, or train, you will only reach Huangshan City (Tunxi), not Huangshan itself.
Huangshan Scenic Area (Tangkou)
The Huangshan Scenic Area is what we commonly refer to as "Huangshan"—a region enclosed by towering granite peaks, the core of tourism in the Greater Huangshan area, and a UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage site, as well as a Global Geopark. The scenic area spans 154 square kilometers; its physical boundaries are unfenced, with the cliffs of surrounding peaks serving as natural barriers. Even within the Huangshan Scenic Area, most peaks are so steep that to this day, they are mostly untouched by human footprints, with only traces of birds. This is what most people mean when they refer to Huangshan. The core scenic zone lies above 800 meters in elevation and requires an entrance ticket. The valleys surrounding the scenic area have been developed into tourist attractions by locals, such as Emerald Valley, Nine Dragon Waterfall, Furong Valley, and Phoenix Spring. These are not the world-renowned Huangshan Scenic Area, so please be aware and distinguish them. Of course, after visiting Huangshan Scenic Area, if you have time, you can also explore some of these unique spots, such as Emerald Valley and Nine Dragon Waterfall. Huangshan Scenic Area has four gates—east, south, west, and north—but when people say "Huangshan Gate," they usually mean the South Gate (Tangkou Town), where you can hike or take a cable car up the mountain from either the back mountain (Yungu Temple Ticket Office) or the front mountain (Ciguang Pavilion Ticket Office).
Huangshan District (Taiping)
Huangshan District is a district under the jurisdiction of Huangshan City and is the farthest district/county from the main urban area of Huangshan City. The urban center of this district is Taiping, which is also the location of the North Gate of Huangshan Scenic Area. From here, you can take the Taiping Cable Car up the mountain. It is about 60 kilometers to the South Gate (Tangkou) of Huangshan Scenic Area.
Huangshan Gate
A four-pillar archway structure, functioning as a ceremonial gate, it is the landmark of the South Gate of Huangshan. This is neither a ticket booth nor a tourist distribution center. It only holds geographical significance as the physical boundary of the Huangshan Scenic Area's jurisdiction. It is a mandatory passageway for shuttle buses from the Huangshan Transfer Center into the scenic area, located just 1 kilometer from Tangkou Town. The characters "Huangshan" on the archway were handwritten by Chen Yi. Please note that there is now a similar archway at the North Gate of Huangshan. First-time visitors to Huangshan don’t need to consider any other so-called gates—the South Gate is the most suitable choice.
Tangkou Town
Has always been the most important tourist hub at the South Gate of Huangshan. It is the top choice for accommodation among independent travelers to Huangshan. The Xiaoyao Stream and G205 National Highway run through the town, and the old town of Tangkou along both sides of the stream is filled with guesthouses and tourism-related businesses.
The G3 Beijing–Taipei Expressway’s Exit 299 at the South Gate of Huangshan is named Tangkou, but it is actually located in Zhaxi Village, Zaixi, 2 kilometers away from the old town of Tangkou. The Huangshan Transfer Center and the Huangshan Scenic Area Bus Station have also been relocated from the old town of Tangkou down to Zhaxi, Zaixi.
Zaixi Village
Located 2 kilometers from the old urban area of Tangkou Town. Benefiting from its proximity to the G3 Beijing–Taipei Expressway exit and its more expansive terrain compared to Tangkou Town, it has developed into the new urban area of Tangkou. It is now the largest tourist hub of Huangshan Scenic Area, with over 99% of tourists to Huangshan transferring at the New National Line Transfer Center in Zaixi, Zhaxi, to take the New National Line buses up the mountain.
Transfer Center
Travelers who have visited many scenic areas in China will likely be familiar with this term. It is standard practice for both tour buses and private vehicles to transfer to the scenic area’s own transportation system. In some scenic areas, such as Yuntai Mountain in Henan, the internal transportation system is bundled with the ticket and incurs no additional charge. Scenic transport systems are sometimes criticized for being monopolistic or forcing purchases. Specifically for Huangshan, due to the winding and narrow mountain paths, especially the extremely limited parking space, the unified scenic transport system is not only an economic consideration but also a necessary and inevitable choice as visitor numbers grow.
