Mount Huashan, how to climb the dangerous route of China's sacred mountain

One of the most spectacular excursions that you can consider in your trip to Xian es visit Mount Huashan.

It is one of the five sacred mountains of the Taoist religion in China, and on this excursion you will be able to ascend to its peaks through the demanding trails that border their great cliffs.

La Huashan Sacred Mountain It is only 120 kilometers away east of Xian, in the same province of Shanxi, and it is a tourist place that receives thousands of visitors every year.

What Mount Huashan is like

Its name in Chinese is Hua Shan, which actually means Mount Hua (shan is mountain).

This is not an excursion that anyone can do, since huashan It has earned the reputation of being the most dangerous mountain trail in the world, although the truth is that the most difficult area is a small stretch near one of the peaks.

The religious spirit that surrounds the Mount Huashan It dates back to the 2nd century BC, and throughout history the area has been populated with Taoist monasteries.

Therefore, those who visit huashan You will find several temples and numerous religious elements during the ascent.

The reason why Huashan Mountain attracts thousands of tourists from Xian is the possibility of ascend its five peaks along numerous trails, as I have mentioned, with some sections of great difficulty.

The highest of these is South peak, which reaches 2.610 meters of altitude.

This feature makes the Mount Huashan in an attractive challenge for people with an adventurous spirit.

How to get to Mount Huashan

Yes at the time of plan your trip to Xian catches your attention visit Mount Huashan, you have two options to reach said enclave.

You can go by train to Mount Huashan (ticket price, 20 yuan, two euros), from Xian central station, and the journey will take an hour and a half.

When you arrive at the station you must take a taxi or a regular bus to Yuquan Yuan, one of the most important Taoist temples in China.

You also have the option to do the bus trip from Xian to Huashan Mountain.

There are several possibilities to take buses from the Xian Railway Station or the East Bus Station, with a frequency of every half hour, taking between an hour and a half or two hours, and for a price of between 22 and 30 yuan (2,2 to 3 euros).

How to climb Mount Huashan

The starting point to undertake the ascension is the aforementioned Yuquan Yuan Taoist Temple.

Here you can choose between starting to climb the trails or take a funicular that will take you to the North Peak, which is located at a height of 1.613 meters above sea level.

This funicular, which was installed in the 90s, takes eight minutes to travel 1.500 meters, and costs 80 yuan one way and 150 yuan round trip.

From the first stage, which is the North Peak, there are several trails that lead you to the other peaks, which have different levels of difficulty, with some really dangerous sections.

I tell you that for our trips we have annual insurance. IATI Insurance, a company that offers various modalities that will adapt to your requirements.

In fact, every year there are dozens of fatal accidents among tourists who choose the most complicated routes.

This has led to some of the most difficult routes being closed to visitors.

For plan your visit to Mount Huashan there are two alternatives.

On the one hand, try to do the excursion in a single day, for which it is essential to cover the first section with the funicular.

And on the other hand, as many visitors do, do it in two days, spending the night in one of the hostel-type shelters along the route, to be able to see the sunrise halfway there.

Since I have not had the opportunity to visit the sacred mountain Huashan During my trip to Xian, to learn about the experiences of travelers who have climbed it, I recommend reading personal blogs “The Xian Embassy” and “Giu's Blog”