Mount Hua
华山 · Huayin, Weinan, Shaanxi, China
Mount Hua is the Western Mountain of the Five Great Mountains, famous for its five peaks — East, South, West, North and Centre — and perilous paths such as Canglong Ridge and the Plank Walk in the Sky; South Peak, at 2,154.9 metres, is the highest.
Know before you go
- Do not push or crowd on the perilous paths
- do not climb over guardrails
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Stories & people
Stories & people
History
Canglong Ridge: Once the Only Way
Canglong Ridge is a knife-thin mountain spine that for a long time was the only route from North Peak to the other peaks. It was not until 1998 that a path bypassing the ridge was built.
Source: Wikipedia: Mount Hua
Legend
Chenxiang Splits the Mountain to Save His Mother
Legend has it that the Third Holy Mother, third daughter of the god of Mount Hua, was pressed beneath the mountain, and that her son Chenxiang, once grown, split the rock and freed her. The neatly cleft Axe-Split Rock on West Peak is said to be the mark he left behind.
Source: Wikipedia: Mount Hua
Legend
The Giant Spirit Splits the Mountain
Another account of the mountain's origin tells that the Giant Spirit split Mount Hua with a single axe blow so that the Yellow River could flow east to the sea. The perilous character of Mount Hua has thus become tied to these two legends.
Source: Wikipedia: Mount Hua
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Mount Hua lies in Huayin City, Weinan, Shaanxi Province, about 120 kilometres east of Xi'an, at the northern foot of the eastern Qinling Mountains. It is now divided into five peaks — East, South, West, North and Centre — with South Peak, at 2,154.9 metres, the highest. Perilous paths such as Canglong Ridge, the Plank Walk in the Sky and the Yaozi Fanshen cliff path are as famous as its sea of clouds and sunrises, and its climbing route is often called one of the most dangerous hikes in the world. Mount Hua is a Daoist sacred mountain, with temples such as the Yuquan Temple (Cloister of the Jade Spring) and the Xiyue Temple spread along it. It has been revered since the Han dynasty, and the Xiyue Temple is dedicated to the Great Emperor of the Western Mountain; from the 1230s the temples on the mountain came under the control of the Quanzhen school. The Daoist Chen Tuan spent his last years in hermitage on West Peak.
Local customs
- Take the cable car up to North Peak, then follow the main circuit over East, South and West Peaks
- see the knife-edge spine of Canglong Ridge and the sea of clouds from West Peak
- climb East Peak at night to watch the sunrise
- and if you are fit, take the Zhiqu Huashan Road or the ancient Huashanyu Valley path.
Etiquette & taboos
Etiquette & taboos
Don’t DON'T
- Do not push or crowd on the perilous paths
- do not climb over guardrails
Locals appreciate DO
- Follow the temple's rules on photography inside Daoist temples
- offer incense as directed by the temple
- check the scenic area's notices in rain, snow or strong wind
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- The climb takes a long time, so wear non-slip hiking shoes and bring enough drinking water
- cable car and ticket prices are as officially announced by the scenic area. If you climb at night, bring a headlamp and warm clothing
- in rain, snow or strong wind some perilous paths close, as announced by the scenic area.
- From Xi'an, take the high-speed train to Huashan North Station and transfer to a shuttle bus, or take a long-distance bus from Xi'an bus station to Huayin
- the scenic area has cable cars and mountain shuttle buses. Spring and autumn, with their mild climate, are the best times to climb
- in summer a sea of clouds often appears after rain
- in winter the snow-covered mountain is clear and beautiful, but some sections ice over and call for extra care.
Photos
Photos
Ondřej Žváček · CC BY-SA 3.0
May Wung · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes
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