Huashan Mountain is about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of downtown Xi'an, and is renowned as "No. 1 Mount with Danger and Wonders in the World".
What makes Huashan Mountain so dangerous? It is surrounded by cliffs that are nearly 90-degree steep. Some trails in the summit area are constructed on ridges, and when people hike on them, it feels as if they are on edges of knife blades. Some steep paths are between cliff walls, and narrow steps on them can only accommodate half a foot. Moreover, some dangerous passes are on the cliffside, and to brave them, people have to fasten the safety harness, grip the iron chain, and take each step with great care.
What are the wonders of Huashan Mountain? Unlike other continuous mountain ranges, the Mt Huashan is a single huge block of granite with five main peaks. From a bird's-eye view, the Huashan Mountain is like a blooming lotus flower. The scenery of the mount is impressive throughout the four seasons, especially the peach blossoms in spring and the red foliage in autumn. Moreover, the mount boasts a rolling sea of clouds and a gorgeous sunrise.
In addition, the Huashan Mountain is a holy place of traditional Chinese Taoist culture and has long been a vital spot to practice Taoist doctrines and preserve Taoist culture. The Jade Spring Temple at the mountain foot enshrines a Taoist hermit, and the Golden Heaven Palace is dedicated to the God of Huashan Mountain. Both are good places to pray for blessings.
North Peak - The Lowest Peak, Accessible by Cable Car
With an altitude of about 1,615 meters (5,300 feet), the North Peak is the lowest one among the main peaks of Huashan Mountain. For tourists who hike up the Huashan Mountain, the first main peak they reach is the North Peak, and the hike takes about 5 hours. You can alternatively take the North Peak Cable Car for about 15 minutes to reach it.
With the relatively low terrain, the North Peak provides an excellent view to admire the other four main peaks. What’s more, it’s surrounded by cliffs on three sides, and is truly a precipitous peak of Huashan Mountain. It’s said that martial arts experts flock here to compete in their skills for the title of “World’s Top Martial Arts Master”. Up to now, you can still find a large rock engraved with the words “The Duel on Huashan Mountain” on the North Peak.
Middle Peak - The Most Romantic Peak
From North Peak to East, South, and West Peaks, you’ll definitely pass through the Middle Peak area, which is famous for a romantic story. It’s said that about 2,500 years ago, a young man was playing the flute on the Middle Peak, and his flute sound attracts the music lover Prince Nongyu, whose name literally means jade. Afterward, they fell in love, got married, and rode away on a dragon and a phoenix, achieving immortality. To memorize her, the Jade Maiden Shrine was constructed and people come here to pray for a happy marriage, a harmonious family, and the well-being of their children.
Sea of Clouds over Huashan Mountain
Tourist at Huashan Mountain
East Peak - Top Sunrise Spot
If you are planning your Huashan Mountain tour, viewing the sunrise on the East Peak is highly suggested. To admire the complete process of sunrise, people either spend 6 - 9 hours on night climbs or stay overnight on the mountain, to reach the viewing platform of the East Peak in time. Without the obstructions of tall buildings in the city, the glorious sunrise against the vast sky will be a highlight in your tour.
After the sunrise, as you look out at the scenery on the East Peak, the Chess Pavilion on a lower mountain with cliffs on its three sides will catch your eyes. The only way to the pavilion is “Hawk Turning Over”, one of the most dangerous passes of the mount. To brave it, you have to fasten the safety harness, grasp iron chains, and grope for the step downward. In short, it’s heart-stopping and highly demanding for arm strength.
Sunrise over Huashan Mountain East Peak
Chess Pavilion by East Peak
South Peak - The Highest Peak
By virtue of the altitude of about 2,155 m (7,070 ft), the South Peak is the highest peak of Huashan Mountain. Only by reaching the South Peak Summit can you truly say you’ve conquered the Huashan Mountain. The South Peak Summit provides a 360-degree perspective to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the mount. Under the brilliant sunshine, the knife-edge ridges look majestic, and even if the weather is not so good during your climb, the South Peak may still surprise you with the sea of clouds.
Another highlight of the South Peak is Huashan Mountain Plank Walk on it, which is one of the world’s top 10 scariest cliffside walks. The pass is constructed on the cliff, and the endless abyss is just beneath it. After you just face the precipitous cliffs and step down the vertical iron ladder, you have to press your body against the cliff wall and move slowly in each thrilling step. Compared with the other dangerous passes, this one can truly make your heart race with fear.
