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Autumn Travel Guide
Experience China's golden season with stunning fall colors, comfortable weather, and vibrant harvest festivals
Autumn on the Yellow Mountain & Wuyuan Palette
7-Night Slow-Travel Itinerary (Avoiding 1–7 Oct Golden-Week and late-November harvest-truck traffic)
Avoid These Dates
- • 1–7 Oct 2025 – Golden-Week; cable-cars queue 2-3 hrs
- • 20–30 Nov – late-autumn farmers' trucks clog mountain roads
Base Strategy
Base yourself only twice: Huangshan City/Tunxi Old Street (3 nts) → Wuyuan countryside (4 nts). One 50-minute high-speed rail G1601 link (CNY 45). No airport shuffle, no scenery repetition.
Day-by-Day Plan
Day 1 – Arrive Huangshan City
- • Fly into Huangshan Tunxi Int'l (TXN) before 30 Sep
- • Airport bus 25 min CNY 20 → Tunxi Old Street
- • Stay: Luxury – Banyan Tree Huangshan (valley villas) | Mid – Huangshan International Hotel (Old Street walk) | Budget – Old Street Youth Hostel (heated dorm)
- • Evening: Lantern-lit Tunxi Old Street; dinner at Mei Shi Ren Jia – stinky mandarin fish & Huangshan tofu
Day 2 – Yellow Mountain Summit
- • 07:30 Taxi 25 min to Yungu Cableway; pre-book 08:00 slot CNY 160
- • Cable to 1 600 m; check-in Xihai Hotel (heated rooms, sunrise deck)
- • 09:30–15:30 Traverse West Sea Grand Canyon (shuttle bus inside CNY 20) – maple & pine against granite spires
- • 17:00 Sunset at Paiyun Pavilion; hot-pot dinner at hotel
Day 3 – Sunrise & Descent
- • 05:30 Sunrise at Bright Summit (1 860 m)
- • 08:00 Descend via Yuping Cableway (CNY 160) to Tangkou
- • 12:30 Return to Tunxi; foot-massage at Old Street Spa (CNY 88)
- • 19:00 Huangshan Impression Show (indoor theatre, heated seats)
Day 4 – Hongcun & Mukeng Bamboo Sea
- • 09:00 Taxi 45 min to Hongcun UNESCO Village – ox-bow lake reflections of red maples; CNY 104 ticket
- • Lunch: Hongcun Family Restaurant – bamboo-shoot stew
- • 13:30 Continue 20 min to Mukeng Bamboo Sea – short hike through golden bamboo; free
- • 17:00 Back to Tunxi; pack light
- • 19:00 High-speed rail G1601 Tunxi → Wuyuan, 50 min CNY 45
Day 5 – Wuyuan Countryside Base
- • Arrive Wuyuan; taxi 15 min to Likeng Village
- • Stay: Luxury – Wuyuan Skywells (restored Ming mansion, heated kangs) | Mid – Likeng Boutique Inn (river-view) | Budget – Wuyuan Youth Hostel (shared lounge fireplace)
- • 10:30 E-bike rental CNY 40/day; ride Likeng → Wangkou → Rainbow Bridge (flat 12 km)
- • Lunch: Rainbow Bridge Café – wild-mushroom rice
- • 15:00 Cycle back; sunset over Likeng stone bridges with burning maple hills
Day 6 – Huangling Sun-Drying & Ancient Paths
- • 08:00 Taxi 40 min to Huangling Scenic Area – iconic terraced fields & rooftop sun-drying racks of chilies, CNY 120
- • Cable car up (CNY 120 return) or hike 45 min
- • 12:30 Farm-to-table lunch: Huangling Farmhouse – dried-bamboo & pork clay pot
- • 15:30 Taxi 30 min to Jiangwan Ancient Village – Ming-era clan houses, free
- • 18:30 Return; bonfire dinner at Skywells (homemade rice-wine)
Day 7 – Slow Departure
- • 08:30 Final e-bike ride Likeng → Jiangling Terraces – golden rapeseed & red maples
- • 11:30 Taxi 30 min to Wuyuan High-Speed Station
- • G1602 Wuyuan → Hangzhou East (2 h 30 min); connect flight home
Dining Quick-List
Huangshan Specialties
- • Stinky mandarin fish
- • Huangshan tofu
- • Bamboo-shoot stew
Wuyuan Specialties
- • Wild-mushroom rice
- • Dried-bamboo & pork clay pot
- • Homemade rice-wine
Accommodation Map
Huangshan
- • Luxury: Banyan Tree
- • Mid-range: International Hotel
- • Budget: Old Street Youth Hostel
Wuyuan
- • Luxury: Skywells
- • Mid-range: Likeng Boutique Inn
- • Budget: Wuyuan Youth Hostel
Transport Quick-Glance
- • Airport → Tunxi: Airport Express Bus 25 min
- • Tunxi ↔ Wuyuan: G1601 high-speed rail 50 min
- • Local: hotel shuttles, e-bike rental, Didi
Autumn Highlights
- Golden maple leaves and fall colors
- Mountain hiking and scenic views
- Comfortable weather for outdoor activities
- Harvest festivals and cultural events
Autumn Weather
Temperature Range
15°C - 22°C (59°F - 72°F)
Precipitation
Moderate rainfall, clear skies
Best Regions
Central and Eastern China
Travel Tips
- • Book mountain hotels early for peak season
- • Pack layers for variable autumn weather
- • Bring camera for stunning fall colors
- • Avoid Golden Week (1-7 Oct)
- • Check cable car schedules in advance
Useful External Links