Mount Hua Climbing Guide + Photographed Routes

Mount Hua is the Western Peak of the Five Great Mountains, and it has long been an important place in mythology and fiction. There are many legends about Mount Hua, and it also has the remnants of Taoist religion. Due to its extremely rugged geographical features, Mount Hua has become a favorite of many climbers. Below, I will share with you a guide to climbing Mount Hua as well as some photographed routes.

I remember studying a text called “The Capture of Mount Hua” during my student days. From then on, Mount Hua left an indelible mark in my heart. The dream of Mount Hua has always been in my mind.

This year, I went with a group of eight friends, starting from Yuquan Temple, and we climbed upwards along the route known as “The Only Path up Mount Hua Since Ancient Times”.

After a difficult climb through Huixin Stone, Thousand Foot Cliff, Hundred Foot Gorge, and Laojun’s Furrow, we reached the North Peak. We then passed through Chaer Cliff, the Heavenly Ladder, Canglong Ridge, Wuyun Peak, and Jinsuo Pass, and we reached the East Peak. Looking at the Swallow’s Flip, the Chess Hall, and the South Heavenly Gate, we reached the South Peak, the highest peak. We saw the Longkong Plank Road, passed through Wangzi Peak, finally reached the West Peak, and relived the legend of “The Treasure Lotus Lantern” and Shenxiang splitting the mountain to save his mother at Cuihua Palace…

The ticket office is brightly lit•unique•met students posing for photos•took a selfie

My fellow hikers

Let me show you all

The lovely “Huixin Stone”

Why is it called “Huixin Stone”? It turns out that it is five kilometers away from the mountain gate. Although you are walking along the valley path, the slope is steep and the road is long, and people are very tired. When you get here, you have truly started climbing the mountain. The further you go, the steeper, longer, and narrower the Thousand Foot Cliff and Hundred Foot Gorge become, with a knife-edge-like shape and a gap between them, just enough for one person to pass through. It is getting harder to walk. If you regret it here, you can still turn back and change your mind. You could also call it “Huixin Stone” which means “disheartened stone”. If you are disheartened, change your mind.

Above is Jingxin Stone

The origins of Jingxin Stone and Pingxin Stone: the cliff walls on both sides are narrow and stand upright, about to meet, but they are held open by two flying stones in the middle. There is only enough space for one person to pass through between the stones. When people crawl through under the stones, they are terrified, afraid that the stones will fall from the two walls. This is the “Jingxin Stone”. After passing through this stone, the heart that was hanging in the air is finally put down, and the stone behind it is called “Pingxin Stone”.
It is said that some well-meaning people have left behind a humorous poem: Jingxin Stone, really scary, touching your chest and asking your heart. If you have never done anything wrong in your life, you won’t have to make friends with the little devils. Don’t be afraid, don’t be scared!

In order to reduce the pressure on the waist and legs, people will choose to use both hands and feet

Using both hands and feet

The North Peak, also known as Yun Tai Peak, is 1614 meters above sea level, one of the main peaks of Mount Hua. It is surrounded by cliffs on all sides, and although it is not as high as the other peaks, it is very steep and dangerous, with three sides of cliffs, with only one mountain ridge leading to the south, making it a very dangerous location. The story of “The Capture of Mount Hua” takes place here. There is a platform on the top of the North Peak, which is a good place to overlook the three peaks of Mount Hua and the Canglong Ridge. Unfortunately, we got there at 3:30 in the morning, and it was pitch black. We only saw students huddled together for shelter, leaning against each other, embracing, wanting to hug, and lying down, which was heartbreaking to see.

Using the flash, we took a few photos as consolation.

The children waiting to watch the sunrise

Chaer Cliff has a slow flow of people and is congested.

Taking photos using the lights

Dim moonlight under the flash of the phone

The path is dangerous in the dark, with a sheer drop on the left. We grabbed the iron chain and climbed up the steps. We were still scared, but we couldn’t forget to capture this thrilling moment.

A thrilling moment

Standing on Canglong Ridge to look at the night scene at the foot of Mount Hua with its twinkling lights

Looking at the twinkling lights from Canglong Ridge

Wuyun Peak is located on Canglong Ridge, below Jinsuo Pass, and is a peak that runs north-south. Its western side faces a deep ravine, with steep cliffs. The eastern side is relatively gentle and is the only way to climb the East, West, and South peaks. The mountain road on the peak is winding and unique, with towering pines on both sides of the road, making it a beautiful scenery. Every autumn, the pine trees are green, the maple leaves are red, and the mountain flowers are dazzling. Under the sun, it is like five-colored clouds, hence the name of the peak. It is also known as the Middle Peak because it is located in the middle of the four main peaks: East, West, South, and North.