West Peak - Top Sunset Spot, Accessible by Cable Car
The West Peak is the best place to view the sunset on Mt. Huashan and can be reached by cable car. Thus, you can take the West Peak Cable Car to ascend the mount in the afternoon, view the breathtaking sunset on the West Peak, and spend a night in the summit area.
After getting out from the cable car, you have to pass the section of “Bluish-grey Dragon’s Back” to get to the West Peak Summit. This pass features a vegetation-covered gentle slope and a bare sheer cliff on both sides, and the sharp difference in scenery will amaze you.
Huashan Mountain West Peak with Yanggong Tower
Is it Safe to Visit Huashan Mountain?
The answer is absolutely yes, and the reasons include: (1) Most dangerous passes are equipped with both handrails and iron chains, so that people can hold onto them during the hike. On certain sections, you can also find gentler trails nearby. (2) To pass through some quite dangerous trails like Huashan Mountain Plank Walk and “Hawk Turning Over”, one has to meet many safety requirements and wear a harness all the way. (3) Even at night, the hiking trail is illuminated, and you can enjoy your night climb securely.
Real factors causing danger are distraction during the hike, relatively low temperature in the mountain-top area, lack of physical strength, and extreme weather. To deal with these, it’s advised to focus on each step forward, keep warm in time, choose the right route for you, and keep an eye on the weather in advance.
In Huashan Mountain attraction, the most worthwhile thing to do is to challenge its dangerous passes. In addition to Huashan Mountain Plank and “Hawk Turning Over”, the Mount Huashan further boasts four dangerous passes that can be seen as the highlights along the hiking trail.
The Thousand-foot Precipice and the Hundred-foot Crevice are almost steep at a 70-degree angle with endless steps. Some people even scramble up with hands and feet together. The Black Dragon Ridge is like a sky ladder with a sharp cliff and a forest-covered valley on both sides. The Golden Lock Pass from North to Middle Peak is surrounded by cliffs and allows you to view towering mountains and deep valleys.
Climbing the precipitous Huashan Mountain at night will definitely be a memorable experience. After you have passed the dangerous passes and dealt with the temperature decrease in a high position, the sunrise above the East Peak must be a feast for your eyes.
3. Descend Huashan Mountain by West Peak Cable Car
Gorgeous View from West Peak Cable Car
When the West Peak Cable Car has just left from the upper station, the towering mountain ridges ahead will amaze you. It moves rapidly downward over steep mountain ridges, as if giving you a thrilling perspective of a skydiver swinging through the air. The lushly vegetated mountains flash by below, and the boundless sea of clouds rolls and surges. Plus, the 4,200-meter-long (4,600 yards) ride just takes you 20 minutes, greatly saving your strength and time.
The Jade Spring Temple is not just the starting point for hikers, but also a serene Taoist temple which enshrines the famous hermit Chen Tuan, renowned as the Sleeping Immortal. The temple is a good place to pray for a healthy and happy life. As for the Xiyue Temple, it shrines the God of Huashan Mountain and is well-known for architecture in the same style as that in the Forbidden City in Beijing. Both places are worth a visit before or after you visit Huashan Mountain.
How to Tour Huashan Mountain?
The main peaks of Huashan Mountain can be reached by hiking or cable car. The duration for your Huashan tour depends on which hiking route you choose, lasting for half a day to two days. Hence, it’s vital to pick the one that suits you the best from the following routes.
(1) West-up & North-down / North-up & West-down
Duration: 5 - 6 hours. These two routes go like this: a cable car ride up the mount, hiking in the summit area, and a cable car ride down the mount. By virtue of two-way cable car rides and sightseeing on the mount, these are the most popular choices among tourists. By contrast, North-up & West-down is more strenuous than West-up & North-down.
Trail Called Bluish-grey Dragon’s Back
Self-Preservation Cliff of Huashan Mountain
(2) West-up & West-down
Duration: 3 - 4 hours. This route includes two-way West Peak Cable Car rides and hiking on West and South Peaks, and thus is the most effortless one, especially for family travelers including the elderly and children.
