Mount Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) has four cableways currently in operation: Yungu Cableway, Yuping Cableway, Taiping Cableable, and the West Sea Grand Canyon Sightseeing Rail. A fifth cableway—the East Sea Cableway (Donghai) —is currently undergoing final commissioning and is not yet open to the public.

This guide provides up‑to‑date 2026 information on routes, prices, operating hours, winter/off‑peak rates, maintenance closures, and practical tips for choosing the right cableway for your itinerary.

1. Yungu Cableway (Rear Mountain — Back Mountain Ascent)

The Yungu Cableway is the main access point for the Rear Mountain (Back Mountain) area, covering the Beihai Scenic Area and Xihai Scenic Area. It is widely recommended for first‑time visitors because it offers gentler gradients and easier hiking conditions.

Basic Facts:

One‑Way Ticket Price (2026):

     • Peak & Regular Season (March 1 — November 30): 80 RMB

     • Winter Season (December 1 — February 28/29): 65 RMB

Operating Hours (2026):

Special 2026 Holiday Hours:

     • Spring Festival (Feb 15–17, 2026): 7:00 – 16:30

     • Spring Festival (Feb 18–23, 2026): 6:00 – 17:30

     • Labor Day (May 1–4, 2026): 6:00 – 17:40

     • Labor Day (May 5, 2026): 6:30 – 17:10

2026 Annual Maintenance Closure:

     • Closed from Jan 29 – Feb 13, 2026 for routine annual inspection

     • Resumed operation on Feb 11, 2026 at 14:30

Why Choose Yungu Cableway:

     • Best for first‑time visitors — easier terrain connecting Beihai and Xihai scenic areas

     • Less crowded compared to Yuping Cableway

     • Ideal starting point for reaching Shixin Peak, Lion Peak, and Bright Summit

     • If you plan to stay overnight on the mountain and want a manageable first‑day climb, this is the recommended route

2. Yuping Cableway (Front Mountain — Main Ascent Route)

The Yuping Cableway is the main access point for the Front Mountain area. It is the most popular and often the most crowded cableway because it leads directly to the Welcoming Pine (Greeting Guests Pine) — the most photographed site on Mount Huangshan. From here, you can ascend to Lotus Peak (open in 2026) and Bright Summit.

Basic Facts:

One‑Way Ticket Price (2026):

     • Peak & Regular Season (March 1 — November 30): 90 RMB

     • Winter Season (December 1 — February 28/29): 75 RMB

Operating Hours (2026):

2026 Annual Maintenance Closure:

     • Closed from Jan 4 – Jan 28, 2026 for routine annual inspection

     • Resumed operation on Jan 28, 2026

Why Choose Yuping Cableway:

     • Shortest and most direct route to the Welcoming Pine

     • Best for travelers with limited time — you can reach the most iconic spots quickly

     • Ideal for those descending after a long day of hiking from the rear mountain

     • If you plan a single‑day round trip, the Yuping route is the most efficient

3. Taiping Cableway (North Gate — Quietest Alternative)

The Taiping Cableway serves the North Gate (Taiping Gate) of Mount Huangshan. This is the longest cableway in Asia — and one of the longest in the world — spanning 3,561.9 meters with an extraordinary height difference of over 1,000 meters. It is far less crowded than the Yungu and Yuping cableways, making it an excellent choice for travelers who want to avoid peak‑hour queues.

Basic Facts:

One‑Way Ticket Price (2026):

     • Peak & Regular Season (March 1 — November 30): 80 RMB

     • Winter Season (December 1 — February 28/29): 65 RMB

Operating Hours (2026):

2026 Annual Maintenance Closure:

    • Closed from Nov 24, 2025 – Dec 8, 2025 (annual inspection completed before 2026)

Why Choose Taiping Cableway:

     • Virtually no queues — perfect for avoiding peak‑season crowds at the South Gate

     • Unmatched scenic grandeur — the longest single cableway span on the mountain offers dramatic, uninterrupted vistas

     • Best for travelers entering from the north side (Huangshan District / Gengcheng Town)

     • Ideal for larger groups or travelers with heavy luggage — the 100‑person cabins have ample interior space

4. West Sea Grand Canyon Sightseeing Rail (West Sea Grand Canyon Experience)

The West Sea Grand Canyon Sightseeing Rail — often called the “small train” or “canyon rail” — is not a traditional cableway but a track‑based scenic railway that descends into the heart of the West Sea Grand Canyon. It is designed specifically for canyon exploration and provides a dramatically different experience from the three South/North Gate cableways.

