Hua Shan Self-Guided Tour Guide: Precautions for Traveling to Hua Shan

Hua Shan is a place that captivates the soul. Here, a rich history is passed down through generations, and it is also the home of the renowned martial arts sects in martial arts novels, possessing exceptional martial arts skills and a distinguished status. The sheer magnificence of Hua Shan is undeniable, and its charm is boundless. Below, we share a self-guided tour guide for Hua Shan.

Xi Yue Hua Shan, I have always wanted to come here and see how magnificent and perilous it truly is. After much anxiety and a stressful planning process, I finally reached its foot.

Actually, the so-called “smooth” arrival is only relatively less bumpy compared to the previous leave-taking. Perhaps someone else took on the responsibility, maybe I’m not as important anymore, or maybe it was a blessing from heaven. Anyway, I finally got my two days of vacation.

All the strategies were prepared by my friend. My memory of Hua Shan is just from looking at some pictures I found on Baidu last year (back then, I was completely intimidated by those images). I rushed to the designated meeting place with my friend, taking the express bus and subway.

I hadn’t traveled far for half a year, and I almost got lost in the subway. Finally, I figured out the transfer route and successfully reached the designated point. We were going to take the high-speed rail to Huayin (excited face, because it was my first time trying it). I bought tickets online, swiped my ID card to get the tickets, went upstairs from the subway station to the high-speed rail station, went through ticket inspection, boarded the train, arrived at the station, and exited the train. Every step of the journey was a brand new experience. Forgive me for recording this trivial process, because as someone from a small city, I’m afraid I won’t remember how to do it next time.

At 4 pm on the 7th, a taxi took us to the first stop on our planned route, Yuquan Temple. The shop owners in the mountains all suggested we start our night climb around 9 pm. My friend and I analyzed our physical condition (considering we don’t exercise much), and we thought it’s better to start early. We would walk and rest, and the estimated time should be similar to the four hours it takes others to reach the summit. Then, we had dinner and had a nice rest for a few hours. We reorganized our backpacks and left our belongings at the restaurant (the owner kindly allowed us to store them for free).

Around 6:30, we packed our things and set off. We bought a whole bag of snacks. Then, my friend and I just started our journey.

We climbed upward step by step. Along the way, young students rushed up in groups, and couples walked side by side, laughing and chatting. My friend, due to lack of sleep, was feeling a little weak and kept calculating when we would arrive. She also acted a little spoiled, making me feel awkward. “Let’s walk for ten minutes and rest for five minutes?” “No, then there won’t be anyone around when we walk. How about we walk for half an hour and rest for ten minutes, guaranteeing there are people nearby.” “Um…” However, the slope leading into the mountains was so long that I eventually compromised, walking for ten minutes and resting for five minutes (thinking about it, I really am someone who easily gives up on my own principles and can’t persist in anything).

The sky gradually darkened, and we walked and stopped along the way. Those who sold water kept saying that this was the last shop before entering the mountain, with three bottles of water for ten yuan… And I just believed them, carrying all the water I couldn’t finish. In fact, there was water available all the way up. I guess only someone like me, who doesn’t do research and simply relies on brute strength, would be so naive and simple. So, I don’t know what’s called Huixin Stone, Maonü Cave, Qianchizhuang, or which peak is east, west, south, or north. I just kept going up.

Alright, let’s see some pictures. Because of my fear of heights, I quickly decided to take the path with cover on both sides when choosing a route. However, these narrow steps under the lights still made my heart race.

We reached the top of the North Peak, exhausted. We saw most people renting tents and getting ready to rest. But seeing the lights shining higher up behind us, we resolutely decided to keep going slowly. It’s better to go slow than not go at all. We passed Cha’er Cliff and found a small shed where I greedily lay down on the long bench.

“Let’s rest for a while. We might not find benches like this further up.” “Yeah, I think so too.” It was already 12 am. Usually, I would be in bed and resting by now. Ten minutes later, a cold breeze blew in, and oh no, my scarf couldn’t keep me warm anymore.

I could hear footsteps passing by, a family discussing the route, a couple supporting each other, saying they want to rest too. The wind blew one gust after another. Oh my, I was so sleepy. Let them be.

