Mt. HuashanHuashan (Hua Mountain) stands120 kilometers from Xi’an. This mountain is one of the five sacred mountains in China. It’s famous for its Taoist monasteries. The climb to the top is not for the faint of heart. In some places the slope is nearly vertical, and despite the iron chains sunk into the path as handholds, the climb is strenuous and tricky. For those who aren’t up to it, there’s a cable car to the top.
Huashan actually includes five peaks, each with its own unique and beautiful scenery. Wild Goose Landing, the southernmost, is the highest at 2,160 meters. The view is spectacular, for those willing to make the climb, and there’s also a Taoist temple, Baidi Temple, at the top. The Lotus Peak in the west stands about 60 meters lower, but the view is no less spectacular. Here too you can find a Taoist holy place, the Cuiyun Palace. The easternmost peak, Facing Sun Peak, has a viewing platform where trekkers can gather to watch the sun rise, after the grueling four to six hour climb to the top. That the path has stairs cut into it makes that climb only marginally easier than it was in ancient days.
The cable car goes up Yuntai Peak, the northernmost peak. From there it’s possible to hike around to all of the other peaks and take in the numerous scenic spots. All told, the trip should take some five to six hours. If you want to make the climb without using the cable car, start at Yuquan Palace at the base of Yuntai Peak. To see all five peaks you will need to camp over night.