Basic Facts:

One‑Way Ticket Price (2026):

     • Peak & Regular Season (March 1 — November 30): 100 RMB

     • Winter Season (December 1 — February 28/29): 80 RMB

Operating Hours (2026):

     • Peak Season (Mar – Nov): Approximately 8:00 – 16:00–17:00

     • Winter Season (Dec – Feb): Closed entirely from December 1 – approximately mid‑March

* Crucial note: The West Sea Grand Canyon and its sightseeing rail are completely closed from December 1 until mid‑March due to ice hazards on the canyon‘s cliff‑hanging plank walkways and the high risk of black ice on the rail tracks. In 2026, the canyon reopened on March 14. Plan your trip accordingly — if you’re visiting between December and early March, the canyon will not be accessible.

Why Choose the West Sea Sightseeing Rail:

     • Essential for exploring West Sea Grand Canyon — the canyon‘s famous cliff‑hanging plank walkways are physically demanding; the rail allows you to experience the canyon without an exhausting hike back up

     • Photography dream — transparent glass cabins offer unobstructed views of the canyon walls, red leaves (autumn), and rime ice (early winter/late spring)

     • Massive time‑saver — hiking from the canyon floor back to the rim takes 2.5+ hours; the rail does it in 5–8 minutes

     • The classic West Sea route: Descend through the canyon on the plank walkway (2–3 hours), then take the rail up back to the rim — this saves your knees and energy for the rest of the day

Price Summary Table (One‑Way, 2026)

Which Cableway Should You Choose? Route Recommendations

For first‑time visitors: Take Yungu Cableway up (Rear Mountain).
The Yungu Cableway offers gentler terrain, making it the most accessible starting point. From Bai‘e Ling, hike to Shixin Peak → Beihai Scenic Area → Lion Peak → Paiyun Pavilion → West Sea Grand Canyon rim (if open) → Bright Summit. Stay overnight on the summit. The next day, hike from Bright Summit to Welcoming Pine and descend via Yuping Cableway.

For travelers with only one day: Take Yuping Cableway for a quick loop.
Go up Yuping to Welcoming Pine, hike to Bright Summit (challenging but doable), and descend via Yungu (or return the same way). This is an intense but rewarding day.

To avoid crowds: Take Taiping Cableway (North Gate).
If you don‘t mind starting from the north side, you’ll enjoy virtually empty cable cars and stunning views. From Pine Forest Peak, you can connect to the main summit trails and still experience Huangshan‘s best features.

For West Sea Grand Canyon: Use the canyon rail mid‑route.
Do not take the rail as a standalone ride. Hike down from Paiyun Pavilion into the canyon (allow 2–3 hours), enjoy the cliff‑walking experience, then take the rail back up from the canyon floor to Tianhai Scenic Area near Baiyun Hotel. This combination gives you the full canyon experience without the dreaded steep hike out.

Important Tips & Restrictions

    1. Winter closures are strict.

     The West Sea Grand Canyon and its sightseeing rail are fully closed from December 1 through mid‑March due to severe icing on the plank walkways. During this period, you cannot access the canyon at all — not even the rim trails in some sections. Check the official “Huangshan        Tourism Official Platform” WeChat mini‑program for real‑time status before your trip.

     2.  Annual maintenance closures.
All cableways undergo mandatory annual safety inspections, typically in winter. The 2026 schedule was:

If you are traveling during these windows, check in advance — if one cableway is closed, the other South Gate cableway (Yungu or Yuping) remains open, but queues will be significantly longer.

