Anhui is an inland province in eastern China, best known for the granite peaks of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), the UNESCO-listed Huizhou villages of Hongcun and Xidi, and the Buddhist mountain of Jiuhua Shan. Its capital and largest city is Hefei. Anhui is the home of Hui cuisine, Xuan paper and Hui ink, and some of China's most famous teas. It has no sea coast, but the Yangtze River, Chaohu Lake and Taiping Lake give it plenty of waterfront.
Top trails
Routes worth lacing up your boots for.
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1
Huangshan Eastern Steps Ascent (Yungu Temple to Beihai)
The classic granite staircase climb into the Yellow Mountain, shaded by pine and bamboo with the first views of the peaks near Beihai. Entry ticket CNY 190 (~$28) from 1 March to 30 November and CNY 150 (~$22) from 1 December to 28 February; book in advance through the official Huangshan Scenic Area mini-program.
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2
Huangshan Western Steps Descent via Xihai Grand Canyon
A descent through the Grand Canyon of Xihai, the most dramatic section of the mountain, with plank walkways cut into vertical granite walls. The Xihai monorail (CNY 100 (~$15) one way) is an alternative for the canyon section. Sections may close after rain or ice; check the day's status at the visitor centre.
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3
Huangshan Lotus Peak and Heavenly Capital Peak Spur
A steep, exposed granite ridge climb to Lotus Peak, the highest point of the Yellow Mountain at 1,864m, with an optional spur to Heavenly Capital Peak, known for narrow ridges and pines rooted in cracks. Not advised in wet, icy or windy weather.
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4
Huangshan Beihai to Bright Summit and Shixin Peak Loop
The highest-density viewpoint loop on the mountain: the sunrise platform at Bright Summit, the sea-of-clouds views from Beihai, and Start to Believe Peak (Shixin Feng). Most walkers stay one night on the summit (book rooms weeks ahead) to catch sunrise.
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5
Xihai Grand Canyon Plank Walk Loop
A shorter, canyon-focused walk along carved cliff paths and tunnels through the Xihai Grand Canyon, suited to a loop from Beihai for walkers not doing the full Western Steps.
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6
Jiuhua Mountain Tiantai Pilgrim Trail
A stepped path used by Buddhist pilgrims through temple gates and pine forest to Tiantai Zhengding, one of the mountain's highest temple sites. Scenic-area entry is about CNY 160 (~$24) in peak season and CNY 140 (~$21) off-peak.
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7
Jiuhua Mountain Baisui Gong (Wuxia Temple) Trail
A temple-to-temple climb to Baisui Gong (Wuxia Temple), where the preserved body of the monk Wuxia is venerated; a quieter alternative to the Tiantai route.
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8
Tianzhu Peak Trail, Tianzhushan
A steep stone-staircase route to the main summit of Tianzhushan, a granite peak forest sacred to Taoism and Buddhism and part of a UNESCO Global Geopark. Confirm entry fees and trail conditions at the gate.
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9
Mount Langya Zuiweng Pavilion Loop
A gentle circuit past Zuiweng Pavilion (Drunken Old Man Pavilion), Langya Temple and Southern Heavenly Gate, tied to Ouyang Xiu's Song dynasty essay. Entry about CNY 95 (~$14) in peak season (April to October) and CNY 70 (~$10) off-season; four sites need separate tickets.
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10
Taiping Lake Shoreline Walk and Cycle Loop
Anhui's largest man-made lake sits north of Huangshan, ringed by hills, with lakeshore roads and paths that make an easy low-elevation walk on a Huangshan itinerary. Facilities are basic; carry water.
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11
Xin'an River Nanyuankou to Xiongcun Trail
A quiet village-to-village walk along the Xin'an River Landscape Gallery through orange orchards and Hui-style hamlets, with the Nanyuankou to Xiongcun section as the classic route.
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12
Huihang Ancient Trail (Jixi to Lin'an)
A former Huizhou merchant road linking Anhui with Hangzhou, running about 25km from Fuling in Jixi County to Moxiao in Lin'an District. Signs are largely in Chinese; download offline maps before leaving town.
Trail difficulty levels
Pick a route that matches your fitness and experience.
Mostly flat, well-marked paths. Suitable for families and casual walkers.
Some elevation gain, longer distances. Requires basic fitness.
Significant climbs and exposure. Requires good fitness and route-finding.
Technical terrain, scrambling, or alpine conditions. Experience essential.
When to hike
Seasonal conditions in Anhui.
- Spring
- March to May brings azaleas and mist on Huangshan and Jiuhua, comfortable temperatures, and the spring tea harvest in the Huizhou hills, though rain makes the granite steps slick
- Summer
- June to August is hot and humid at the base; the Huangshan summit stays cooler but is crowded in July and August, and the June to July plum-rain season brings heavy showers
- Autumn
- September to November has the clearest air, stable weather and the best views of clouds, with Huangshan and Langya busiest around the National Day holiday (1 to 7 October)
- Winter
- December to February can bring snow and rime ice on Huangshan; some trails and cable cars close in bad weather, but the peaks are photogenic and less crowded
Local hazards
What to watch out for on the trail.
Hazard: Steep granite stairs on Huangshan, Jiuhua and Tianzhu become slick in rain and icy in winter; trekking poles are advised
Hazard: National Day (1 to 7 October) and May Day holidays cause queues of hours for cable cars and one-way crowding on narrow trails at Huangshan
Hazard: Summit temperatures can be 8-10C below the base and fog can cut visibility to a few metres
Hazard: Some trail sections close temporarily after rain, snow or landslides; the Huangshan scenic area posts the day's status at ticket gates
Hazard: Mobile signal is weak in canyons and on the Huihang trail; download offline maps before starting
Hazard: Wasps and snakes are present in warm months on forested hill trails; keep to marked paths
Hazard: Emergency numbers in China: 120 ambulance, 110 police, 12301 national tourism hotline (Chinese language)