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 closed. Steep steps on the trail followed (the 'Hundred Ladders'), before snaking up in a series of steep zig-zags through a tunnel to the shoulder of Áoyú Fēng. An easy scramble got me onto the summit of this mountain.

Returning to the trail, we headed down through pine woods, as cloud rolled in, to a col, where sits the cosy Baiyun Hotel, our place of rest for the night. After checking in, we headed out to climb the steps up Guānmíng Dĭng, the second highest peak in these mountains. We made it to the platform on which sits the meteorological observatory and a hotel. This looked to be the highest point, so the summit selfie was duly taken. We then descended to the Baiyun Hotel as night swiftly fell.

On returning home and examining photographs of Guānmíng Dĭng, I noticed that there was a granite plateau looming over the buildings to the north-east that I had failed to see, due to the hill-fog that had descended in the latter part of the day. I had not reached the summit - a second summit failure on the same hike!

With ALT, JTT, SC and her father. The weather was cool but sunny, with mist rolling in mid-afternoon.