3. Peak‑season crowds.
During Chinese National Day (Oct 1–7), Labor Day (May 1–5), and Spring Festival, the cableways operate at maximum capacity. Yuping Cableway often sees queues exceeding 2–3 hours. If you must travel during these periods, arrive at the cableway station before 6:30 AM or consider using Taiping Cableway (North Gate) instead.

4. Private vehicles are not allowed inside the scenic area.
All private cars must park at the South Gate Transfer Center in Tangkou Town. From there, mandatory shuttle buses (19 RMB one‑way) take you to the cableway stations (Yungu Temple or Ciguang Pavilion). Allow at least 15–20 minutes for the shuttle journey.

5. Ticket validity.
A single scenic area ticket (190 RMB peak season / 150 RMB winter) is now valid for 3 days after the first inspection, allowing unlimited entries and exits to accommodate multi‑day stays at summit hotels.

6. East Sea Cableway (Not Yet Open).
Huangshan‘s fifth cableway — the East Sea Cableway (Donghai) — is currently undergoing commissioning, acceptance testing, and fare approval. It is expected to open eventually but was not yet operational as of May 2026. Do not plan your itinerary around it.

7. Last cable car down.
The last cable car down from the summit departs between 16:00 and 17:40 depending on the season and day of the week. If you miss the last cable car, you will have to walk down the mountain — which is not recommended after dark. Always check the day‘s last departure time before heading out on your afternoon hike.

8. Cableways can suspend operations in severe weather.
Heavy snow, high winds, or lightning can cause temporary suspension. Unlike the main cableways, the West Sea canyon rail is particularly vulnerable to weather‑related closures. Always check real‑time status via the official WeChat mini‑program or ask at your hotel before setting out.

Planning Your Route: Sample Two‑Day Itinerary Using Cableways

Day 1 (Rear Mountain via Yungu Cableway):

     • 7:00 AM: Arrive at South Gate Transfer Center (Tangkou) → Shuttle to Yungu Cableway

     • 7:30–8:00 AM: Yungu Cableway up to Bai‘e Ling (80 RMB)

     • Morning: Hike Bai‘e Ling → Shixin Peak → Beihai Hotel area → Lion Peak (“Monkey Watching the Sea”)

     • Afternoon: Lion Peak → Paiyun Pavilion → West Sea Grand Canyon rim (if open; do not descend all the way on Day 1)

     • Late afternoon: Paiyun Pavilion → Bright Summit (arrive for sunset)

     • Overnight: Stay at Bright Summit Lodge or nearby hotel

Day 2 (Front Mountain via Yuping Cableway down):

     • 5:30 AM: Sunrise at Bright Summit

     • Morning: Bright Summit → Aoyu Peak (optional) → One Line Sky → Welcoming Pine

    • 10:00–11:00 AM: Welcoming Pine → Yuping Cableway down to Ciguang Pavilion (90 RMB)

     • 11:30 AM: Shuttle back to South Gate Transfer Center

Final Advice

Mount Huangshan‘s cableways are not just transportation — they are experiences in themselves, offering spectacular aerial views of the mountain’s legendary granite peaks, strange pines, and sea of clouds. Which one you choose determines not only your itinerary but the entire character of your visit.

     • First time? Start with Yungu Cableway (rear mountain) for easier terrain and classic scenery.

     • Short on time? Yuping Cableway (front mountain) gets you to the most iconic spots fastest.

     • Hate crowds? Taiping Cableway (north gate) delivers solitude and grandeur — just plan your logistics carefully.

     • Visiting West Sea Grand Canyon? The canyon rail is essential — but never your main descent route. Hike down, ride up.

Book your tickets in advance through Huangshan Tour Guide, and always check seasonal hours and maintenance closures before you go. With the right cableway choice and a solid plan, Huangshan‘s wonders become not just visible — they become unforgettable.