Huangshan Photography Guide
As "China's strangest mountain",Yellow Mountain is famous for its four wonders: grotesque pines, oddly-shaped rocks, seas of clouds and hot springs. No one can remain calm before the magnificence and majesty of the Huangshan landscape.
Huangshan is not only a tourist resort, but also an Eden for photographers and photography lovers. Whether or not you are a professional, you can shoot marvelous blockbusters at Yellow Mountain, even with a mobile phone.
To maximize the breath-taking beauty of Yellow Mountain in your photos, let’s discuss the golden shooting spots and shooting skills at Huangshan.
Choose the Best Seasons to Go for Your Photos
Huangshan in Summer
- Spring: ★★★★★ verdant peaks with colorful blossoms
- Summer: ★★★★☆ (rainy days and busy season) cool paradise with flying waterfalls
- Autumn: ★★★★★ sky high and air brisk with fallen red leaves
- Winter: ★★★★★ rime on trees with floating snowflakes
Whenever you want to admire the marvelous Yellow Mountain, you’re welcome to customize a Huangshan tour.
Best Photography Location for Night Scenes
Night Scene
With starry sky and moon at Huangshan, people can take pictures of postcard-worthy vistas at night.
- Flying-Over Rock: Standing on the platform next to Flying-Over Rock, take the rock as foreground for shooting the stars and moon.
- Turtle Fish Peak: Go down Turtle Fish Cave a bit, where you can shoot the starry sky with Lotus Peak in the foreground.
- The North Sea: on the platform of Sounding Sea Pine
- Gongyang Mountain: that is, Huangshan 701 launching pad, where there is an antenna between Brightness Top and White Goose Ridge.
- Brightness Top
Best Shot Places for the Sea of Clouds
Sea of Clouds
- The Front (South) Sea – Jade Screen Mansion
- The Back (North) Sea – Refreshing Terrace
- The East Sea – White Goose Ridge
- The West Sea – Cloud Dispelling Pavilion
- The Heavenly Sea – Brightness Top
The Sea of Clouds is something that can only be met by accident, not through searching. If you encounter it, hurry to find a peak to climb. 90% of possibilities with the Sea of Clouds will appear on the first sunny day after rainy days in winter and spring. Pay close attention to the weather forecast.
Best Places to Take Photos for Snow-Covered Scenery
Snow-Covered Scenery
Beginning-to-Believe Peak, Refreshing Terrace, Gongyang Mountain, Brightness Top, Flying-Over Rock, Turtle Fish Peak, Jade Screen Mansion, and Heavenly Peak
- Winter is a good time for visiting Yellow Mountain, owing to fewer tourists and discounted prices of tickets and hotels.
Best Places for Taking Sunrise Photos
Sunrise
Refreshing Terrace, Dawn Pavilion, Lion Peak, Brightness Top, Jade Screen Mansion, Red Cloud Peak, Beginning-to-Believe Peak, and Turtle Fish Peak
- Click Highlights of Huangshan Tour to admire the breath-taking sunrise with us!
Brightness Top is the second highest peak of Yellow Mountain. Many believe it is the best spot for watching sunrise and sunset, so Baiyun Hotel, the nearest hotel to Brightness Top, is a good choice for accommodation.
In fact, there is a viewing platform near every hotel on the mountain. If you want to live there and watch the sunrise of Huangshan, you can choose a hotel near the back mountain or Huangshan Yu Ping Lou Hotel on the front mountain. If you really want to live at Baiyun Hotel, wait until the off season in winter.
- For those who don’t necessarily want to see the sunrise and want a higher-end hotel, Huangshan Nuan Shan Ting Hotel (黄山暖山町酒店) next to the parking lot at the foot of Yellow Mountain would be a good choice.
Monthly Sunrise Times
| Month | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
| Sunrise | 7:00 | 6:50 | 6:30 | 5:40 | 5:20 | 5:05 | 5:10 | 5:30 | 5:50 | 6:00 | 6:30 | 6:50 |
Best Places for Sunset
Cloud Dispelling Pavilion, Brightness Top, Red Cloud Peak, Flying-Over Rock, and Lion Peak
Monthly Sunset Times
| Month | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | Jun. | Jul. | Aug. | Sep. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. |
| Sunset | 17:30 | 18:00 | 18:20 | 18:40 | 19:00 | 19:10 | 19:10 | 18:40 | 18:40 | 17:30 | 17:10 | 17:10 |
Recommended Photography Routes
1. Two-Day Tour
D1: Yungu Cableway → Beginning-to-Believe Peak for “Dreamlike Pen Writing” (Meng Bi Sheng Hua, 梦笔生花) → Black Tiger Pine → Beihai Hotel → Xihai Hotel →Cloud Dispelling Pavilion, West Sea Grand Valley → Purple Cloud Peak for sunset
D2: Lion Peak for sunrise → Beihai Hotel → Xihai Hotel → Bright Top, Baiyun Hotel →Turtle Fish Peak, Lotus Peak → Greeting-Guest Pine, Heavenly Capital Peak → Yuping Cableway to get down the mountain
2. Three-Day Tour
D1: Yungu Cableway → Beginning-to-Believe Peak for “Dreamlike Pen Writing” (Meng Bi Sheng Hua, 梦笔生花) → Refreshing Terrace, Monkey Watching the Sea for sunset
D2: Lion Peak for sunrise → Beihai Hotel → Paiyunlou Hotel → Flying-Over Rock, Bright Top for sunset
D3: Stay overnight at Baiyun Hotel → Bright Top for sunrise → Cloud Dispelling Pavilion, West Sea Grand Valley → Ring 1, Ring 2 → take rail cable car from the bottom to Baiyun Hotel → Turtle Fish Peak, Lotus Peak → Greeting-Guest Pine, Heavenly Capital Peak → Yunping Cableway to get down the mountain
- You may not want to miss the 3-Day Huangshan Relax Tour from Shanghai.
Huangshan Photography Tips
Sunset
1. Get to know the weather in advance and prepare clothing accordingly.
2. You can refer to the sunrise times provided in your hotel.
3. Brightness Top and Refreshing Terrace are always full of people in the morning. You’d better get there half an hour ahead of sunrise or sunset. But try to avoid these two places in the busy season.
4. Pay attention to your safety. Do not look around when walking on the mountain!
5. The climate on the mountain is very varied. Don’t be discouraged if the weather is not too good. Just go out and try your luck.