Adventure Awaits You On The Amazing Yellow Mountain
Snow covered pathway, between areas of revegetated landscape, on Yellow Mountain, China.
Yellow Mountain is one of the most beautiful places I've ever visited. The scenery is simply sublime and its reputation as one of China's most spectacular landscapes is well earned.
Huangshan, which translates as Yellow Mountain, is a series of mountains linked together by a trail. It's possible for the extremely fit to hike the entire length of the trail in a single day. However, as a photographer, I very much appreciated the three days I'd set aside to make the trek.
In Chinese culture, the color yellow is associated with happiness.
From my own experience, hiking across Yellow Mountain was one of the most physically challenging experiences of my life.
However, given the incredible alpine scenery and opportunities to create beautiful, life-affirming photos, my Yellow Mountain adventure was one of the happiest times of my life.
My Adventure Exploring The Spectacular Yellow Mountain
The above photo was made very early in the morning.
I was up early hoping for a sunrise photo session, prior to heading back to the hotel for a shower and some breakfast.
It was then a matter of packing up and hiking to the next hotel, stopping regularly to make photos or catch my breath along the way.
I have the capability to walk, on a gentle trail, for many hours without too much trouble. But I hate hills and the mountain trails across Yellow Mountain are quite steep.
In fact, in some places, they’re very steep and very exposed.
I remember one morning stripping down to a T-shirt during the hike, despite the fact that it was around -10C.
I was carrying my camera kit, including a tripod, winter clothing and personal effects.
The fact that it was only a few hours hike to the next hotel, where a hot lunch and a nice shower awaited, kept me going. That and the spectacular scenery.
After lunch I'd head out again for more exploration and photography.
As the days are relatively short during the cold winter months I'd stay out for sunset returning, just in time, for a nice hot shower and dinner.
I repeated this cycle for three days, and it was one of the best adventures I’ve had in all my years as a travel photographer.
Dinner and a sunset! Really, it doesn't get much better than that for landscape photography.
More often than not staying out on location means we miss the evening meal and have to settle for a bag of chips or a chocolate bar.
While not a spectacular scene, the ice covered trees, mist and enveloping stillness indicated that the hike onto the next hotel was going to be fun indeed.
And it was. In fact it was outstanding.
Yellow Mountain trail in winter, before workers sweep snow and ice away.
The Best Time Of Year To Visit Yellow Mountain
I visited Yellow Mountain during late January and enjoyed three fabulous days on the mountain.
One potential problem for the enthusiast photographer, seeking serenity and landscapes bereft of people, is that literally millions of tourists visit Yellow Mountain each year.
To avoid the crowds I decided to schedule my trip in the middle of winter.
Unfortunately, some of the more adventurous mountain trails are closed during winter.
What's more, the deep set mist, which closed around me like a veiled curtain, no doubt hid many spectacular views.
Nonetheless, I believe the timing of my trip made sense.
I doubt that I saw more than 100 people over the three days I spent hiking across Yellow Mountain, most of whom I spotted in hotel restaurants.
So, for me, the loss of potentially striking scenery was a reasonable compromise given the deep sense of tranquility, punctuated with moments of exhilaration, I experienced along the trail.
Huangshan is very much a place to experience serendipity.
You simply have to be there, get out into the landscape and be prepared for a little hardship.
The state of bliss comes to those who are open to possibilities and are prepared to take risks.
While the mountain is susceptible to mist throughout the year, it would be great to experience Yellow Mountain in spring and autumn.
And I'd love to return, for an extended visit, during winter.
