Huangshan

The actual tour differs from the itinerary. Two local tour guides took us up Huangshan mountain. It is fully guided instead of free and easy. We had to pay an extra RMB580 per pax to cover all our expenses including 2 lunches, 1 dinner, 2 cable car ride and 2 train ride. It is well worth the extra money. Rooms in Xihai hotel on Huangshan mountain comes with window and Anchi hotel at Huangshan city overlook the river. On our own, the tour package price can only pay for the 3 nights accommodation. A word of warning, if you are not physically fit or has slight mobility issue, avoid Huangshan mountain. One member has knee problem and the guide helped to carry his backpack up the mountain. Overall, a value for money tour package.

The itinerary is not precise. The departure time was not 12.40pm as stated but at 1.30pm and not departed from Tangkou but the pick up bus straight brought us to Hongcun village. The heat of the day made the driver and tour guide quite impatient. The accomodation provided is old and gloomy. Luckily the counter staff upgraded us to a better room. Upon arriving to Tangkou the next morning, the pick up bus left us and we had to pay ¥15.00 per piece to store our luggages in a shop. Tour guide didn't inform us about this and even didn't tell us that there are plenty of food stores (with affordable and delicious food)on top of the mountain. He only encouraged us to pay extra ¥80.00 for a lunch. Another thing we had to pay is the pick up bus doesn't send us to the main entrance and cable car station. Everyone must pay ¥38.00 per person to a blue bus to take us up and later down. Cable cars total cost ¥370.00 per person. There are so much extra to pay along the way. for this inexpensive tour.

Lucas was my guide and he was very proactive and accommodating to my needs and provided a lot of information en route. The itinerary was well organized and the quality of views were dependant on the weather, overall it was a good tour.

It was a Chinese tour, but there were no problems because I used WeChat to translate. Access to Huangshan by public transportation is inconvenient, so this might be a better option.