As dawn approached, reality told me that it was no longer possible to reach the East Peak to watch the sunrise.

Undeterred by the dangers, we bravely climbed on, no turning back. Onward! Onward!! Onward!!!

We climbed Mount Hua at night just to watch the sunrise. When I realized that we couldn’t make it to the East Peak to watch the sunrise, I was once disheartened and disappointed, foolishly forgetting that we could see the sun rise in every corner of the world, just the scenery we see would be different.
Just as we were about to reach Jinsuo Pass, the east gradually became brighter, so we stopped and found the best spot to wait for the sunrise.

At almost six o’clock, the sun finally appeared, after much anticipation. It was like a bride whose veil was lifted, rising slowly, gradually, and shyly from the east.
I held my breath and recorded the entire sunrise. It was so magnificent that my hand holding my phone was trembling. I watched it clearly, for four minutes and twenty-five seconds, until the sun finally hung in the sky, and the red glow filled the entire sky. At that moment, I felt that no matter how tired or exhausted I was, it was worth it!

Heaven was so kind and gracious to me. My first mountain climb to watch the sunrise was so perfect.

The east spat out a faint white light, it was dawn, and the sunrise was over, and I was also content.

The east spat out a faint white light

The east spat out a faint white light

The sun slowly rises

5:55’35″～6:00 The sun slowly revealed itself, until it was fully in the sky, taking four minutes and twenty-five seconds

The sun came out, and the morning glow filled the entire sky

The sun lit up the entire sky

I want to hug the sun

Leave a silhouette in the sun

Jinsuo Pass is a spectacular sight. On the iron chains on both sides of the hiking path, inside and outside the pass, there are countless locks hanging, symbolizing health, safety, and happiness: health locks, safety locks, and couple locks, large and small, stacked on top of each other, plus the bright red Chinese ribbon, creating a beautiful scenery.

Jinsuo Pass is built on a stone archway at the mouth of the three peaks, and it is the gateway to the East, West, South, and Middle peaks from Wuyun Peak. After passing through the lock, there is no way to go back. It is also known as the Heavenly Gate. Only after passing through the Heavenly Gate can one enter the fairyland. Hence the folk saying “After passing through Jinsuo Pass, it is another heaven”. Jinsuo Pass connects to Wuyun Peak in the north and controls the main peak of Mount Hua in the south. The ravines on both sides are thousands of meters deep. There is only a one-meter-wide stone path with steps in front of the pass. Looking back from here, Canglong Ridge is even more dangerous, and Yun Tai Peak is even more beautiful. There are ancient pines and cypresses all around, and strange stones stand upright.

It’s so happy to sit in the area of thousands of health and longevity locks

Sitting in the locks, having a blast

The red ribbons and locks with various meanings

Ribbons and locks with various meanings

There is a Heavenly Ladder near the East Peak, worth climbing once. When climbing up, you must hold the iron chain tightly and step firmly on each step, using the strength of your arms to pull yourself upwards. The Heavenly Ladder is a completely 90-degree vertical stone staircase, with a section that bulges outwards. There are also gently sloping steps built next to it, for people to climb up.

The Heavenly Ladder stands tall, many people are afraid to climb it, I also want to try my hand. However, I was halfway up, I felt that I could no longer go on, my arms were weak, and my hands gradually could not grip the chain. I had to give up and give up halfway.

Don’t forget to strike a pose, no matter how dangerous it is

Watching my female companions climb up, stopping every now and then, I was holding my breath for her. When she finally climbed to the top, I gave her a thumbs up: a woman of great strength!

A foreign friend climbed the Heavenly Ladder

The East Peak of Mount Hua, also known as Chaoyang Peak, is 2090 meters above sea level, one of the main peaks of Mount Hua. It is named after its location in the east. There is a platform on the top of the Yanggong Pagoda on the East Peak, which is high and dangerous, with a wide view. It is a famous place to watch the sunrise, known as the Chaoyang Terrace. The East Peak is also called Chaoyang Peak because of it.

There is a solitary peak on the East Peak. On the top of the peak, there is an iron-tile pavilion, and a chessboard made of iron. Legend has it that Zhao Kuangyin, the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, played chess with Chen Tuan here and lost, losing Mount Hua to Chen Tuan. The pavilion is therefore named “Duqi Pavilion”. The Duqi Pavilion on the East Peak has a beautiful view, but the road to Duqi Pavilion is not easy to walk. It requires passing through a dangerous section, known as the Swallow’s Flip. The road is carved on the cliff, and when you look down, you only see cold ropes hanging in the air, no path. Visitors must turn their faces to the wall and hold the rope, using their toes to find footholds, and alternate their steps down. For several steps, they must flip their bodies left and right like an eagle or a swallow in order to pass, hence the name.

