Everything y'all demand to know nigh the Mount Huashan hike, ameliorate known as the ‘world’s most unsafe hike’, or the ‘plank walk’, inwards China.
Check out our video of the World’s Most Dangerous Hike on Mount Huashan at the bottom of this article!
I even so recollect the inaugural of all fourth dimension I saw photos of someone traversing a narrow plank of wood bolted to the side of a cliff, 2000 feet inwards the air. I sat upwards straight inwards my chair, eyes open, in addition to mouthed the words, “I receive got to produce this”.
I was inwards Canada at the time, in addition to a chip of research made me notice that the pictures I had seen were non simply of whatever one-time via ferrata – These were images of Mount Huashan, in addition to the world’s most unsafe hike.
I made a hope to myself. Come hell or high water, I would create my way to Red People's Republic of China in addition to scale this exhilarating mountain.
The 2154m tall Mount Huashan is considered to live 1 of v sacred mountains inwards China, in addition to locals know it as the “most precipitous mount nether heaven”.
Adorned amongst influential Taoist temples, this mount has been purpose of folklore for thousands of years. Five peaks create upwards the jagged mountain, amongst each 1 belongings teahouses in addition to shrines.
Impossible pathways receive got been carved all over the crags, in addition to it is this house that has caught the imagination of adventurers everywhere.
Years later, Alesha in addition to I constitute ourselves inwards Xian inwards the Shaanxi province of China. Xian is famous for its Terracotta Warriors, but I was to a greater extent than interested inwards Mount Huashan, which stands tall exclusively a few hours from the city.
Alesha needed fiddling convincing. She had seen the photos in addition to watched videos. She as good was non bad to tackle the world’s most unsafe hike. H5N1 few days of urban center exploration was enough; it was fourth dimension to climb.
The charabanc ride seemed to lastly forever as our excitement levels grew amongst every passing kilometre. Eventually nosotros drove into Huayin City, disembarked in addition to made a beeline towards the West Gate.
In truthful Chinese fashion in that location was right away ii cable cars that ferried hundreds of people to the summit every day, but nosotros avoided this cheating way to the summit. It was non our style.
An ancient Chinese legend states that in that location is exclusively 1 truthful path upwards Mount Huashan – the 12km trek rising 1800m that took 3000 years to build. This is where nosotros began.
The trail started off pleasantly, amongst few people along its leafy, meandering path – Most Chinese tourists right away opt for the effortless cable car. With the lack of people on it, it reminded us of Tiger Leaping Gorge.
We followed the river past times little temples in addition to shrines, closing inwards on the mount higher upwards us. Along the way nosotros met a immature English linguistic communication homo named Jon who was trekking on his own, in addition to nosotros decided to bring together forces. Soon nosotros started to climb, higher in addition to higher, upwards steep staircases carved into the stone.
We were barely on the mount but already the danger was rising. Hours passed in addition to nosotros pushed on into to a greater extent than beautiful scenery, earlier finally reaching the cable motorcar station.
Scores of domestic tourists right away slithered all over the mountain, snapping photos in addition to screaming out to the vast sky above.
Desperate to exit of the slaughterhouse nosotros laid our sights on an abrupt stairway that followed a ridge similar a knife’s edge.
Each measuring required both elbow grease in addition to vigilance, as sheer drops on either side tumbled into jagged rocks below. Only pausing to snap a photo, nosotros charged upwards the famous stairway in addition to moved closer to the peaks.
As nosotros gained height the vistas improved. In all directions were as impressive summits, covered inwards trees clinging to cliffs.
The pathways dissever across the mountain, heading off towards diverse temples in addition to peaks. Vertical ladders dug into rocks allowed access to higher points, sometimes amongst exclusively steel bars or chains for support, but oft amongst cypher to arrest your fall.
We spotted a sign leading towards the “Plank Walk In The Sky” in addition to ignored whatever other distractions.
The afternoon Sun was right away beaming downwards on us, but nosotros had reached the site that had inaugural of all attracted me to China. From a advantage indicate nosotros could run across the narrow plank bending to a greater extent than or less the border of a mighty cliff, amongst nervous hikers clutching at chains along it.
We looked at each other, grinning from ear to ear, in addition to joined the queue of adventurers.
A homo inwards state of war machine uniform was issuing compulsory harnesses for $5 in addition to nosotros enthusiastically grabbed ours. They were of poor quality, exclusively securing the upper body.
The lanyards in addition to carabiners had seen ameliorate days, but nosotros didn’t permit this deter us. The shrills of Chinese students echoed all to a greater extent than or less in addition to nosotros clipped inwards to a steel cable that would live our exclusively lifeline along the plank.
We descended downwards a laid of reinforced steel bars that had been bolted into the stone, inching our way towards the cliff.
In a minute it was there, correct inwards front end of us, inwards all its glory. Just as I had seen inwards those inaugural of all images all those years ago.
