A sea of cottony clouds ebbs and flows beneath the majestic mountain peaks. Pines shaped by the uncontrollable forces of nature glisten in the sun. The ripple of tiny streams echoes across otherwise silent valleys studded with the white flowers of summer. A lone tree thrives in an unlikely setting with its roots resolutely clinging to an oddly contoured hunk of granite.

Such diverse aspects of Huangshan Mountain have been creative influences for painters and poets down through the ages. These days, the picturesque massif in southern Anhui province has become the must-see mountain in China for visitors from around the world.

Shanghai is the international gateway to Huangshan city and beyond, the Huangshan Scenic Area where perhaps the most famous of any mountain in China spreads out all of its massive beauty. Huangshan city in Anhui province is just five to six hours by road from Shanghai. (It’s an easy hour’s flight from the immense city’s domestic terminal at Hongqiao Airport to Huangshan city’s regional airport. There are also domestic air links to other major centres like Beijing and Guangzhou, convenient options for international visitors.)

Much of the 500 km road journey between the two cities, I discovered, is made on a modern multilane expressway. In some ways it didn’t feel like I was in China, though, as the air conditioned coach carrying a small group of enthusiasts periodically stopped at several western-style rest stations - complete with restaurants and supermarkets - during the afternoon journey.

Anhui province abounds in tourism resources, said the exuberant, ever-smiling guide as we continued on to our destination. There are Jiuhua Mountain, the Xin’an River and Taiping and Chaohu lakes, wonderful scenic places which appeal to many visitors, he said. Southern Anhui, the birthplace of the divergent Huīzhōu Culture and the area where the province’s principal attractions are located, has numerous ancient cities with more than 1000 well preserved buildings from the Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing (1644 – 1911) dynasties, he added.

Of course, nothing in Anhui province is better known than Huangshan Mountain, which in a nationwide survey ranked near the top of the list of China’s natural scenic spots. During frequent visits to China over 30 years I had already visited number one on the esteemed register, the Three Gorges on the Yangtze River as well as number two, the Guilin Li River Scenic River. The excitement was building as the kilometres clicked by. Soon I would see number three, a natural wonder which many visitors say should actually take first place!