Only after arriving at Tiandu Peak did I realize how perilous it is
Tiandu Peak wasn't open yet, and the view online is completely different from seeing it in person. It's really steep, and I can't imagine if I would dare to walk if I were standing on top. The platform opposite Tiandu Peak is great for taking photos with cool poses, and you should take more since the weather is unpredictable. If it rains or gets foggy, the photos won't look as good.
The Welcoming Pine is extremely crowded with tourist groups coming up by cable car. There are so many uncles and aunties, it's really packed. You have to queue up to take photos of the Welcoming Pine, but it's beautiful and truly priceless.
Continuing from the Welcoming Pine towards the Bright Summit, with many tour groups, it's basically a queue to walk. There are those who stop to take various photos, so remember to look ahead and if it's not moving, just excuse yourself and pass by. The journey is long, and the worst is when it rains. Despite the forecast for Huangshan being cloudy, it rained, so I immediately put on a raincoat. There are few people wearing short sleeves or tank tops on the mountain; most are wearing jackets. There is a temperature difference on the mountain. It must have been the Hundred Steps Ladder, which is very narrow and steep, so it got congested. It took about half an hour to get through the queue, and some people were shouting for those ahead to hurry up. But if they could move, they definitely would; if not, there must be a reason.
There are two paths at the One-Line Sky; One-Line Sky is very steep, so proceed according to your ability. The slower one is the Aoyu Peak. There are two forks at Aoyu Peak. The leftmost path is gentler and a bit roundabout, but less tiring. A friend climbed Aoyu Peak and said it was rocky and a bit slippery in the rain. Two others climbed One-Line Sky, and they must be really fit.
The rain kept falling, and I wanted to shout for a sedan chair carrier, but alas, my purse was light. I envied those sitting on top. After a very long walk, we reached the food plaza and saw the sign for the Cloud Valley Cableway, deciding to take the cableway down the mountain. It was really cold and tiring in the rain, and with the heavy fog, I didn't even want to take out my phone.
On the way to the Cloud Valley Cableway, due to the ups and downs of the mountain path, I was really exhausted. The sign showed 250 meters left, and after descending, it showed 160 meters left, which was a bit despairing. I continued walking, and after about half an hour, I finally arrived. The cableway was quick, but due to the heavy fog, I saw nothing, as if I was ascending to heaven. Once at the foot of the mountain, there was no rain or fog.
Taking the bus down the mountain, because it was a winding road, I really felt nauseous. I was swaying all the way, and even if I wasn't dizzy, I became dizzy. It came up to my throat, so we got off at Tangkou Bridge. We sat by the roadside for a while to rest, then walked down the stairs and went to have a meal without being hungry. After eating, we waited for friends who couldn't make it down the mountain. They descended around 4:30 PM. At Monkey Watching the Sea, we could only see fog, but at the exit of the mountain, we saw real monkeys.
The most important thing is, at first, I thought the water sold on the mountain was expensive, but later I encountered the porters, who looked quite old. It's really hard work, and in that moment, I understood the prices on the mountain. They carry everything up the entire way. I felt even two bottles of water were heavy. Respect!