What's on in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), China through the year

Busy — Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in China, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Spring Festival

  15–23 FebLunar New YearCrowdedClosures

  Cold, often snowy, and busy with domestic visitors who come for exactly that. Summit hotels that stay open charge holiday rates and the cable car queue starts before dawn. Source ↗

Still on: Sea of clouds (1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)), Winter off-season (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Peak crowds — Spring Festival, Winter break (around Chinese New Year) in China

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Spring Festival (15–23 Feb), Sea of clouds (1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually)), Winter off-season (1 Dec – 28 Feb)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Sea of clouds (1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Sea of clouds (1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))

Busy — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in May.

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Season

  Meiyu on the mountain

  10 Jun – 10 Jul · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  The wettest weeks of the year. The granite steps are slick, the view is usually inside the cloud rather than above it, and the peaks close when there is thunder about.

Busy — Summer break in China, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Meiyu on the mountain (10 Jun – 10 Jul (usually))

Busy — Summer break in China, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Busy — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its best months for weather

Nothing new starts in September.

Peak crowds — National Day Golden Week, National Day Golden Week in China

• Holiday

  National Day Golden Week

  1–7 OctCrowdedBook early

  The stone stairways move at a shuffle and the summit beds go the day booking opens. If October is the only month you have, come after the 8th. Source ↗

• Nature

  Autumn colour

  20 Oct – 20 Nov · usually

  The mountain's best fortnight: cool, dry, and the beeches turning under the pines. It is also when the summit hotels are hardest to book.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  Sea of clouds

  1 Nov – 15 Apr · usuallyFog season

  The valleys fill below the ridge on the cold, still mornings of the winter half of the year, which is the picture everyone comes for. Sleeping on the summit is the only way to be there at dawn.

Still on: Autumn colour (20 Oct – 20 Nov (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Season

  Winter off-season

  1 Dec – 28 FebOff-season shutdownClosures

  The gate price drops for the three winter months, some summit hotels close, and the cable cars take their annual maintenance in turn — check which one is running before you plan the ascent.

Still on: Sea of clouds (1 Nov – 15 Apr (usually))