Mt Huashan is located in Huayin city, 120 kilometers east of ancient Xian, Shaanxi province. With an altitude of 2160 meters, Mt. Hushan is famous for its lofty peaks and is one of China's five sacred mountains (the other four are Mt. Taishan in Shandong, Mt. Hengshan in Hunan, Mt. Hengshan in Shanxi, and Mt. Songshan in Henan). As the old Chinese saying goes, "there is only one path leading up Mt. Huashan since ancient times," so you can imagine how steep it is.

Mt. Huashan is 138 kilometers from Xian Xianyang airport. Unfortunately, there is no direct bus from the airport, so you will have to go downtown Xian and take a train or bus from there. The journey from Xian railway station takes about one and a half hours (CNY20 per person). Get off at the Mt. Huashan stop, and from there take a taxi (CNY15-20) or the public bus (CNY3) to the Yuquan Yuan (Jade Spring Temple) booking office where you begin your trek. Do not forget to negotiate the fare with the taxi driver before you get in if you choose to travel by that means.

Entrance to Mt. Huashan

Scenery of Mt. Huashan

Should you prefer to take the bus, you have three options. Firstly, take No. 1 Tourist Bus in the east Public Square of the railway station, where the earliest one departs from Xian at 08:00 in the morning and the last one returns from Mt. Hushan to Xian at 20:00 in the evening. Do watch your time if you choose this way. It costs CNY22.00 per person and the whole journey takes about 2 hours. Secondly, some private special lines to Mt. Huashan can also be found in the east Public Square of the railway station. Their departure time is usually more flexible than the pubic bus and will take about one and a half hours at CNY30 per person. Moreover, you can also take bus from the eastern bus station (near Qinggong wholesale market). This shuttle bus departs at 30 minute intervals at CNY30 per person. The journey by this route takes about two hours.

Few people had ever conquered Mt. Huashan prior to the days of the Tang Dynasty as it is so steep. Nowadays the mountain attracts thousands of brave tourists from all over the world. It has five separate peaks each being reached from a different starting point. These are Huashan Yu scenic area, Yuntai Scenic area near the North Peak (Cloud Terrace Peak), Chaoyang scenic area near East Peak (Sun Facing Peak), Luoyan scenic area near the South Peak (Wild Geese Landing Peak), Lianhua scenic area near West Peak (Lotus Flower Peak) and Wuyun Feng scenic area.

Wuli Guan

Shaluo Ping to Maonv Cave

This is a brief description of the Mt. Huashan trekking route divided into three sections.

1^st section: Foot of Mt. Huashan (Yuquan Yuan)-->Huixin Rock-->North Peak

Road conditions: Winding Road from Yuquan Yuan to Qingke Ping

Stone Stairway from Qingke Ping to Huxin Rock

Precipitous ladders from Huxin Rock to North Peak

2^nd section: North Peak-->Jinsuo Guan

Road conditions: Precipitous ladders

3^rd section: Jinsuo Guan-->Top of the rest Main Peaks

Road conditions: Flat Road and some ladders.

You have the option of three ways to start out on the first section. The first option is to start trekking from Yuquan Yuan at the west gate of Mt. Huashan where you can view nearly all the important sightseeing spots along the first section. The second option is to take the cable car from the east gate direct to the North Peak. This saves you some of physical effort at the beginning enabling you to view as much as possible of the scenery of the five main peaks. The third option is to start trekking from the east gate on foot. Few of people take this option as the entire route means climbing the stone stairway and there are few of sightseeing spots along the way.

Huixin Rock, the real starting point of the mountain climb

Qianchi Zhuang (Thousand-Foot Precipice)

Now let's explain the trekking trail in more detail, as tourists usually will adopt one or the other of two ways to enjoy the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Huashan. Should you have a tight schedule, just take one day for your exploration. This will require departure from Xian at 08:00 in the morning to arrive at Mt. Huashan (Yuquan Yuan) at 10.00 am. Take the bus (CNY10) to the east gate of Mt. Huashan where the cable car will take you up to the North Peak in only 7-8 minutes. This ride is more than 1500 meters long and runs from 07:00 until 19:00 (Apr to Oct) but only from 09:00 until 17:00 (Nov to Mar). The charge is CNY80 per person for one way and CNY150 per person for the round trip. From the North Peak, you have a series of paths to reach the remaining four peaks. You will have 3 to 5 hours trekking time but ensure you are in good time for the last cable car down the mountain to avoid being stranded.

