I am planning a trip to Huangshan and Hangzhou in August and hoping to get some advise.

1. Well, I'm afraid that you cannot take a taxi to these two hotels. Both of them are located on the mountain. So you can take Cloudy Valley Cableway first and then walk to the hotels.

2. You don't have to hire a tour guide. But hiring one also has its advantages. It means that you can make full use of these two days to tour around the mountain and won't miss any attractive spots. Hot Springs, North Sea, Jade Screen, Pine Valley, Cloud Valley and sunset are must sees in this scenic area.

3. Yes, the transportation is convenient. There are several direct long-distance buses that can take you to Hangzhou West Bus Station. It takes around 3.5 to 4 hours with the ticket fare of CNY 110 per person. The bus schedules are 6:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30.
It's not easy for you to find a taxi. Instead of that, you can hire a private car. The cab is CNY 600 to 700.

Thank you so much for the info and clarification. I guess I do need a hotel in town to stay over night then go up to the mountain next day. Do you have any hotel recommendation that will store our luggage for few days and a reliable driver that you have used? I am so looking forward to the trip.

Hope this is still helpful. It is actually fine to take a taxi or private car from the airport to the mountain scenic area. It takes CNY150-200. It will be safe enough. Don't worry! The accommodation at the mountainfoot is easy to find.

But if you insist in staying in the town, the Crowne Plaza Yucheng is recommended. It is within 5km from Tunxin Bus Station, where many direct buses to the scenic area are scheduled.