The Huangshan Scenic Area Transfer Center has been relocated multiple times due to space constraints and is now situated 3,500 meters from the South Gate of Huangshan. Please note that to facilitate tourists staying in the old town of Tangkou, there is also a branch transfer center in Tangkou Town called the Dongling Transfer Center. Tourists staying in the old town of Tangkou can transfer nearby without having to go all the way to Zaixi. However, all buses to the mid-mountain ticket offices depart from the main transfer center in Zaixi.
Ciguang Pavilion
Ciguang Pavilion is the entrance checkpoint for the front mountain hiking route of Huangshan Scenic Area and the starting point for most hikers ascending on foot. It is 10.5 kilometers from the Huangshan Scenic Area Transfer Center in Zaixi, Zhaxi, with direct bus service and a fare of 19 yuan. The lower station of the Yuping Cable Car was moved from Ciguang Pavilion to Wenquan in June 2015—please take note. The current lower station of the Yuping Cable Car is still 1.5 kilometers away from Ciguang Pavilion along a mountain road. Hikers descending from Ciguang Pavilion can take a shuttle bus. Alternatively, continuing the 1.5-kilometer hike to Wenquan Scenic Area is also a great option. From Wenquan, you can take a shuttle bus at Lansheng Bridge to descend the mountain, with a fare of 11 yuan.
Yungu Temple
Yungu Temple is the entrance checkpoint for the back mountain hiking route of Huangshan Scenic Area, the location of the Yungu Cable Car station, and the starting point for hiking. It is 13.5 kilometers from the Huangshan Scenic Area Transfer Center in Zaixi, Zhaxi, with a fare of 19 yuan.
Songgu An and Diaoqiao An
Songgu An is located in Huangshan District (formerly Taiping County), at the entrance checkpoint for the North Gate of Huangshan Scenic Area, and is the starting point of the Asia’s longest Songgu Cable Car. Hiking up the mountain is also possible from here. About 10% of visitors to Huangshan Scenic Area enter through the North Gate.
The West Gate’s Diaoqiao An has a ticket office and hiking trails, but as it sees almost no visitors, it is not covered in detail here.
How to Get There
Map of Huangshan City Location
Huangshan City is located at the southernmost tip of Anhui Province. To the southwest, it borders Jingdezhen City and Wuyuan County in Jiangxi Province; to the southeast, it neighbors Kaihua, Chun’an, and Lin’an Counties in Zhejiang Province; to the northeast, it adjoins Jixi, Jingde, and Jing Counties in Xuancheng City of the same province; and to the northwest, it is adjacent to Shitai, Qingyang, and Dongzhi Counties in Chizhou City. The city administers three districts (Tunxi District, Huangshan District, Huizhou District), four counties (She County, Xiuning County, Yi County, Qimen County), and Huangshan Scenic Area, covering a total area of 9,807 square kilometers.
Driving Routes to Huangshan City from Nearby Cities
1. From Hefei: Drive along the Beijing-Taipei Expressway toward Tangkou and Tunxi. Exit at Huangshan City Exits ①, ②, or ③ to reach downtown Huangshan (Tunxi). The drive takes about 3 hours.
2. From Hangzhou: Drive along the Hang-Rui Expressway toward Lin’an and Tunxi. Exit at Huangshan City Exits ①, ②, or ③ to reach downtown Huangshan (Tunxi). The drive takes about 2.5 hours.
3. From Shanghai: Take the Shanghai-Kunming Expressway → Hangzhou Bay Ring Expressway → Shanghai-Kunming Expressway → Hangzhou-Ningbo Expressway → Hangzhou Ring Expressway → Hang-Rui Expressway → Beijing-Taipei Expressway. Exit at Huangshan City Exits ①, ②, or ③ to reach downtown Huangshan (Tunxi). The drive takes about 4 hours.
Note: Huangshan City Exits 1, 2, and 3 are located on different expressways. Please choose the appropriate exit based on your destination. For example, those heading to Huangshan North High-Speed Railway Station may opt for Exit 1 as it is closer. Exit 2 is nearer to the Old Street in downtown, while Exit 3 is in the Jiangnan area of Tunxi.