Trekkers, who want to reach the East Peak to watch the sunrise, can climb from Yuquan Yuan at night. Having watched the sunrise, you can visit the Middle Peak, South Peak, West Peak and return to Jinsuo Guan to the foot of the mountain. This one way trip needs about 8-10 hours and this is also considered as a relatively safer way for nervous climbers because they will avoid seeing the dangerous cliffs in the dark but they will miss out on some of the sightseeing highlights as a consequence.

Baichi Xia

Jinsuo Guan (Gold Lock Pass)

The most popular way to visit Mt. Huashan takes two days and we hope the detailed trekking trail we describe here is a useful guide for you. Before you start, you must bear in mind that it is essential to observe safety precautions during your climb. We start climbing from Yuquan Yuan, a Taoist temple at the entrance to Mt. Huashan. There is a 20 minutes' walk before you come to the ticket office at Wulong Qiao. Between March and November tickets cost CNY120 per person and CNY60 per person between December and February. The first section of the path from the entrance to Huixin Rock is 25 kilometers uphill path and is relatively easy. Some small shops are scattered beside the road and the friendly shopkeepers will ask you to stop and buy from them. You will pass by the Yushi (20 minutes) - Wuli Guan (15 minuets) - Shimen (25 minutes) - Yunmen (20 minutes) - Huixin Rock along the way.

After nearly two hours' trekking, you will reach Huixin Rock, the real starting point of the mountain climb. You will find stone stairs replace the path and it will become more cragged. It is said that if you've been tired out following this route, you may well regret returning the same way. Beside the rock, as you continue to climb the 370 steep steps, you will go along a very breathtaking path, known as Qianchi Zhuang (Thousand-Foot Precipice). Here you can only move with the assistance of the iron chains. Just as its name implies "this sight is 1000 feet and only 1 meter wide". The towering rocks and cliffs around will make you feel as if you were walking at the bottom of a well. Although this section is difficult, it is safe if you use the chains and step carefully.

Cross the "Qianchi Zhuang"" and continue walking for 15 minutes, you will see a small flat roof. Look up and the "Baichi Xia", another precipitous path will be in your sight. Keep on climbing for another 25 minutes and you will reach North Peak (1614 meters high), the terminal of the cable car. The North Peak is also named Cloud Terrace Peak as precipitous cliffs surround the peak in all directions just like a flat terrace in the clouds. It's the best place for viewing the other three peaks and Canglong Ling. Here you will also pass the Ca'er Cliff (ear rubbing cliff), one side of the North Peak. In ancient times, it was said that tourists could only climb this precipitous path by pressing one ear close to the cliff.

Mt. Huashan climbing

Tianti (Heavenly Stairs)

Not far away from Ca'er Cliff, you need to climb 999 stairs to reach the Tianti (Heavenly Stairs) and view the Riyue Cliff. Continue along this way for only 5 minutes to a superb visual spot, Canglong Ling beckons you nearby. This is a path built in the mountain's ridge that is just one meter wide and you can only move along it assisted by the iron rail. The overhanging cliffs on each side are nearly 20 storeys high. Then, you will feel a more relaxed as you continue on your way as the road flattens and the stairs are wider than those on the previous section.

Passing up a steep staircase - Blue Dragon Range, and beautiful scenery comes into view, this tells that you are about to reach the Jinsuo Guan (Gold Lock Pass). It is a custom to affix a golden padlock to the links of the iron chains by families and friends as a prayer for happiness and good health. Time for congratulations upon successfully reaching the end of the so-called “one way path of Mt. Huashan.” From Jinsuo Guan, you can continue to trek either clockwise or anti-clockwise. It is recommended that you follow the clockwise way from Jinsuo Guan - East Peak - Nantian Men - South Peak - West Peak - Middle Peak - Jinsuo Guan.; although you can reverse this way if you prefer to trek anti-clockwise.

