Every little thing you might want to find out about mountaineering Mount Huashan, higher often known as the ‘world’s most harmful hike’, or the ‘plank stroll’, in China.
Try our video of the World’s Most Harmful Hike on Mount Huashan on the backside of this text!
I nonetheless keep in mind the primary time I noticed photographs of somebody traversing a slim plank of wooden bolted to the aspect of a cliff, 2000 toes within the air. I sat up straight in my chair, eyes open, and mouthed the phrases, “I’ve to do that”.
I used to be in Canada on the time, and a little bit of analysis made me uncover that the photographs I had seen weren’t simply of any previous by way of ferrata – These have been photos of Mount Huashan, and the world’s most harmful hike.
I made a promise to myself. Come hell or excessive water, I might make my technique to China and scale this exhilarating mountain.
The 2154m tall Mount Huashan is taken into account to be one in all 5 sacred mountains in China, and locals comprehend it because the “most precipitous mountain below heaven”.
Adorned with influential Taoist temples, this mountain has been a part of folklore for 1000’s of years. 5 peaks make up the jagged mountain, with every one holding teahouses and shrines.
Not possible pathways have been carved all around the crags, and it’s this place that has caught the creativeness of adventurers in every single place.
Years later, Alesha and I discovered ourselves in Xian within the Shaanxi province of China. Xian is legendary for its Terracotta Warriors, however I used to be extra fascinated by Mount Huashan, which stands tall just a few hours from the town.
Alesha wanted little convincing. She had seen the photographs and watched movies. She too was eager to sort out the world’s most harmful hike. Just a few days of metropolis exploration was sufficient; it was time to climb.
The bus experience appeared to final ceaselessly as our pleasure ranges grew with each passing kilometre. Finally we drove into Huayin Metropolis, disembarked and made a beeline in direction of the West Gate.
In true Chinese language vogue there was now two cable automobiles that ferried lots of of individuals to the summit each day, however we averted this dishonest technique to the summit. It was not our model.
An historic Chinese language legend states that there’s just one true path up Mount Huashan – the 12km trek rising 1800m that took 3000 years to construct. That is the place we started.
The path began off pleasantly, with few folks alongside its leafy, meandering path – Most Chinese language vacationers now go for the easy cable automotive. With the dearth of individuals on it, it reminded us of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
We adopted the river previous small temples and shrines, closing in on the mountain above us. Alongside the best way we met a younger English man named Jon who was trekking on his personal, and we determined to hitch forces. Quickly we began to climb, larger and better, up steep staircases carved into the stone.
We have been barely on the mountain however already the hazard was rising. Hours handed and we pushed on into extra stunning surroundings, earlier than lastly reaching the cable automotive station.
Scores of home vacationers now slithered all around the mountain, snapping photographs and screaming out to the huge sky above.
Determined to get out of the shambles we set our sights on an abrupt stairway that adopted a ridge like a knife’s edge.
Every step required each effort and vigilance, as sheer drops on both aspect tumbled into jagged rocks under. Solely pausing to snap a photograph, we charged up the well-known stairway and moved nearer to the peaks.
As we gained altitude the vistas improved. In all instructions have been equally spectacular summits, coated in timber clinging to cliffs.
The pathways cut up throughout the mountain, heading off in direction of varied temples and peaks. Vertical ladders dug into rocks allowed entry to larger factors, typically with solely metal bars or chains for assist, however usually with nothing to arrest your fall.
We noticed an indication main in direction of the “Plank Stroll In The Sky” and ignored every other distractions.
The afternoon solar was now beaming down on us, however we had reached the positioning that had first attracted me to China. From a vantage level we may see the slim plank bending across the fringe of a mighty cliff, with nervous hikers clutching at chains alongside it.
We checked out one another, grinning from ear to ear, and joined the queue of adventurers.
A person in army uniform was issuing obligatory harnesses for $5 and we enthusiastically grabbed ours. They have been of poor high quality, solely securing the higher physique.
The lanyards and carabiners had seen higher days, however we didn’t let this deter us. The shrills of Chinese language college students echoed throughout and we clipped in to a metal cable that may be our solely lifeline alongside the plank.
We descended down a set of bolstered metal bars that had been bolted into the stone, inching our manner in direction of the cliff.
In a second it was there, proper in entrance of us, in all its glory. Simply as I had seen in these first photos all these years in the past.