Self-Guided Travel Transportation Options to Huangshan City
1. By Air: Direct flights to Huangshan Tunxi International Airport are available from cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hefei, Xiamen, Xi’an, Chengdu, Chongqing, Haikou, Taiyuan, Fuzhou, as well as Hong Kong, Taipei, and Seoul, South Korea. (Flight schedules are for reference only; please check the airport for actual flights. Tel: 0559-2934111; or visit the official website: http://www.hsairport.com/)
2. By Train: Direct trains to Huangshan City (Tunxi) Railway Station are available from cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kunming, Fuzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing, Qingdao, Xiamen, Xuzhou, Yingtan, and Taizhou. (Tel: 0559-2116222; or visit http://www.12306.cn)
3. By Bus: Direct buses to Huangshan City (Tunxi) are available from cities including Hangzhou, Hefei, Shanghai, Wuxi, Suzhou, Hefei, Anqing, Quzhou, Wuhu, Ningbo, Bengbu, Wuhan, Wenzhou, and Yiwu. (Information for reference only. Huangshan Bus Terminal Tel: 0559-2566666; or inquire at your local bus station)
4. By High-Speed Rail: There are 66 high-speed rail services daily from 104 cities across China stopping at Huangshan North Railway Station. Please note that Huangshan North Station is neither in the Huangshan Scenic Area nor in downtown Tunxi. It takes about 30 minutes by bus to reach the city center and over an hour by shuttle bus to get to the scenic area. See other sections of this article for related travel tips.
Transportation within Huangshan Scenic Areas
About Huangshan’s Tourist Buses
Currently, Huangshan City has dedicated tourist buses operating three routes—east, west, and north—that cover nearly all major scenic spots around Huangshan. All tourist buses depart from the Huangshan Tourism Distribution Center, which is located inside the Huangshan Bus Terminal. Buses run hourly on the hour from 8:00–11:00 and 13:00–16:00, with round-trip services.
Distribution of Scenic Areas in Huangshan
Huangshan City boasts abundant tourism resources. It is one of China’s first Top Tourist Cities, as well as one of the Best Leisure and Residential Cities in China. The city has two UNESCO World Heritage Sites, 60 A-level scenic spots (including 8 national 5A-level and 20 national 4A-level tourist attractions), making it a world-class destination where natural beauty meets cultural heritage.
Tourist Bus Line 1 (West Route: Tunxi – Xiuning – Yi County): Huangshan Tourism Distribution Center → Ancient City Rock → Phoenix Mountain Wildlife Park → Qiyun Mountain → Xidi → Sai Jinhua’s Former Residence → Hongcun (Longchi Bay) → Huangshan Tourism Distribution Center. Tourist Bus Line 2 (East Route: Tunxi – Huizhou District – She County): Huangshan Tourism Distribution Center → New Fourth Army Headquarters → Qiankou Folk Houses, Chengkan → Tangmo → Archway Group (Baojia Garden) → Huizhou Ancient City (Huizhou Garden, Xu Guofang Memorial Archway, Xin’an Stele Garden, Doushan Street Ancient Residences, Yuliang Dam, Taibai Tower) → New Fourth Army Headquarters → Huangshan Tourism Distribution Center. Tourist Bus Line 3 (North Route: Tunxi – Huizhou District – Huangshan District – Jiuhua Mountain): Huangshan Tourism Distribution Center → Xixinan → Qiankou Tourist Center → Qiankou Folk Houses → Chengkan → Huangshan Scenic Area Distribution Center → Huangshan District (Taiping) Distribution Center → Jiuhua Mountain Scenic Area Distribution Center.
Tunxi District is the central area of Huangshan City, serving as its political, cultural, economic, and transportation hub. The airport, train station, high-speed railway station, and Huangshan Long-Distance Bus Terminal are all located here. Both G3 Beijing-Taipei Expressway and G56 Hang-Rui Expressway intersect here, with G3 having three exits in the area.
Getting to Huangshan Scenic Area
1. From Huangshan City: Generally, the default starting point for visiting Huangshan is the South Gate (Tangkou). Buses from Huangshan City’s train station / high-speed railway station / bus terminal to Tangkou Transfer Center at the foot of the mountain operate from 6:30 to 17:30, departing every 20 minutes. The fare is about 17–20 RMB, and the ride takes about 1 hour. Upon arrival at Tangkou, transfer to the Xizhi or Dongling Transfer Center to take the new scenic area bus to the hiking entrance. The fare for the new scenic bus is 19 RMB per person.
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2. Taking a Direct Long-Distance Bus from Other Cities: Direct long-distance buses to Huangshan Scenic Area or Tangkou’s Xizhi Transfer Center (also called Huangshan Scenic Area Transfer Center) are available from Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Hefei, Anqing, and Wuhu. When purchasing tickets in these cities, be sure to confirm whether the destination is Huangshan Scenic Area or Huangshan City.
