Tiantangzhai, straddling the Hubei-Anhui border in the Dabie Mountains, is the natural excursion from Huangshi for visitors who want some mountain scenery. The reserve is centred on a forested granite massif rising to over 1,700 metres, with waterfalls, deep valleys, and the kind of mist-filled gorge scenery that Chinese landscape painters have been depicting for a thousand years. The area has avoided the worst of commercialisation and retains a genuine wilderness quality.
The main trails pass through stands of old-growth hardwood and bamboo, with several waterfalls accessible on half-day walks. Spring and autumn are the best seasons — the rhododendrons flower in April, and the beech and maple colouring in October can be spectacular. A small village at the base of the mountain has guesthouses for those wanting to spend a night, which allows an early start before day-trippers arrive. The drive from Huangshi takes about two hours by car.