1 Day Classic Mount Huashan Tour from Xian

In this morning, your local guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for a memorable trip to Mount Huashan, located 118km away and about 1.5-2 hours’ drive. Mount Huashan, also known as Huashan Mountain, one of the five sacred mountains of Taoism and is famous for its steep and narrow paths, as well as its stunning natural scenery. It is home to five peaks and has long been considered the most precipitous mountain in China, with its sheer granite rock face, rugged cliffs, and deep valleys.

Route: the most leisure way to explore Mount Hua: the Cable Car – West Peak – South Peak – Plank Road in the Sky – East Peak – Middle Peak – West Peak – Cable Car route (4-5 hours, the leisure hiking route)

Upon arrival, you’ll board a tourist bus to the West Peak Cableway station, where a cable car will take you directly to the summit area of Mount Huashan. Suspended over 900 meters above the valley, the West Peak Cable Car offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks and valleys – an experience you won’t want to miss. Your first stop is West Peak, also known as Lotus Peak for its unique shape, formed by a massive rock. It’s steep and awe-inspiring. From there, a 30-minute walk takes you to South Peak, the highest point on Mount Huashan, offering a panoramic view of the other four peaks.

Descending 15 minutes from South Peak, you’ll encounter the famous Plank Road in the Sky, a thrilling and narrow path built along a vertical cliff, considered one of the most dangerous paths in the world. After this adventure, continue hiking for about 40 minutes to reach East Peak, known for its breathtaking views, ancient trees, and attractions like Sparrow Hawk Turning Over and the Chess Playing Pavilion.

Spend around 40 minutes exploring East Peak before heading back to the West Peak Cableway station via a different trail near Central Peak. Take the cable car down, where your driver will be waiting to transfer you back to Xian.

Route: the most challenging way to explore Mount Hua: the Cable Car – North Peak – Canglongling – Middle Peak – East Peak – Plank Road in the Sky – South Peak – West Peak – Cable Car route

First, you will take a park bus from the tourist center to the foot of the North Peak of Mount Hua, which takes approximately 20 minutes. And then, take the cable car directly to the North Peak (about 10 minutes). At North Peak (also Cloud Terrace Peak) on the platform, you can have a breathtaking panoramic view of the whole mountain and other four peaks.

After enjoying the panoramic view from the North Peak, continue your hike along the famous “Dragon’s Back” trail, which winds through the rocky terrain and offers stunning views of the green pines and white clouds of Mount Huashan. Later, you will reach the Golden Lock Pass, where you can admire the beautiful scenery of countless red ropes and colorful strings, representing layers of locks for love and peace, hanging on the iron chain on both sides of the path. From there, continue on to the Middle Peak and hike for about 40 minutes to reach the East Peak (the best spot for watching the sunrise). And, the most thrilling and challenging activity of the hike is yet to come – the “Plank Road in the Sky”. This section of the trail is considered the world’s most dangerous hiking trail due to its knife-blade ridges, precipitous crags, and steep and narrow paths. (Note: It’s important to note that walking through the Changkong Plank Road and completing the round trip takes about 0.5-1 hour. However, it’s an optional activity, and it’s not recommended for those who are not experienced hikers or are afraid of heights.)

Later, you will get to the South Peak which is the highest peak of Mount Huashan (2154.9 meters). It is a good spot to take photos with breathtaking scenery. After the happy time, you will hike for 30 minutes to the West Peak (also called Lotus Flower Peak). This place is the best spot with the most gorgeous scenery. Visit to see Cuiyun Palace and Fupi Stone, and listen to the legendary story about Chenxiang, the main character in the movie Lotus Lantern, who ripped Mount Huashan to save his mother, the Heavenly Goddess San Sheng Mu. Afterward, walk for approximately 20 minutes to the West Peak Cableway Station, where you’ll take a cable car to descend the mountain. The cable car ride takes about 20 minutes and offers stunning views of the peaks and valleys of Mount Huashan, providing a perfect opportunity to enjoy the scenery one last time before leaving the mountain.

After the Mount Hua tour, you will be escorted back to your hotel in Xian.

Important Travel & Hiking Tips:
1) It is recommended to bring your own food and drinks while hiking as the supply on the mountain is limited. 2) The Plank Road in the Sky may be temporarily closed due to maintenance or extreme weather conditions. 3) Visitors may have to queue up for hours during peak season to enter the Plank Road. 4) If you are interested in experiencing this thrilling hike, it is advisable to depart from Xi’an early and plan your hiking route and pace accordingly.