3. Taking a Direct Train from Other Cities: If you’re taking a high-speed or regular train to Huangshan, the terminal is Huangshan North Station. After exiting the station, take the new scenic bus from the Huangshan Tourism Transport Hub at the station to the South Gate (Tangkou Town) of Huangshan Scenic Area (buses run from 6:30–18:30, departing when full or roughly every 30 minutes). The ride takes about 50 minutes to Tangkou Town at the mountain’s base, with a fare of 20 RMB per person. Taxis during off-hours cost around 200 RMB.
4. Flying Directly: A taxi from Huangshan Airport to Huangshan Train Station or Bus Terminal costs about 30 RMB. From there, take a bus to Tangkou for the Scenic Area at 20 RMB per person; buses run every 10 minutes from 5:30 AM to 5:30 PM. After that, you’ll need to hire a private car to Tangkou for about 180 RMB per vehicle.
Getting to Emerald Valley and Nine Dragon Waterfall Scenic Areas
Both Emerald Valley and Nine Dragon Waterfall are near Tangkou at the foot of Huangshan. From Tangkou, you’ll reach Nine Dragon Waterfall first, then Emerald Valley—the two are about a 5-minute drive apart. The previously mentioned tourist buses do not go to these two spots, so alternative transport is required. Depending on your starting point, there are mainly two options:
① From Huangshan City: Take a bus from the city’s bus terminal to Taiping. The route passes by Emerald Valley / Nine Dragon Waterfall—be sure to inform the ticket seller of your destination so they can remind you when to get off. The fare is about 20 RMB, and the ride takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes. If you miss the direct bus, you can first go to Tangkou and then transfer to a bus to the scenic areas (see instructions below for traveling from Tangkou). For convenience, you may also consider hiring a private car for about 300–400 RMB, which can pick you up directly, saving transfer time—ideal for families.
② From Tangkou: Although Emerald Valley / Nine Dragon Waterfall are at the foot of Huangshan, there is no direct bus from Tangkou. Take a bus from the Tangkou Transfer Center to Taiping, and get off at the entrance of Emerald Valley. The fare is about 5 RMB. Alternatively, take a taxi or hire a car for about 30–50 RMB, depending on your bargaining with the driver.
Getting to Hongcun and Xidi Scenic Areas in Yi County
The above-mentioned West Route Tourist Bus can take you to Hongcun and Xidi. In addition to the tourist bus, other options include: ① From Huangshan City: Take a bus from Huangshan Bus Terminal (Tunxi) to Yi County Bus Terminal, then transfer. Buses from Tunxi to Yi County run every 20–30 minutes (6:30–17:00), taking about 80 minutes with a fare of 12.5 RMB. Yi County Bus Terminal offers shuttle buses to Hongcun / Xidi (2 RMB, departures when full). ② From Tangkou: There are only two direct buses daily from Tangkou to Hongcun / Xidi, departing at 7:30 and 13:20. They start from Dongling Transfer Center, pass through Xizhi Transfer Center, and you can board at either. The fare is 13 RMB, and the ride takes about 50 minutes. If you miss these, take the 9:30 or 15:30 buses from Tangkou to Yi County (15 RMB, about 1 hour), then transfer to a bus to Hongcun / Xidi at Yi County Bus Terminal.
Getting to Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area
Head to Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area
Departing from downtown Huangshan: There are two options. One is to take a tourist bus from the downtown passenger transport station directly to the Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area. The other is to take a bus heading toward Qimen or Yi County and get off directly at the Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area. Both options cost about 10 yuan, and the journey takes around 45 minutes.
Heading to She County in Ancient Huizhou
Departing from downtown Huangshan: You can take the Tourist Bus No. 2 from the downtown bus station and get off at the Huizhou Ancient City. The fare is 7 yuan, and the trip takes about 40 minutes. Alternatively, you can take a passenger bus from the downtown bus station from Tunxi to She County, getting off at the new bus station in She County. The fare is 7.5 yuan, and the journey takes about 40 minutes.
Heading to the Chengkan Scenic Area
Departing from downtown Huangshan: Take a tourist bus from the downtown passenger transport station directly to the Chengkan Scenic Area. The fare is around 10 yuan, and the ride takes approximately 40 minutes.