East Peak (2090 meters high) provides the best viewpoint to watch the sunrise. You can find a bed for the night there. To reach the East Peak from Gold Lock Pass you have to walk for another 30 minutes and Yunti is a must cross. It is about 10 meters high and you will finally reach Guanri Tai, the location of the East Peak. You will also have the opportunity for the famous sightseeing of the Yaozi Fanshen, Xiaqi Pavilion and Immortal Palm. You can find accommodation at the Dongfeng Hotel for the night and have a simple dinner there. Rest for the remainder of the day and set your alarm to remind you to see the spectacular sunrise at dawn the next day. The following schedule can give you an indication as to when you can watch the sunrise at the right time.

Month	Sunrise	Sunset
Jan & Feb	07:42 – 07:47	17:45 – 18: 03
Mar & Apr	06:35 – 07:10	18:35 – 18:56
May & Jun	05:29 – 05:44	19: 08 – 19:28
Jul & Aug	05:31 – 05:44	19:44 – 19:57
Sep & Oct	06: 16 – 06:29	18: 04 – 19:10
Nov & Dec	06:03 – 07:24	17:35 - 18:47

Tips: There are six decent hotels (North Peak Hotel, Wuyun Peak Hotel, Middle Peak Hotel, East Peak Hotel, Zhenyu Gong, Chaoyang Gong Hotel).

There are also many hostels (￥50 for a bed for a night) on the mountain.

You can choose to stop anywhere during your climb according to your individual physical needs. The prices at the hostels are negotiable.

Sunrise on Mt. Huashan

Nantian Men

On the second day, after watching the sunrise at the East Peak in the early morning, continue your way to enjoy the scenery of the rest three peaks. Reaching Nantian Gate from East Peak requires 35 minutes' walking and then you will also pass the Changkong Zhandao (an ancient plank road built along the surface of a cliff), one of the most dangerous spots of Mt. Huashan. It is only about 4 meters long and 0.33 meters wide. Refresh yourself before you go for the next stop.

Then you need 25 minutes' walking to pass by Yangtian Chi to reach the South Peak (2160 meters high), "Monarch of Mt. Huashan". On reaching there, you can be proud to say that you've conquered Mt. Huashan. The walk to West Peak (2082 meters high) needs another 35 minutes and there are no railings along this way, only an old wooden plank to support you. You can visit the Taoist Temple and Cuiyun Palace for a while.

West Peak (Lotus Flower Peak)

South Peak, top of the Mt. Huashan

Continue to walk downwards for another 30 minutes to the Middle Peak where you will have a chance to visit the Jade Maiden Temple, a Taoist temple, Rootless Tree and Sacrificing Tree. Middle Peak is actually can be regarded as a branch of the East Peak and the view is not outstanding; so you can miss out this part if you are feeling exhausted. Now, you have come across all the five peaks of Mt. Huashan and it's time for you to get down.

From the Middle Peak, you can return North Peak through Jinsuo Guan and Canglong Ling the same way which takes about an hour. Then take the cable car to the foot of the mountain and catch the shuttle bus back to Xian.

Further Tips:

• You should take gloves, a raincoat, a walking stick, any necessary medicines and a flashlight.
• The average temperature on Mt. Huashan is 6.8 degree and you need take enough clothes.
• You can rent an overcoat for CNY10 – 20 per person on the mountain.
• Leave any large luggage at the foot of the mountain.
• Don't drink too much during your climb as there are only a few toilets on the mountain.
• The best seasons for visiting Mt. Huashan are spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October).
• Please do remember to avoid climbing on holidays of China, such as the May Day (May 1^st to 3^rd) and the National Day (Oct 1^st to 7^th).