The planks, the chains, the relentless risk of dying over the aspect of the mountain, all of it. Like an excited little one the evening earlier than Christmas, I used to be getting jittery.
Clipping in our two factors of contact on the lanyards, we stepped out onto the plank and away from the protection of strong floor.
With nobody else on the plank it might have been pretty tame, so long as you weren’t afraid of heights. However the worry got here from placing your belief in each historic Chinese language engineering, and within the terrified college students that groped and grasped at something they might to regular their trembling our bodies – ourselves included.
Nobody was keen to maneuver out from the sting of the cliff, so we have been pressured to step behind the scared locals. With one hand on the chain, we’d swing out over the sting and proceed on. It was exhilarating.
The trail was solely 50m or so, and as soon as we reached the top there was a small platform to climb and benefit from the panoramic views. With a couple of photos taken, we rotated and headed again throughout the plank stroll.
The magnitude of the second crossing kicked in once we discovered ourselves as the one ones on there.
We had managed to seize a quick second of solitude, and we simply stood nonetheless, mouths open, wanting on the surroundings round us. Leaning proper out over the sting, we stared down into the vacant area under.
Rumours of 100 folks a 12 months dying on this mountain could also be unfounded, however I nonetheless questioned what number of corpses lay on the backside of that cliff.
We moved additional on and eventually accomplished the world’s most harmful hike. We cheered in jubilation, hugged and threw high-5s throughout.
Part of me wished to climb again out on the plank to overcome it as soon as extra, however with the sunlight hours dwindling and nonetheless a protracted bus journey to get again to Xian, it was time to maneuver on.
That’s till we noticed the Chess Pavilion…
Jutting out from the East Peak the Chess Pavilion is a lonesome pagoda in a precarious place.
The one technique to attain it’s by way of a harmful climb down a slipper rock face, with aged footholds carved into the aspect and steel bars offering the occasional leverage.
We noticed one other military-costumed man issuing harnesses and we shortly rented three from him.
Not like the Plank Stroll within the Sky, the hike to the Chess Pavilion can solely have a restricted variety of folks on it without delay. It simply isn’t vast or giant sufficient for a complete barrage of adventurers trampling down the aspect of the cliff.
We set off on our personal, descending rigorously in direction of flatter floor. Requiring much more energy and climbing methods than the Plank Stroll was much more pleasing, and whereas the heights weren’t anyplace close to as overwhelming, the hazard was nonetheless there. Fortunately our pathetic harnesses gave the phantasm of security.
Arriving on the Chess Pavilion we have been after all met with humbling views of the mountains and valleys round. After a couple of final snaps, a fast sport of faux chess and a worrisome have a look at our watches, we knew it was time to depart this sacred mountain.
We turned and climbed as quick as potential, dashing to get again in direction of the underside of Mount Huashan. At this level Jon mentioned he was going to proceed on and go to the opposite peaks that we had missed, as he had a personal automotive ready for him on the backside.
He graciously provided to provide us a experience, however we declined, having already pay as you go for our bus tickets. We hugged, parting methods, stoked with how our new friendship had introduced us to dizzying heights.
Alesha and I ran down the mountain, nonetheless pumped up on adrenalin. We made it to the highest of the cable automotive in report time, however noticed that with the solar already setting behind the mountains, that we have been too late.
We wouldn’t have sufficient time to hike right down to the underside earlier than 7pm, when our final bus would depart. In a heartbreaking sigh of defeat, we took the cable automotive to the underside of the East Gate.
We ran and hitched to get again to the village, simply in time to board the final bus to Xian. Sitting down on the bus, rumbling down a manicured Chinese language freeway we have been completely buzzing. The hike was all the pieces we had hoped it might be.
The joys of surviving the world’s most harmful hike was as immense because the mountain we had simply scaled. However with such an necessary aim ticked off, it was time to show our eyes onto a brand new problem.
What on the market will examine to the magnitude of climbing Mount Huashan and traversing its notorious Plank Stroll? Solely time will inform…
Get to Mount Huashan From Xian
Mount Huashan is situated within the city of Huayin, solely 120km from the favored Chinese language Metropolis, Xian.
Most individuals will go to the notorious mountain achieve this from Xian, and fortunately it’s comparatively straightforward to get there!
The whole journey, together with trekking on the world’s most harmful hike, could be performed in a day journey.