After watching the sunrise, my spirit relaxed, and I was about to reach the East Peak. I felt that my physical strength had reached its limit, so I decided to give up climbing further. My friends encouraged me repeatedly, “Persistence is victory. You should reach the top to realize your Mount Hua dream”… With the encouragement and support of my friends, I finally climbed to the East Peak.

I was a little exhausted and couldn’t even take a photo. “We’ve reached the top, come on, take a photo!” I, who loved taking pictures, was now being photographed. I could only silently thank the photographers in my heart: thank you!

East Peak

Chess Hall

The South Peak is the highest peak of Mount Hua. The pines in the mountains stretch for miles, interspersed with cypresses. Below the cliff, there is a stone archway called the “South Heavenly Gate”, as well as the Jintiangong Palace built in the Ming Dynasty. There are two attractions on the South Peak: one is the “Bizaoyao Cliff”, where Chen Tuan, a famous Taoist priest, hid in a cave to avoid being called upon by the emperor; the other is the Longkong Plank Road. The plank road is carved on the cliff, and visitors must hold onto the iron chains and step on the wooden planks to pass through. It is another dangerous section after the Swallow’s Flip.

South Peak

Longkong Plank Road

Definitely take a photo at the place where the “Confrontation on Mount Hua” took place

The Alchemy Furnace is located on Xiaofeng Peak, northwest of the South Peak. It is said to be the place where the Jade Emperor alchemized the golden elixir. There is a stone-carved alchemy furnace in front of the temple, three feet in diameter and over ten feet high, with exquisite carvings and a simple style.

The West Peak is the most beautiful and dangerous peak of Mount Hua. The West Peak is a complete giant rock, naturally formed. The northwest cliff is thousands of feet high, as if it had been cut by a knife and saw, and its steepness, grandeur, and masculinity represent the shape of Mount Hua. Standing on the top of the West Peak and looking far away, the surrounding mountains are undulating, the clouds are floating, the surrounding plains are vast, the Yellow River flows in a curve, and being in it is like entering a fairyland, all worldly thoughts are swept away. Because the top of the peak is covered in green clouds, and in front of Cuihua Palace, there is a giant rock shaped like a lotus flower, it is also called Lotus Peak.

On the West Peak, there is an Axe-Split Stone, a famous stone wonder of Mount Hua. It is named after the myth of “Shenxiang Splitting the Mountain to Save His Mother” and “The Treasure Lotus Lantern”. The Axe-Split Stone stands on the top of the peak, more than ten feet high and several feet long, split in the middle into three sections, as if split by an axe.

There are cliff inscriptions on the stone that read “Splitting the Mountain to Save His Mother”. Legend has it that the Jade Emperor’s daughter, the Third Saint Mother, fell in love with Liu Yanchang, a scholar, because of his handsome appearance and talent, and they secretly married. Erlang Shen Yangjian imprisoned the Third Saint Mother under a giant rock on the West Peak for violating the laws of heaven. The Third Saint Mother gave birth to a son under the stone, who was named Shenxiang. When Shenxiang grew up, he was guided by his immortal master and took a divine axe to split open the giant rock, and mother and son were reunited.

Overall view of the West Peak

Axe-Split Stone

Take pictures wildly in the cable car, capturing the beauty of Mount Hua!

Taking pictures of the beautiful scenery in the cable car

Taking pictures of the beautiful scenery in the cable car

Taking pictures of the beautiful scenery in the cable car

Taking pictures of the beautiful scenery in the cable car

Return triumphantly as a victor

Return triumphantly

We started climbing Mount Hua at 11 pm on April 21, 2017, from Yuquan Temple, and reached the top of the East, West, South, North, and Middle peaks at 12:30 pm on the 22nd. It took us 13 hours and 30 minutes to climb. Apart from the time spent waiting for the sunrise and being stuck in a traffic jam, we only rested for a while to replenish our energy. We experienced difficult and dangerous obstacles along the way and overcame our exhaustion and fatigue. We successfully completed our Mount Hua journey.

To climb Mount Hua, you must have courage. It is a severe test of one’s perseverance, endurance, and physical strength. Only those who have climbed Mount Hua can truly understand the experience. The path of life is as winding as the path of Mount Hua. Only by being fearless of danger, being down-to-earth, and moving forward step by step can we hope to reach the peak we desire.

The beauty of Mount Hua will leave you spellbound, and its dangers and wonders will amaze you. If you don’t go there in your lifetime, you will regret it. If you go once, you will never regret it.

I have finally realized my Mount Hua dream.

Mount Hua dream, a dream come true!