Heading to the Xin’an River Scenic Gallery and Qiandao Lake
Departing from downtown Huangshan: To reach both the Xin’an River Scenic Gallery and Qiandao Lake, you’ll need to board a boat at Shendu Wharf in She County. To get to Shendu Wharf, you can take a bus from the Huangshan City Bus Station from Tunxi to She County. The fare is 7 yuan, and the trip takes about 30 minutes. Then, transfer to a bus from the She County Bus Station to Shendu Wharf at the She County Bus Station. Get off at Shendu Wharf. The fare is about 10 yuan, and the journey takes around 40 minutes.
Downtown Huangshan serves as the central hub for tourism distribution, and offers better options for accommodation, dining, and entertainment, making it the usual starting point for trips to any attraction. Although downtown Huangshan isn’t large—a taxi ride from east to west costs just 20 yuan—it’s very convenient for short trips within the city, and you can easily rely on taxis. However, the most “effortless” way to reach all scenic spots is definitely by hiring a private car.
About Huangshan Scenic Area Tickets
The entrance fee for Huangshan is 230 yuan per person. The round-trip cable cars for the Yungu, Taiping, and West Sea Grand Canyon are each 80 yuan one-way, while the Yuping Cable Car is 90 yuan one-way.
There are no discounts on Huangshan tickets for adults. However, various special groups are eligible for discounted or free entry for both tickets and cable cars.
Let me responsibly tell you that neither hotels at the foot of the mountain nor travel agencies across the country can offer any discounts on Huangshan tickets or cable cars. The only exceptions are promotional fares offered by Huangshan Tourism Development Co., Ltd. to promote tourism. Otherwise, the official discount and preferential policies apply: those holding a tour guide certificate can enter Huangshan for free, regardless of whether they are leading a group—just having the guide certificate is enough. However, this does not apply to the cable car tickets. Please note that a tour guide certificate is not the same as a tour guide qualification certificate. Students with full-time bachelor’s degrees or below, active-duty military personnel, retired military cadres, minors, national moral models, heroes and role models, and provincial/ministerial-level labor models can enjoy a 50% discount on the entrance fee (i.e., 115 yuan per person) during peak season by presenting relevant certificates. Seniors over 60 years old can also enjoy a 50% discount on the entrance fee (115 yuan) with a valid ID. People with disabilities can enjoy a 50% discount on the entrance fee (115 yuan) with a “People’s Republic of China Disability Certificate.” Individuals with national disability certificates (Grades 1 to 4), children under 1.2 meters, and Anhui residents aged 70 or above can enter for free.
I suspect many people are most concerned about student IDs—for instance, whether postgraduates qualify, or if those from night schools or correspondence universities also get discounts. Clearly, postgraduates are not undergraduates, and night/correspondence universities are not full-time institutions. Therefore, they do not qualify for discounts. Some may ask if the checks are really that strict. I’d say Huangshan is among the top in terms of scrutiny among Chinese scenic areas, though not entirely foolproof. You can purchase Huangshan tickets and cable cars via self-service kiosks using a card.
As for Huangshan cable car tickets, children under 1.2 meters are free, those between 1.2 and 1.4 meters pay half price, and everyone else pays the full fare.
Please note that if needed, Huangshan tickets can be used for two consecutive entries into the mountain. This is convenient for those who plan to stay at the foot of the mountain while exploring the mountain itself.
How to Book Rooms on Huangshan Mountain
I strongly advise you to book your rooms or beds on Huangshan Mountain as early as possible. During peak season, booking one to two weeks in advance is the safest option. I’ve seen many people scrambling to find accommodations on the mountain because they didn’t reserve in advance. They might think, “It’s fine, I’ll just stay in a standard room on the mountain—even if it’s expensive.” But what they don’t realize is that Huangshan Scenic Area differs greatly from many other mountain tourist spots: most of its trails are above 1,600 meters in altitude, and there are no residential areas within the scenic zone. There are very few hotels available—just a handful operated by Huangshan Tourism Development Co., Ltd. The scarcest resource on Huangshan isn’t just rooms—it’s rooms!!! Once you’re up there, you can’t just go back down the mountain, and there’s nowhere to stay. You certainly can’t sleep with the cliffside monkeys. So, I urge everyone planning to visit Huangshan: book your mountain accommodations as early as possible. The earlier, the better.