Xihai Hotel Huangshan

Xihai Hotel enjoys a privileged location in the Huangshan Mountains at the base of Danxia Peak and entrance to the Xihai Valley. Meaning Yellow Mountain, Huangshan is an UNESCO-listed site and one of five scared mountains in China, which many claim, is also the most beautiful. The hiking is fantastic amid the misty mountain peaks, hot springs and waterfalls of this hypnotic landscape and the Xihai Hotel is an excellent base from which to explore. Comprising a main building linked by walkways to the south and north accommodation blocks, the hotel offers a range of cozy rooms, many of which enjoy spectacular mountain views. The hotel is around a 20-minute walk to the north cable car and between 45-minutes to an hour’s walk to the south cable car to take you high into the rugged peaks. Tunxi (Huangshan City) airport is around 40-kilometers away.

While the grand entrance lobby is somewhat at odds with the modest décor of the rooms, the accommodation is clean, comfortable and cozy. Rooms include an en-suite bathroom with shower, toiletries, Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, seating area, satellite TV, minibar and fridge. The restaurant in the main building serves local Anhui dishes and Chinese cuisine and there is also a coffee shop and bar. Do be aware that the mountain location limits your dining choices and it might be worth coming prepared with supplies of your own, particularly bottled water which is not provided free of charge.

This hotel is all about the location and offers possibly the best accommodation on the mountain. Perfect for hiking, despite the lack of facilities, it makes a comfortable and welcoming retreat at the end of a long day of walking.