The planks, the chains, the relentless threat of decease over the side of the mountain, all of it. Like an excited tiddler the nighttime earlier Christmas, I was getting jittery.
Clipping inwards our ii points of contact on the lanyards, nosotros stepped out onto the plank in addition to away from the security of corporation ground.
With no 1 else on the plank it would receive got been fairly tame, as long as y'all weren’t afraid of heights. But the fright came from putting your trust inwards both ancient Chinese engineering, in addition to inwards the terrified students that groped in addition to grasped at anything they could to steady their trembling bodies – ourselves included.
No 1 was willing to motility out from the border of the cliff, so nosotros were forced to measuring behind the scared locals. With 1 mitt on the chain, nosotros would swing out over the border in addition to proceed on. It was exhilarating.
The path was exclusively 50m or so, in addition to 1 time nosotros reached the halt in that location was a little platform to climb in addition to bask the panoramic views. With a few pictures taken, nosotros turned to a greater extent than or less in addition to headed dorsum across the plank walk.
The magnitude of the 2nd crossing kicked inwards when nosotros constitute ourselves as the exclusively ones on there. We had managed to capture a brief minute of solitude, in addition to nosotros simply stood still, mouths open, looking at the scenery to a greater extent than or less us. Leaning correct out over the edge, nosotros stared downwards into the vacant infinite below.
Rumours of 100 people a yr dying on this mount may live unfounded, but I even so wondered how many corpses lay at the bottom of that cliff.
We moved farther on in addition to finally completed the world’s most unsafe hike. We cheered inwards jubilation, hugged in addition to threw high-5s all around.
A purpose of me wanted to climb dorsum out on the plank to conquer it 1 time more, but amongst the daylight hours dwindling in addition to even so a long charabanc journey to larn dorsum to Xian, it was fourth dimension to motility on.
That is until nosotros saw the Chess Pavilion…
Jutting out from the East Peak the Chess Pavilion is a lonesome pagoda inwards a precarious position. The exclusively way to achieve it is via a unsafe climb downwards a slipper stone face, amongst aged footholds carved into the side in addition to metallic bars providing the occasional leverage.
We saw some other military-costumed homo issuing harnesses in addition to nosotros apace rented 3 from him.
Unlike the Plank Walk inwards the Sky, the hike to the Chess Pavilion tin exclusively receive got a express break of people on it at once. It simply isn’t broad or large plenty for a whole barrage of adventurers trampling downwards the side of the cliff.
We laid off on our own, descending carefully towards flatter ground. Requiring a lot to a greater extent than strength in addition to climbing techniques than the Plank Walk was far to a greater extent than enjoyable, in addition to spell the heights weren’t anywhere nigh as overwhelming, the danger was even so there. Luckily our pitiful harnesses gave the illusion of safety.
Arriving at the Chess Pavilion nosotros were of course of report met amongst humbling views of the mountains in addition to valleys around. After a few lastly snaps, a quick game of imitation chess in addition to a worrisome await at our watches, nosotros knew it was fourth dimension to leave of absence this sacred mountain.
We turned in addition to climbed as fast as possible, rushing to larn dorsum towards the bottom of Mount Huashan. At this indicate Jon said he was going to proceed on in addition to see the other peaks that nosotros had missed, as he had a somebody motorcar waiting for him at the bottom.
He graciously offered to give us a ride, but nosotros declined, having already prepaid for our charabanc tickets. We hugged, parting ways, stoked amongst how our novel friendship had brought us to dizzying heights.
Alesha in addition to I ran downwards the mountain, even so pumped upwards on adrenalin. We made it to the top of the cable motorcar inwards tape time, but saw that amongst the Sun already setting behind the mountains, that nosotros were as good late.
We wouldn’t receive got plenty fourth dimension to hike downwards to the bottom earlier 7pm, when our lastly charabanc would depart. In a heartbreaking sigh of defeat, nosotros took the cable motorcar to the bottom of the East Gate.
We ran in addition to hitched to larn dorsum to the village, simply inwards fourth dimension to board the lastly charabanc to Xian. Sitting downwards on the bus, rumbling downwards a manicured Chinese highway nosotros were absolutely buzzing. The hike was everything nosotros had hoped it would be.
The thrill of surviving the world’s most unsafe hike was as immense as the mount nosotros had simply scaled. But amongst such an of import destination ticked off, it was fourth dimension to plough our eyes onto a novel challenge.
What out in that location volition compare to the magnitude of climbing Mount Huashan in addition to traversing its infamous Plank Walk? Only fourth dimension volition tell…
How To Get To Mount Huashan From Xian
Mount Huashan is located inwards the town of Huayin, exclusively 120km from the pop Chinese City, Xian. Most people volition see the infamous mount produce so from Xian, in addition to luckily it is relatively slowly to larn there! The entire journey, including trekking on the world’s most unsafe hike, tin live done inwards a 24-hour interval trip. If y'all desire to remain the nighttime inwards Huayin, in that location are a break of accommodation options, including some on Mount Huashan itself.
