Don't believe the filters! The real Huangling experience was so bad I wanted to go home that night

Huangling, I was seriously misled by all the hype 😤 After seeing so many beautiful photos, I was excited to visit Huangling, but the actual experience was truly disappointing! Let me share the honest truth with you - anyone planning to visit should definitely read this! 🚗 Transportation was a nightmare! I strongly advise against driving yourself! The mountain roads are narrow and winding, the parking lot is ridiculously small, and the route is filled with villages with people constantly coming and going. Even scarier, taxi and unlicensed drivers drive like they're flying planes, suddenly speeding up to 75 mph to pass other cars, and even driving against traffic! If there's even a minor accident, there are barely any security cameras around - just thinking about it makes me anxious 😰 If you come by high-speed train, you'll be swarmed by unlicensed drivers soliciting passengers, with prices ranging from 30 to 60 yuan. I chose the bus, which cost 19 yuan per person - you buy tickets on board and it leaves when full, which was relatively reliable. 🏠 Accommodation dilemmas I stayed at Su Hong Guesthouse. The owner was nice, and they had a small convenience store which was handy. The most attractive part was that the owner would pick you up and drop you off at the visitor center, saving you the cable car fee. But honestly, even without the cable car, the entrance ticket still costs 120 yuan, not much less than the 140 yuan package deal. The online claim that "it only takes 10 minutes to walk up the mountain using the small path" is complete nonsense! It's all steep slopes and stairs that will make you question your life choices - you're better off just buying the cable car ticket! 🍜 The food was nothing special The food in the scenic area was so mediocre! Everywhere was just stinky tofu, sausages, and squid - the same stuff you see everywhere. The only familiar sight was Zhengxin Chicken Steak, at least it's a chain restaurant... After walking around, I didn't find any food that impressed me. 🌄 The scenery was just okay If I had to mention highlights, only the autumn sun-drying displays, terraced fields, and the "cooking smoke homes" were worth photographing. Other places were really ordinary, and the commercialization was excessive - every few steps there was a small shop selling something. Many of the old houses were in disrepair, which was a shame to see. Leisurely touring the entire scenic area only takes 3-4 hours. It might be worth a visit if you're passing by, but making a special trip from far away is definitely not worth it! Has anyone else been disappointed by Huangling like me? Or if you know any hidden ways to enjoy it, please share so I can figure out if I just approached it wrong 😭