"After a night in the Bayun Hotel, we started off after 11:00, having spent an easy morning. It was cloudier than the day before, but the weather improved as the day went on. We climbed the steps again up Guānmíng Dĭng, descending on the other side on a trail that contoured down the west and north flanks of the mountain. Eventually we reached the buildings at Bei Hai. A side trail took us up to the summit of Shīzi Fēng, with a short detour to admire the view from Refreshing Terrace. on the way up. From the summit we looked over to the boulder on the summit of a neighbouring peak known as 'Monkey-watching-the-sea-of-clouds'. We returned to Bei Hai, continuing on the trail around a wooded coombe and up to the shoulder of Shǐxìn Fēng (Beginning-to-Believe Peak). A steep set of steps led up to the summit. After admiring the misty view, I continued on the loop back to the shoulder to rejoin the others. We continued around the flank of the massif on a fine trail of 'balcon' aspect, before a short stiff pull brought us to the Yungu gondola station for our descent to the valley." — marktrengove • Nov 30, 2019

"After a night in the Bayun Hotel, we started off after 11:00, having spent an easy morning. It was cloudier than the day before, but the weather improved as the day went on. We climbed the steps again up Guānmíng Dĭng, descending on the other side on a trail that contoured down the west and north flanks of the mountain. Eventually we reached the buildings at Bei Hai. A side trail took us up to the summit of Shīzi Fēng, with a short detour to admire the view from Refreshing Terrace on the way up. From the summit we looked over to the boulder on the summit of a neighbouring peak known as 'Monkey-watching-the-sea-of-clouds'. We returned to Bei Hai, continuing on the trail around a wooded coombe and up to the shoulder of Shǐxìn Fēng (Beginning-to-Believe Peak). A steep set of steps led up to the summit. After admiring the misty view, I continued on the loop back to the shoulder to rejoin the others. We continued around the flank of the massif on a fine trail of 'balcon' aspect, before a short stiff pull brought us to the Yungu gondola station for our descent to the valley." — marktrengove • Nov 30, 2019

"Taking the bus from the town of Tangkow, we took a gondola on the Yuping cableway up to the top station above a stunning valley with many high-grade rock-climbing possibilities. First we made a visit to a famous pine tree - the Guest-Greeting-Pine (see at http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002121/the-guardian-of-chinas-guest-greeting-pine), before heading on a higher path to the base of Liánhuā Fēng. The steep trail to the summit was closed due to 'the possibility of lightening', but the weather conditions made this unlikely. This trail is, I understand, often closed, which is a frustration. To be fair, there may have been ice on the path. The vast majority of the many many people hiking the Huángshān are not mountain walkers, so a cautious approach to safety by the authorities may be appropriate in the circumstances. We continued on the trail north, following signs for the Beihei Scenic Area. All the paths on these mountains are paved with granite, and four metres wide, so it is difficult to get lost. The trail took a precipitous route around the west flank of Liánhuā Fēng, through a gap with a subsidiary top to the left, to reach the other route up the mountain - likewise c..." — marktrengove • Nov 29, 2019

"Taking the bus from the town of Tangkow, we took a gondola on the Yuping cableway up to the top station above a stunning valley with many high-grade rock-climbing possibilities. First we made a visit to a famous pine tree - the Guest-Greeting-Pine (see at http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002121/the-guardian-of-chinas-guest-greeting-pine), before heading on a higher path to the base of Liánhuā Fēng. The steep trail to the summit was closed due to 'the possibility of lightening', but the weather conditions made this unlikely. This trail is, I understand, often closed, which is a frustration. To be fair, there may have been ice on the path. The vast majority of the many many people hiking the Huángshān are not mountain walkers, so a cautious approach to safety by the authorities may be appropriate in the circumstances. We continued on the trail north, following signs for the Beihei Scenic Area. All the paths on these mountains are paved with granite, and four metres wide, so it is difficult to get lost. The trail took a precipitous route around the west flank of Liánhuā Fēng, through a gap with a subsidiary top to the left, to reach the other route up the mountain - likewise c..." — marktrengove • Nov 29, 2019

"Taking the bus from the town of Tangkow, we took a gondola on the Yuping cableway up to the top station above a stunning valley with many high-grade rock-climbing possibilities. First we made a visit to a famous pine tree - the Guest-Greeting-Pine (see at http://www.sixthtone.com/news/1002121/the-guardian-of-chinas-guest-greeting-pine), before heading on a higher path to the base of Liánhuā Fēng. The steep trail to the summit was closed due to 'the possibility of lightening', but the weather conditions made this unlikely. This trail is, I understand, often closed, which is a frustration. To be fair, there may have been ice on the path. The vast majority of the many many people hiking the Huángshān are not mountain walkers, so a cautious approach to safety by the authorities may be appropriate in the circumstances. We continued on the trail north, following signs for the Beihei Scenic Area. All the paths on these mountains are paved with granite, and four metres wide, so it is difficult to get lost. The trail took a precipitous route around the west flank of Liánhuā Fēng, through a gap with a subsidiary top to the left, to reach the other route up the mountain - likewise c..." — marktrengove • Nov 29, 2019