5-Day Hangzhou + Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Itinerary 2026
A 5-day Jiangnan + Anhui itinerary combining Hangzhou's West Lake (UNESCO) with the legendary Yellow Mountain (Huangshan, UNESCO).
Quick Answer
What is this 5-day itinerary like?
This 5-day itinerary covers 3 UNESCO sites, involves 18 km of walking, and offers a total cost of $820.
Day by day
Book this trip →Five days: Day 1-2 Hangzhou (West Lake, tea), Day 3-4 Huangshan (sunrise, sea of clouds), Day 5 Hongcun/Xidi ancient village. HSR Hangzhou-Huangshan North: 1.5h, ¥110. Most visa-free.
Hangzhou: West Lake
West Lake boat ride (¥55) · Lingyin Temple (¥75) · Evening: Hefang Ancient Street
- 09:00West Lake boat ride
¥55
- 11:00Lingyin Temple
¥75
- 13:00Evening: Hefang Ancient Street
Evening: Hefang Ancient Street
Hangzhou: tea
Longjing tea plantation · China Tea Museum · Six Harmonies Pagoda (¥30)
- 09:00Longjing tea plantation
Longjing tea plantation
- 11:00China Tea Museum
China Tea Museum
- 13:00Six Harmonies Pagoda
¥30
Hangzhou to Huangshan
HSR Hangzhou → Huangshan North (1.5h, ¥110) · Tunxi Old Street · Evening: rest before mountain
- 09:00HSR Hangzhou → Huangshan North
1.5h, ¥110
- 11:00Tunxi Old Street
Tunxi Old Street
- 13:00Evening: rest before mountain
Evening: rest before mountain
Huangshan climb
Bus to Yuping cable car (¥90) · Cable car up + hike (¥160) · Sunset + sunrise on summit · Stay at summit hotel
- 09:00Bus to Yuping cable car
¥90
- 11:00Cable car up + hike
¥160
- 13:00Sunset + sunrise on summit
Sunset + sunrise on summit
- 15:00Stay at summit hotel
Stay at summit hotel
Hongcun and return
Sunrise at Huangshan · Descend · Hongcun ancient village (¥104, UNESCO) · Return to Hangzhou or fly out from Huangshan
- 09:00Sunrise at Huangshan
Sunrise at Huangshan
- 11:00Descend
Descend
- 13:00Hongcun ancient village
¥104, UNESCO
- 15:00Return to Hangzhou or fly out from Huangshan
Return to Hangzhou or fly out from Huangshan
Book this trip
All routes →Top sight tickets and any private drivers sell out first; everything else can wait until a week before.
If 5 days isn’t quite right
All routes →
Beijing essentials
Forbidden City · Great Wall · Temple of Heaven. For short stopovers.
Beijing → Xi'an → Shanghai
Imperial, ancient, and modern China on one HSR loop.
Beijing → Xi'an → Chengdu → Guilin → Shanghai
Adds Sichuan pandas and Li River karst.
Lock in the essentials before you fly
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Itinerary FAQ
How far in advance should I book the main sights?
Book the top restricted-access sight 7 days before, at midnight local time, via the official channel. Same-day tickets are not sold at most major sites.
Is 5 days too long for a first trip?
No — {n} days is the sweet spot. Three days covers the highlights but you will be exhausted. Five lets you add a day trip and an unhurried afternoon without rushing.
Can I do this itinerary without speaking Chinese?
Yes. Install Pleco (offline dictionary) and a translation app before you fly. Metro and attraction signage is in English in major cities; international-hotel staff speak English.
What's the worst time of year to run this exact route?
Golden Week (October 1–7) — every timed entry is impossible to get. Also avoid the Spring Festival rush (late Jan/Feb) and Labor Day (May 1–5). Mid-July to mid-August is hot and crowded with domestic travelers.
How much cash do I actually need?
Almost none. Alipay (linked to a foreign Visa/Mastercard) covers 95% of vendors. Carry ¥500–800 in cash as backup for small stalls. Tipping is not expected.
Is this route safe for solo travelers?
Yes. The main risk is traffic — e-bikes and scooters use sidewalks. Stay alert at intersections, especially outside Beijing/Shanghai where drivers may not stop. Solo female travelers report no issues.