Home»Wondrous Huangshan 2019

And now a road less traveled, at least by Westerners. China's mountainous and forested Anhui province, just a few hours by train from Shanghai, contains many scenic gems. I visited two of them in August. First up is Hongcun, a traditional village still inhabited by descendants of original residents, and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is frequented by young art students perched on the fringe of its lake, honing their painting skills. Anhui's main attraction is Huangshan Mountain--the Yellow Mountain--one of China's five sacred mountains, and probably the most sacred. It's an unbelievably extensive cluster of jagged granite peaks and valleys swimming in clouds, with wind-blown trees clinging to crevices in the rocks. This is the place that inspired traditional Chinese painting, and I was fortunate to spend four days and three nights in its magical embrace. Many thanks to Sophia, my expert guide, for showing me its breathtaking trails and iconic vistas.