(3) Hiking up at Night & Descending by West Peak Cable Car
Duration: 10-plus hours. For tourists who want to admire the sunrise above Huashan Mountain, this route is the best choice. After a strenuous night climb, you stand on the East Peak to admire the sunrise, and then you can either continue your tour to South and West Peaks or take the West Peak Cable Car to descend the mount. If you prefer sightseeing along the hiking trail and also the golden sunrise, you can take this route for two days, with hiking up on the first day, staying on the mountain overnight, and touring around the summit area on the second day.
Huashan Mountain Peak View
Huashan Mountain Cable Car
(4) Hiking up and down
Duration: 10-plus hours. Mountaineers will choose this route with two-way hiking to conquer the mount. It poses a great challenge to one’s physical strength, and thus is only recommended to those with extensive experience in mountain climbing.
April to October is the best time to visit the Huashan Mountain, during which the Huashan Mountain weather is relatively comfortable and the scenery is wonderful. The temperature is basically in an agreeable range, suitable for outdoor activities. Besides, during this period, Huashan Mountain features a succession of peach blossoms, cascading waterfalls, and fiery foliage, well worth a trip.
1. Before you set off for the travel, please exclude your trip from China’s public holidays, pick the most suitable route for you, check the weather of Huashan Mountain, and put necessary energy food and bottled water into your backpack.
2. During your visit, you’re suggested to add clothes in time to keep warm, hike at a proper pace and take a break from time to time, and allocate enough time to queue for the cable car. Plus, please pay attention to your hike, and stop if you want to photograph the scenery.
3. After your visit, remember to properly stretch your muscles to relieve fatigue, and arrange low-intensity sightseeing afterward.
4. The two dangerous passes - Huashan Mountain Plank Walk and “Hawk Turning Over” are not necessary stops during your tour, but there are still plenty of people who want to brave them. To challenge them, one has to book the ticket on his phone in the summit area, and each ticket costs CNY 30.
Ticket Price & Opening Hours
Ticket Price
CNY 100 from Dec. to Feb. CNY 160 from Mar. to Nov. Each ticket is valid for 48 hours after check-in, during which tourists can visit each of the mountain areas, the Jade Spring Temple, and the Xiyue Temple once. Free for children aged 6 and under or no taller than 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in), and half price for children over 6 and 1.2 - 1.5 m (3 ft 11 in - 4 ft 11 in) tall. For the elderly over 65, they can enter the attraction free, but still need to book a free ticket online.
Opening Hours
(1) Whole day for hikers. (2) The Tourist Center for people to check in and board the cable car opens from 8:00 to 16:00 between Dec. and Feb. and from 7:00 to 16:00 between Mar. and Nov. (3) The Jade Spring Temple opens from 8:00 to 17:00. (4) The Xiyue Temple opens from 8:00 to 18:00 between Dec. and Feb. and from 7:00 to 19:00 between Mar. and Nov.
Note: Free for children aged 6 and under or no taller than 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in), half price for the elderly over 65, and 90%-discount price for people aged 6 to 18 and no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
By Direct Tourist Bus, with No Need to Transfer Route: Xi’an Coach Station / Fangzhicheng Coach Station → Huashan Tourist Center Duration: 2 hours. Ticket Fare: CNY 39
By Taxi, a Flexible but Expensive Way Route: Downtown Xi’an → Huashan Tourist Center / Jade Spring Temple Duration: 1.5 to 2 hours. Ticket Fare: CNY 300 to 600
Step 2: from Huayin County to Huashan Mountain
(1) Tourists who ascend the mount by cable car need to get to Huashan Tourist Center, using free taxi or shuttle bus from Huashan North Railway Station, or by taxi from Huashan Railway Station.
(2) The Jade Spring Temple is the destination for hikers in this step, and they can choose to take a free shuttle vehicle, taxi, or Bus No. 603.
Mount Huashan is listed among the “Five Great Mountains in China” by virtue its precipitous terrain, and the other four are: the majestic Taishan Mountain in Shandong, the elegant Hengshan Mountain in Hunan, the secluded Hengshan Mountain in Shanxi, and the profound Songshan Mountain in Henan.
Duration: 5 - 6 hours.
For details about the routes, see 6 Classical Routes for Huashan Mountain Hike.
Note: Free for children aged 6 and under or no taller than 1.2 m (3 ft 11 in), half price for the elderly over 65, and 90%-discount price for people aged 6 to 18 and no taller than 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).
More Huashan Maps
