Name: Huangshan: China’s Living Heritage
Brand: WildChina
SKU: 1

Savor the idyllic gems of rural Anhui province on this voyage into ancient China. You’ll visit frozen-in-time villages once home to wealthy merchants and scholars, peer into the mist atop soaring Yellow Mountain (Huangshan), and brave the “bamboo sea” immortalized in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.

About this Journey

Embark on a journey back in time in the UNESCO World Heritage villages of Anhui province, home to some of the most successful businessmen during the Ming Dynasty. While hard to believe today, these ancient stone villages on the banks of the Yangtze River were once important economic centers that facilitated trade between China and the outside world.

Explore the history and natural beauty of this area, where much of the original Ming and Qing dynastic architecture has been preserved. Nearby, the misty peaks of Huangshan, the Yellow Mountain, have inspired the brushstrokes of artists for generations. Experience times long gone by traveling through China’s living heritage.

What we love

Experiencing what life in ancient China was like by wandering through old villages where traditional buildings from times long gone still stand
Immersing in the ‘sea of clouds’ of Huangshan, where dramatic cliffs and ancient pines evoke the spirit of classical Chinese painting
Getting hands-on with traditional crafts — weaving bamboo with a local artisan and decorating your own inkstick using mineral pigments

Map

Itinerary

Day 1Arrival in Huangshan

Step off the plane or train in Huangshan and meet your local WildChina guide in the airport arrivals hall. They’ll be waiting to welcome you and will have your driver on standby, ready to whisk you off to your hotel for check-in (about 1 hour’s drive from airport to hotel). • Take a cable car up the eastern face of Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), followed by an easy 40-minute to one-hour hike at the top.

Day 2Huangshan Hike

Along the Xihai Grand Canyon Circuit, hike across the western edge of Huangshan, find yourself immersed in one of the mountain’s most majestic sights: a ‘sea of clouds’ enveloping unique rock formations, stone peaks, and lush pine trees. The total circuit covers up to 15 kilometers and can take up to 6 hours depending on your preference. • Explore more on the mountain before taking a cable car down and transfer to your hotel to relax.

Day 3Huangshan Villages

Bordered by 124 elegant and well-preserved traditional homes dating from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties, Xidi Village was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. • Meet with a local artisan in Nanping Village to learn how to weave bamboo by hand, then get a chance to take one of these intricate souvenirs home. • Bike around Bishan village, which is over 1,400 years old. While time has turned some buildings to ruins, local artists and curators have begun to revitalize the little town. Stop by local sugar and tofu workshops to discover the local craft before winding your way through curved alleyways and out onto bucolic country roads. • Our last stop is Hongcun. With beautiful bodies of water and incredible architecture, it’s no surprise Ang Lee filmed Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon in the ancient town of Hongcun.

Please Note: Hongcun is an extremely popular tourist destination. Though there will undoubtedly be lots of tourists, a visit to Hongcun is well worth the crowds.

Day 4Depart Huangshan

Visit the frozen-in-time village of Chengkan, set against a backdrop of cobalt slopes and surrounded by ancient waterways. • For lunch, be welcomed into a local home and learn about their everyday life while enjoying dishes of local flavors. If interested, try your hand at stirring up a dish or two with the host’s guidance. • After lunch, head to Tunxi where we will visit a local artisan who will show us the ancient ink-making process and learn how it is used in traditional Chinese art. In the end, you will get to use your creativity to decorate an inkstick with mineral paint and bring it back home with you! • Your WildChina guide and private chauffeur will escort you to the airport and help you check in to your departure flight.

Hotels

Xihai Hotel, Huangshan

Local Boutique

Modern amenities, varied dining options, and a winning location at the summit of Huangshan make Xihai Hotel the perfect base for exploring this beautiful region.

Huangshan Su House

Local Boutique

SU House offers a contemporary retreat with spacious guestrooms, modern amenities, and delicious Chinese cuisine, while immersing in the traditional Huizhou heritage.

Photos

Details

What’s Included

Services of an English-speaking WildChina local guide
Accommodation based on double occupancy with breakfasts included
All overland transfers with private chauffeur and in-transport refreshments
Private chauffeur service to and from airport at start and end of your trip
All admission fees and activity expenses, as noted in the itinerary
Meals as noted in the itinerary with complimentary drinking water

What’s Excluded

International and domestic flights, domestic trains, plus relevant taxes
Chinese tourist visa, which is required for most foreign passport holders
Travel and medical insurance
Meals, apart from those included in the itinerary, and alcohol
Expenses of a personal nature
Excursions and activities not included in the itinerary
Discretionary gratuities for guides and drivers

Next Steps

How do I book this tour?

Please use the inquiry form on the right-hand side of this page or email info@wildchina.com to get started. One of our travel designers will be in touch accordingly to start the process of planning your custom China trip!

What is the payment schedule?

1. Deposit:

Once you are ready to book, a $500 USD per person planning fee is required to begin reserving your arrangements. This will go towards your total trip costs and will be taken off your final balance amount.

2. Full payment:

Full trip payment will be requested 60 days prior to departure. If you’re booking within 60 days of your departure, you may be asked to make the full payment straight away.

Payments can be made via credit card, bank transfer, WeChat or Alipay.

What is your cancellation policy?

See our full booking conditions here.

Why WildChina

We’re on the ground with you

During the planning phase, our team of specialist travel advisors based in China will design every detail of your trip with you. When you’re on the ground, they will then orchestrate your entire journey, maintaining close contact with each of your guides throughout your trip to ensure you’re having the best journey possible. With offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, and an expansive network of operational partners across the country, we are committed to ensuring that your journey is safe, reliable and comfortable from beginning to end.

Your trip, your way

Flexibility is our highest-ranking compliment. With over two decades of experience, we’ve run just about every type of journey you can imagine. No request is too strange, too extreme, or too exclusive. Our team regularly pulls off unprecedented logistical feats; nearly any time frame or budget is within our realm. No matter how you wish to experience China, we are here to bring that dream to life.

We embody passion

WildChina’s guides are carefully handpicked for their knowledge and charisma, then meticulously trained to maintain our exceptional service standards. They are expert storytellers and passionate natives of the regions where they guide, having the perfect combination of local insights and service know-how to bring you seamless once-in-a-lifetime moments all across China.

The little things, the big picture

We firmly believe that supporting local people and economies allows you to experience the soul of a destination, while also protecting and cultivating China’s cultures. From watching artisans hand-make shoes in Yunnan, to picking organic vegetables for dinner on a local farm in Fujian, our tours are designed to showcase and protect China’s heritage, both natural and human.

Huangshan: China’s Living Heritage

Have questions?