Mount Hua (Huashan)
华山
The Western Sacred Peak, the most perilous of the Five Great Mountains, with a plank road on granite cliffs, the Hawk's Turn, and sea of clouds over five peaks. A classic one-day climb from Xi'an.
Mount Hua lies in Huayin, Weinan, about 120 km from Xi'an. Its main summit, South Peak, rises 2,154.9 m. The old saying 'There is only one path up Huashan' reflects its reputation for danger. Each of the five peaks has its own character: North Peak (Yuntai Peak, upper station of the cable car, good for views); Central Peak (Yunü Peak); East Peak (Chaoyang Peak, for sunrise, home to the famous Hawk's Turn, with 30 yuan safety gear and long queues); South Peak (Luoyan Peak, the highest point, with Changkong Plank Road just below it, 30 yuan safety gear, limited entry, queues of 1-2 hours, not for those afraid of heights); and West Peak (Lotus Peak, with Axe-Cleaved Rock and the legend of Chen Xiang splitting the mountain to save his mother, and the upper station of the West Peak cable car).
The most common one-day route goes up the West and down the North. Take the West Peak cable car up (140 yuan one way, 280 yuan round trip, including the 40 yuan shuttle bus into the scenic area). Then visit West Peak, South Peak (Changkong Plank Road), East Peak, Central Peak, Jinsuo Pass and finally North Peak, and take the North Peak cable car down (80 yuan one way). The full route takes about 6-7 hours, with steep steps that require good fitness. Tickets cost 160 yuan in peak season (March-November) and 100 yuan in off-season. Buy them through the official 'Huashan Scenic Area' WeChat account. Cable cars and the shuttle bus are charged separately.
Those who climb overnight for sunrise hike from Yuquan Courtyard (about 6 hours to East Peak), usually setting off around 1 a.m. This is mainly a summer option. Bring a headlamp and a warm jacket, since the summit is about 10°C colder than the foothills.
Getting there: take a high-speed train from Xi'an North Station to Huashan North Station, about 35 minutes (55 yuan). From the exit, a free or 10-yuan shuttle bus runs to the visitor center. Ordinary trains also run from Xi'an Railway Station to Huashan Station.
Note: Huashan's paths are narrow, with many single-direction sections. Holidays are extremely crowded, and cable car queues can reach 2 hours, so arrive early. Skirts and hard-soled shoes are not recommended. Bring plenty of water and food, since prices on the mountain are high.
Opening hours
Peak season 7:00–19:00; off-season 8:00–18:00 (West Peak cable car 7:00–19:00)