Half an hour later, no, no, I can’t keep going like this. I’ll catch a cold. We should get up and keep walking. It wasn’t a single branch that was supporting me now; it was the cold that forced me to move. We walked and walked and walked, following the steps. I don’t know how far we walked. We changed into warmer clothes along the way.

Then, we kept moving forward in the darkness. But wait, this path was like it was carved out of stone, and there wasn’t any cover around. My friend quickly went up, but I froze, terrified, saying I wouldn’t go up even if I died, crying and refusing to move.

At this moment, several young guys walked by, and my friend, very enthusiastically, asked me to walk between them for protection. With their encouragement and help, I overcame my fear, but I could only move forward.

“Since ancient times, there has only been one path up Hua Shan.” When I reached Canglong Ridge, I chickened out again, completely scared. But to get to the North Peak, go to the South Peak, circle around the West Peak, and take the cable car, we had to continue. Going back would only lead to the North Peak, where the cable car is. After careful consideration, going down for two hours seemed even more terrifying.

However, I was too tired to talk. The staff kept emphasizing that the sunrise was at 6:19 today, and it would only take an hour to reach the top. We need to conserve our energy. So, in that warm, cave-like passageway, we finally let ourselves go and slept soundly.

We slept from around 2 am until almost 4 am. I guess this sleep charged me up by 50%. The rough walls and uneven ground couldn’t stop people from all over the country from stretching their weary bodies here. It seemed like this was a comfortable zone before victory, everyone’s only charging station.

So, after waking up, we set off again, full of energy. I seemed to have lost a bit of my fear of Canglong Ridge. Grasping the chains, I moved upward step by step. I still didn’t dare to look to the sides, but I felt it was slightly easier than the path with the young guys protecting me earlier, except that Canglong Ridge was longer.

We continued climbing, and after half an hour, we discovered a place with rattan chairs. The shop owner was fast asleep, but food and drinks were still laid out outside. I guess true heroes who could reach this place wouldn’t steal those snacks. The shop owner’s snores resonated loudly.

I found a rattan chair, and because no one was sitting next to it, I boldly occupied it, even putting my legs up. Relaxing my legs, I soon fell asleep. The half-hour sleep made us regret the two hours we wasted in that passageway with our bums sore.

But thinking back, if we hadn’t charged up back then, I don’t think my fragile heart could have supported me through Canglong Ridge. As dawn approached, we finally reached the Jinsuo Pass.

The red glow in the sky urged us to pick up the pace. We initially thought it would rain, but the heavens still blessed us.

Finally, we reached the summit before sunrise. I wanted to shout: I’m here!

Watching it slowly emerge from behind the mountain. Suddenly, I felt it was so cute, these mountains were so cute, the whole world was so cute.

My chest was filled with happiness. It felt like it was just me and this little guy slowly revealing its face. All my worries disappeared as it rose. Writing this, I feel like this trip has been perfect. The fear and the whole night’s journey were all worth it.

After watching the sunrise, it was time to go back down. My friend wanted to go see the “Yǎozi Fǎnshēn” (the tricky, precarious “Eagle’s Flip” section), but I, still afraid of heights, gave up.

The next stop was the South Heaven Gate. After climbing to the highest peak of the South Peak, we reached the South Heaven Gate. Two elderly people followed us and said, “Since these two young ladies are going up, we’ll go try it too.” However, I just took a quick glance at the Longkong Plank Road and gave up.

Fear of death is natural. Actually, I’m more afraid of peeing my pants and losing face.

Alright, the West Peak cable car was really beautiful. 140 yuan for a trip up and down.

From being terrified to look back at the cliffs to swiftly changing positions in that cramped space.

It took a lot of courage for me. Within fifteen minutes, I had also successfully overcome my fear.

Haha. Two days and one night, full of tension and fatigue, but even more joy in overcoming the challenges.

I want to applaud myself for this journey and applaud our friendship. What a blessing to have such a friend to accompany me, encourage me, and overcome all the impossible together.

Forgive my plain and straightforward record. I guess this can’t be called a travelogue or a guide, but I like this mood diary, I like to record these feelings.

Years later, when I look back, I will still be moved by that little sun peeking from behind the mountain, and I will still give myself a thumbs-up for this journey.