Huangshan (Yellow) Mountain

Our next stop was Yellow Mountain. It is another landscape photography opportunity, and I’m in my happy place.

Huangshan Mountain is known as the yellow mountain, not because it is yellow, but because the Yellow Emperor deemed it so in around 747 AD. It is also more than one mountain. This mountain range is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its natural beauty of the granite peaks, old pine trees and the clouds that drift through both the trees and the rocks. Its famous and unique scenery has been the focus of poems and a variety of artwork for over a 1000 years.

The clouds drift between the mountains

I couldn’t wait to photograph the granite peaks peaking through the swirling low clouds. But first we had to get there. 

It was not clear in the advance trip notes that the cable car did not take us all the way to the top. Nor that we would have to carry a nights provisions to our lodging.  This was in addition to our camera gear. With the addition of the tripod and the laptop, my camera gear bag was now approaching 30 lbs. After exiting the cable car, imagine my thoughts as I viewed the endless stone stairway that lay before me. (They were not pleasant thoughts.)

What a rude awakening. Perhaps, once I got to the lodge it would be easier?

What seemed like 100s of steps upward, and an hour later, we arrived at our lodge. Jettisoning my clothes and extra gear (laptop and tripod), I wondered if I had any energy left to explore the trails.

We headed to our first viewpoint. You needn’t ask. Yes, there were more stairs, both up and down. Fortunately, the views made me forget the pain.

The rugged beauty was tapered with the clouds and old pine trees

 

The pine trees were unique to Yellow Mountain and only found in this region. Clinging to rocks, they made great subjects. 

Back to the lodge to pick up the tripod for the sunset shoot in the other direction. Yes, more stairs and by now the quad muscles were burning with every step. But we were graced with an amazing sunset.

I love how the trees are isolated against the sky with the layers of mountains in the background.

The sky reflected off the granite wall making the rock face appear reddish orange

A spectacular sunset, it was worth all the steps!

The next morning before dawn, I was again hiking UP the stairs to a distant viewpoint. Supposedly, it was great for sunrise, but as we approached the last set of a 100 stairs or more, my quads just couldn’t do it. I opted instead to return to yesterday’s afternoon location. Which amazingly was almost empty. A sign that I had made the right choice.

The colors were beautiful for just a few minutes.

The tradition is to inscribe your love on the lock, lock it to the fence and show the key into the valley below. What a beautiful spot to symbolize one’s eternal love.

I like how some of the locks had the mountains etched in them.

Somehow our return hike to the cable car was not as long. Perhaps, because it was mostly downhill. I would love to have spent more time capturing the beautiful granite mountains, but alas, my quads would not have survived another day.