Mount Hua, the Western Peak, truly lives up to its name, with its many perilous and challenging sections. I absolutely love hiking and will never take the cable car or tram if I can hike on foot. This time, I hiked almost the entire way. If you're interested, check out my sharing – it's a hardcore hiking guide!
1️⃣ Transportation: From Xi'an, take the 7:16-8:38 train to Huashan Station, then take a taxi to Yuquan Temple to begin your hike.
2️⃣ Preparations: Before setting off, I bought two cans of Red Bull at a supermarket at the foot of the mountain. They were only 7 yuan each, which was reasonable. Try to prepare food and water in advance or buy them at the foot of the mountain, because they are incredibly expensive on the mountain! Red Bull costs 20 yuan a can on the mountain…
3️⃣ Hiking: The section from Yuquan Temple to the North Peak is divided into slopes and steps. I didn't use hiking poles; I used gloves to grab onto chains on steep slopes. If you have enough energy, you can climb faster. I reached the North Peak in about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
4️⃣ Sightseeing on the mountain. The scenery is beautiful even with many people, so slow down and enjoy the views and take photos. The recommended order is North Peak – Central Peak – East Peak – South Peak – West Peak (For the Plank Road in the Sky and the Hawk's Turn, check the reservation times carefully; arriving early may result in queues). Complete a loop on the mountain, climbing to the top of each peak to see different views. If you're unsure of the route, be sure to follow the signs or ask staff.
5️⃣ Preparing for the return trip. I couldn't take the West Peak cable car due to maintenance, so after visiting West Peak, I returned to North Peak via the same route and took the North Peak cable car. Hiking down is not recommended because the climb to Huashan is difficult and strenuous; hiking downhill can be physically demanding for some, and the steep slopes can cause knee damage. Taking the cable car or gondola down is highly recommended!
6️⃣ After getting off the bus, go to Parking Lot 1. There are free shuttle buses to Huashan North Station, but be quick, as the bus departs at 4:30 PM. I missed the bus and opted for a minibus instead, which cost 40 yuan per person and went directly from Huashan Station to Xi'an Bell Tower!
7️⃣ Climbing Summary. The entire hiking route was: Yuquan Temple—North Peak—Central Peak—East Peak—South Peak—West Peak—North Peak Cableway, taking approximately 6 hours. Hiking enthusiasts can use this as a reference; let's share our climbing experiences. Hiking the entire Huashan Mountain was absolutely exhilarating!!!