Granite peaks above a sea of clouds
Huangshan, the Yellow Mountains, is one of China's most celebrated landscapes and a UNESCO site: granite peaks, twisted pines growing from cracks in the rock, and clouds that fill the valleys like a sea. Stone staircases and cable cars lead to the summit area, where many visitors stay overnight to catch sunrise and sunset. Hikes link viewpoints such as Beginning-to-Believe Peak and the West Sea Grand Canyon. At the foot of the mountains, the Huizhou villages of Hongcun and Xidi preserve Ming and Qing architecture.