After spending a long time looking at the weather forecast, we decided to hike Huangshan Mountain during a thunderstorm turning cloudy. Since we couldn't make it to Tiandu Peak, we hiked up from Ciguang Pavilion. It was foggy early in the morning, and the fog thickened as we climbed. Visibility was less than five meters, and we couldn't see the surrounding scenery. I was in a dreary mood for most of the day. The Welcoming Pine was packed with people, and even in such bad weather, many people were taking photos. We felt the crowds wouldn't be good for photos, so we didn't take any photos and continued on. We didn't feel the thrill at all when we reached Yixiantian (One Line Sky) because we couldn't see the surrounding scenery. Guangmingding (Bright Summit) was also shrouded in dark fog, and the wind was very strong. We decided to go back to the hotel and rest. After 3 p.m., as we passed Feilai Rock, a sudden gust of wind blew away the fog, revealing a ray of blue sky and white clouds. Our mood, which had been gloomy all day, suddenly brightened up, and we rushed to take photos and videos. Back at the Paiyunxing Hotel that evening, we were treated to a stunning sunset and sea of clouds, which was a bit of a relief for the day. The next day, we got up early to watch the sunrise at Danxia Peak. The rising golden sun illuminated our good mood for the whole day. After dinner, we set out for Xihai Grand Canyon to see the spectacular mountains and sea of clouds. We took the popular train from the bottom of the valley to Tianhai, and then to Guangmingding to make up for the regret of not seeing it yesterday. At Guangmingding, we saw Lianhua Peak in front of us, quietly shrouded in clouds and mist, like a fairyland. After hiking further up the mountain to see the Monkey Sea, we decided to head down to the South Gate Transfer Center. Seeing a sign telling us to hike down, we headed straight for it. The further we went, the more deserted it became. It felt very desolate, and something suddenly felt off. Finally, we bumped into a few people who told us this was the way to Songgu Temple at the North Gate. Suddenly, we felt overwhelmed. Going back up would be arduous, with endless steps. So, we continued down together until we reached the North Gate Visitor Center. There was no one along the way, no signal, and very few signage. It would have been terrifying if we were just one or two people. It was past 5 p.m., and the Taiping Cableway had already stopped operating. There were no rides, and taxis were expensive. After picking up our luggage at the South Gate Transfer Center, we took another ride to Tunxi. It was already past 9 p.m., so we went straight to the hotel to sleep.
I sincerely advise everyone to find good weather before hiking, otherwise your ticket will be wasted and you won't see anything. Always pay attention to the signs before you go, otherwise one wrong move could lead to many more. I also strongly recommend that the Huangshan Scenic Area strengthen the signage along the North Gate hiking route, at least to provide visitors with clear directions.