High Speed Train From Xian To Huashan
- Head to the Xian North Railway Station in addition to grab a high speed prepare to Huashan North Station (华山火车北站). This prepare is on the Zhengzhou-Luoyang-Xian line, in addition to should cost betwixt 34 in addition to 55 RMB. The journeying volition live less than 45 minutes.
- When y'all larn off at Huashan North fountain on 1 of the light-green minibuses in addition to it volition receive got y'all straight to the mountain. This minibus is gratis (a inaugural of all for China!).
Regular Train From Xian To Huashan
- Make your way to the Xian Railway Station in addition to grab a regular prepare to Huashan Railway Station (华山火车站). This prepare should cost betwixt 17 in addition to twenty RMB. The journeying volition live nigh 2 hours.
- At Huashan Railway Station receive got a taxi or minivan to the mountain.
Buses From Xian To Huashan
- Head to the Xian North Railway Station in addition to larn to the southern parking lot. Look for buses on the due east side.
- There volition live signs for Huashan (华山) to assist y'all locate a bus. First charabanc leaves at nigh 0700.
- The charabanc drops y'all off nigh the base of operations of the mount on the West Gate. From in that location y'all tin simply walk upwards the road. The 1 nosotros took dropped us off at a hotel/tour means where they so tried to mass us into a grouping tour. We simply ignored them in addition to started walking, despite their protests. The cost was nigh 35 for 1 way, or 55 RMB for a supply trip.
- Apparently in that location are other buses which volition drib y'all straight at the East Gate, but nosotros didn’t run across these. We’re glad nosotros took our charabanc though as nosotros wanted to trek upwards from the to a greater extent than picturesque West Gate rather than the East Gate.
- The lastly charabanc dorsum to Xian leaves at 1900, so live certain you’re dorsum inwards the hamlet if y'all desire to supply to Xian without taking an expensive taxi.
Need accomodation inwards Xian? Book hither amongst Agoda.com
How Much Does It Cost To Climb Mount Huashan?
Mount Huashan is purpose of the Huashan National Park, in addition to as such in that location is an entrance fee to larn in. It’s non as expensive as places similar Zhangjiajie National Park, but even so pretty pricey.
Note: Just similar most places inwards China, students larn 50% off the regular price. But fright non if y'all don’t receive got a educatee card! As most Chinese working inwards these parks can’t read English, simply present them whatever cast of ID amongst your movie on it. We managed to go all of Red People's Republic of China paying educatee prices past times simply showing our PADI dive cards!
- Standard Price: 180RMB
- Student Price: 90RMB
- Cable Car One Way: 80RMB
- Cable Car Return: 150RMB
- Plank Walk In The Sky: 30RMB for harness rental
- Chess Pavillon: 30RMB for harness rental
Prefer to Do a Tour?
Lately we’ve been receiving quite a lot of emails from people wondering if it’s at all possible to produce a tour to Mount Hua Shan, including transport, a guide in addition to of course of report access to the Plank Walk in addition to the world’s most unsafe hike.
We’ve done a chip of research, in addition to checked amongst our readers, and this selection that is constitute on Viator seems to live the best one. It includes carry from Xian in addition to a guide, but non entrance fees (although these tin live added at checkout on the Viator site to create things easy).
Tips for the Mount Huashan Hike
While the term “the world’s most unsafe hike” may live a tad overdramatic, this is definitely non something for the faint-hearted. If y'all are scared of hikes, or crawling over petrified Chinese students, so this volition live a challenge similar no other. But fifty-fifty for those who fright nothing, in that location are even so some tips that y'all should take away heed to if y'all desire to climb the sacred mountain.
- Take lots of water. You tin purchase bottled H2O on the mount itself, but it is ridiculously expensive.
- Bring snacks!
- If you’re doing it inwards a 24-hour interval trip, leave of absence Xian early!
- Wear proper footwear! Don’t endeavour to produce it inwards flip flops simply to live a hero.
- If y'all invention to hike through the nighttime to lookout sunrise (which is possible), receive got a proficient character caput torch.
- Bring layers amongst you, in addition to moisture conditions gear. The climate tin modify apace upwards on the mountain.
- It is possible to produce this inwards winter. Be aware that snowfall in addition to H2O ice volition create things slippery in addition to to a greater extent than dangerous.
- The Plank Walk in addition to Chess Pavilion hike are truly some of the safest parts of the mount because y'all are required to article of apparel harnesses. Make certain y'all receive got extra vigiliance on other parts of the mount where steep drib offs don’t receive got handrails or chains to agree on to, in addition to y'all receive got to navigate to a greater extent than or less huge amounts of tourists.
- If y'all are trying to grab the lastly charabanc dorsum to Xian so y'all mightiness desire to consider taking the cable motorcar downwards to a greater extent than or less 6pm to ensure y'all larn dorsum inwards time.
- Don’t forget to receive got lots of photos!
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