5 Classical Routes for Mount Huashan Hike

Mt. Huashan stretches upward with five peaks. Among the five peaks, North Peak and West Peak can be directly reached by cableway. Tourists can hike all the way up and down on foot, or hike up on foot and take a cable car to get down, or take cable car to ascend and descend to save energy. How long does it take to hike Huashan? Generally, 1 day is enough if you use the cable way. If you want to hike all the way on foot and tour all the scenic sites, 2 days are needed. The ticket of Mount Huashan is valid for 48 hours, so don’t worry. Below we list 5 classical Mount Huashan hike routes for reference:
 

Route: Wamiaogou Tourist Center - North Peak Cable Way - East Peak - South Peak - West Peak - West Peak Cableway
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This classic one-day Mt. Huashan hike route is the most popular among many route choices in that it doesn’t take too much physical strength. Even the elderly and children with poor physical strength can choose this hiking route. It will take you 8 minutes to get to North Peak by cable car. North Peak is the start point of your Mount Hua hike. You will climb up to East Peak, South Peak and go down to West Peak, then descend Mount Huashan by West Peak Cable car. The famous attractions such as Hawk’s Turn and Plank Walk should not be missed on this hiking route. It should be noted that West Peak Cableway will be closed at 19:00 from March to November and 18:00 from December to February. If you don’t have enough time, you can go directly from North Peak to South Peak and give up the visit to East Peak.
 

Route: Donggoukou Tourist Center- West Peak Cableway - West Peak - South Peak - East Peak - West Peak Cableway
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This hiking route is the most time-saving and easiest way to hike Mount Huashan, and is recommended for group tourists with strength-challenged elderly and children. After reaching the West Peak directly by cable car, tour West Peak first and head for South Peak, Plank Walk, Hawk’s Turn, East Peak, and then return to the West Peak and take a cable car down the mountain.
 

Route: Jade Spring Temple - North Peak - East Peak - South Peak - West Peak - West Peak Cableway
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The best way for climbing enthusiasts to tour Mount Huashan is hiking Huashan trails at night. At night, the Huashan trail is brightly lit, and official guides will help you at the key junctions. So it’s rather safe to climb Mount Huashan at night. To successfully climb up to the East Peak and see the sunrise, you’d better start off at 22:00-23:00 because it takes 5-6 hours to get there. Later, you can continue to tour the South Peak or go directly to the West Peak and take the cableway to get down according to your physical strength.

​ See more:
Best Mount Huashan Trails for Climbing at Night 

Guide for Mt. Huashan Hiking at Night
 

Route:
Day 1: Jade Spring Temple - North Peak - South Peak - West Peak - East Peak
Day 2: East Peak - Middle Peak - West Peak Cableway - Mountain Foot
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This Mount Huashan hike route requiring relatively good physical strength, is suitable for those who want to both the challenge of hiking up Mt. Huashan through stunning natural scenery, and the joy of riding on the high-hanging cable car. You can try the plank walk on South Peak and catch the sunset view at West Peak on Day 1 and accommodate on East Peak. After seeing sunrise at East Peak on Day 2, you can hike for West Peak bypass Middle Peak and then walk to West Peak Cableway upper station. It will take 20 minutes to reach the bottom of Mount Huashan by cable car.
 

Route:
Day 1: Jade Spring Temple - North Peak - South Peak - West Peak - East Peak
Day 2: East Peak - Middle Peak - North Peak - Jade Spring Temple
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This Hua Shan hike route is suitable for mountaineers with good energy. The Plank Walk on the South Peak is a highlight of your hike. And you can enjoy the beautiful sunset at West Peak. Stay overnight at a hotel or camp on East Peak. Remember to appreciate the clear starry sky above the East Peak. In the early morning of the 2nd day, you can admire the sunrise at the Sun-watching Platform and then challenge yourself at Hawk’s Turn (Yaozi Fanshen) also on East Peak. Then you could enjoy the scenery on the way back to the Jade Spring Temple via Middle Peak and North Peak at a relaxed pace.​