【China Travel】Transportation to Huangshan from Hefei, Anhui

Taking the bus from the airport and get off at the HSR station. China’s HSR stations are mostly unbelievably huge, especially the ones in big cities, are huge as airports. But the instructions are clear, so don’t worry about getting lost. From Hefei to Huangshan, it takes 3.5 hours by bus and 1.5 hours by train.

(Related Article：How to Take Trains & Subway in China!?)

Look at this station, isn’t it HUGE?! But, actually, I like HSR stations in China, as they are new constructions, the buildings are clean and modern-designed. Hefei is a bustle and big station. There are also many shops and restaurants inside the stations, while the price is a bit higher than outside.

A mid-aged man was sitting on my right. He held his ticket and asked me if he was sitting in the right seat. I glanced at it and found that he was supposed to sit on the left-hand side across the aisle. He gave a wild laugh and walked to his seat, not being embarrassed at all. We chatted for a while. He said he was from Huangshan, and working in Hefei. Meaning he had to commute between two places every day! He usually took the train instead of HSR, unless he couldn’t buy a ticket. That being said, it was a rare coincidence that I met him!

After arriving, I rushed to the gate for fear of missing the bus to Tangkou–the place tourist stay overnight before going to Huangshan. I had no time for hesitation and went directly to the staff right in front of the exit.—
“Yah yah, they are still operating. You can take the bus there.” The man pointed to a building some distance away. I was so relieved to hear the good news, or else I didn’t know what to do.

The bus station to Tangkou is at another building. Turn right and go straight right after exiting the HSR station, then you’ll see instructions for the building ” Huangshan Tourist Passenger Transport Hub”. From here, you can go to Huangshan and Hongcun.

There was a small food court, a convenient store inside the bus hub. And surprisingly—the toilets here were very clean! At this time, only another man, around forty or fifty, besides me were the only passengers in the entire building. I saw a young man talking to him when I returned from the toilet. The young man came to me when I sighted me, Have you already booked your accommodation at Tangkou tonight?”—-Aha, now I knew he was looking for guests for those accommodations. He was quite friendly, though, as he didn’t turn right away after seeing me nodded. Instead, he asked the name of my hotel, then said, “Oh, that one! You get off the bus at the last stop, it is not far away.”

As soon as he left, the mid-aged man came to me and asked, “Which hotel you book tonight? How much? Because I haven’t a one to stay yet, I’m still looking for one…” This man was thin and medium-height, wearing a fine-wire frame glasses. appeared to be full of energy as a fifty-something guy. He introduced himself as a mountain climbing enthusiast, “I’ve been to Lushan, Shaolin Temple…” He took the 9:30 train this morning from his home in northeastern China, just for going to Huangshan.

Time past while we talked, the broadcast reminded passengers to prepare for checking-in. The man greeted me to go together, which made me suddenly feel like being cared for by a kind elder. Moreover, the driver of this bus was so nice as well, probably the nicest driver I had met in China. He greeted us with a big smile on the face– which was rarely seen in China. ! And he answered all my questions patiently, friendly, and in detail. In China, there is a saying that Anhui people are particularly annoying, but I had met quite a few nice guys shortly after arriving here, which made me like this province immediately.

It took about 40 minutes to reach Tangkou, which is also the South Gate of Huangshan. Then I went to my inn and prepare for my Huangshan trip the next day!

Summary