If you wish to keep the evening in Huayin, there are a selection of lodging choices, together with some on Mount Huashan itself.
Excessive Velocity Practice From Xian To Huashan
- Head to the Xian North Railway Station and catch a excessive pace prepare to Huashan North Station (华山火车北站). This prepare is on the Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xian line, and may price between 34 and 55 RMB. The journey might be lower than 45 minutes.
- Once you get off at Huashan North bounce on one of many inexperienced minibuses and it’ll take you on to the mountain. This minibus is free (a primary for China!).
Common Practice From Xian To Huashan
- Make your technique to the Xian Railway Station and catch a daily prepare to Huashan Railway Station (华山火车站). This prepare ought to price between 17 and 20 RMB. The journey might be about 2 hours.
- At Huashan Railway Station take a taxi or minivan to the mountain.
Buses From Xian To Huashan
- Head to the Xian North Railway Station and go to the southern car parking zone. Search for buses on the east aspect.
- There might be indicators for Huashan (华山) that can assist you find a bus. First bus leaves at about 0700.
- The bus drops you off close to the bottom of the mountain on the West Gate. From there you may simply stroll up the highway. The one we took dropped us off at a lodge/tour company the place they then tried to e book us into a bunch tour. We simply ignored them and began strolling, regardless of their protests. The associated fee was about 35 for a method, or 55 RMB for a return journey.
- Apparently there are different buses which can drop you instantly on the East Gate, however we didn’t see these. We’re glad we took our bus although as we wished to trek up from the extra picturesque West Gate fairly than the East Gate.
- The final bus again to Xian leaves at 1900, so make certain you’re again within the village if you wish to return to Xian with out taking an costly taxi.
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How A lot Does it Value to Climb Mount Huashan?
Mount Huashan is a part of the Huashan Nationwide Park, and as such there may be an entrance price to get in. It’s not as costly as locations like Zhangjiajie Nationwide Park, however nonetheless fairly expensive.
Observe: Identical to most locations in China, college students get 50% off the common worth. However worry not in case you don’t have a scholar card! As most Chinese language working in these parks can’t learn English, simply present them any type of ID together with your image on it. We managed to journey all of China paying scholar costs by simply displaying our PADI dive playing cards!
- Customary Worth: 180RMB
- Scholar Worth: 90RMB
- Cable Automotive One Manner: 80RMB
- Cable Automotive Return: 150RMB
- Plank Stroll In The Sky: 30RMB for harness rental
- Chess Pavillon: 30RMB for harness rental
Want to Do a Tour?
These days we’ve been receiving various emails from folks questioning if it’s in any respect potential to do a tour to Mount Hua Shan, together with transport, a information and naturally entry to the Plank Stroll and the world’s most harmful hike.
We’ve performed a little bit of analysis, and checked with our readers, and this feature that’s discovered on Get Your Information appears to be the very best one. It contains transport from Xian and a information, however not entrance charges (though these could be added at checkout on the Viator web site to make issues straightforward).
Suggestions for the Mount Huashan Hike
Whereas the time period “the world’s most harmful hike” could also be a tad overdramatic, that is undoubtedly not one thing for the faint-hearted.
If you’re frightened of hikes, or crawling over petrified Chinese language college students, then this might be a problem like no different. However even for many who worry nothing, there are nonetheless some ideas that it is best to hearken to if you wish to climb the sacred mountain.
- Take numerous water. You should purchase bottled water on the mountain itself, however it’s ridiculously costly.
- Carry snacks!
- In the event you’re doing it in a day journey, depart Xian early!
- Put on correct footwear! Don’t try and do it in flip flops simply to be a hero.
- In the event you plan to hike via the evening to look at dawn (which is feasible), take a great high quality head torch.
- Carry layers with you, and moist climate gear. The local weather can change shortly up on the mountain.
- It’s potential to do that in winter. Bear in mind that snow and ice will make issues slippery and extra harmful.
- The Plank Stroll and Chess Pavilion hike are literally a number of the most secure elements of the mountain since you are required to put on harnesses. Ensure you have additional vigiliance on different elements of the mountain the place steep drop offs don’t have handrails or chains to carry on to, and it’s a must to navigate round enormous quantities of vacationers.
- If you’re making an attempt to catch the final bus again to Xian then you definitely would possibly wish to contemplate taking the cable automotive down round 6pm to make sure you get again in time.
- Don’t neglect to take numerous photographs!
