Five peaks of Mount Huashan and the most dangerous plank walk in the word

Situated in Huayin City, Mount Huashan is 120 kilometers (75 miles) from Xi'an. It is famous for natural vista of steep and narrow paths, precipitous crags and a high mountain range. Its five peaks are the representative attractions and each has its distinctive charms: East Peak is the best place to enjoy the sunrise; South Peak has the highest altitude; West Peak is the most elegant; North Peak is famous as the Cloud Terrace Peak and Middle Peak is also called Jade Lady Peak.

The Mount Huashan is also home to several influential Taoist temples, where many emperors of past dynasties took part in Taoist activities and sacrificed to the god of mountain, making it a holy land of Taoism.

● Five Peaks of Mount Huashan

There are 5 main peaks in the four directions and the middle of the whole Mount Huashan tourist area, which are the North Peak, West Peak, South Peak, East Peak, and Middle East. Each one has special things to see and experience. 

East Peak

The East peak consists of four summits. The highest summit is Zhaoyang Feng (朝陽峰). Its elevation is reported to be 2,096 m and its name is often used as the name for the whole East Peak.
East Peak is one of the principal peaks of Huashan, named for its place in the east. There is a platform at the height of the peak. It is a popular place to watch the sunrise. Whenever the red sun rises, it shines around many mountain peaks similar to the cut, the scenery is wonderful, people call it the Zhaoyangtai, and East Peak is also It is named Zhaoyang Peak.

West Peak

The West Peak is one of the main peaks of Huashan Mountain，the elevation is 2,082 m. It is named because of its location in the west. Because the stones resemble lotus petals covering the peaks, it is also known as the Lotus Peak. West Peak is a complete natural stone. There are many landscapes above it, including Cuiyun Palace and Lotus Cave. The story of Chen Xiang saving his mother is also widely circulated.

North Peak

The North Peak is one of the main peaks of Huashan and gets its name from its northerly position. With sheer drops on all four sides the North Peak has a majestic and beautiful profile as if it were a platform among the clouds, and so is also known as Yuntai (Cloud Platform) Peak. There is a platform at the uppermost point of the North Peak, making it an opportune place to view the three peaks of Huashan and the panoramic view of Canglong Ridge. The trees around the waist of the peak are beautiful and lush and make an ideal resting place for the ascent of Huashan.

South Peak

The South Peak of 2,154.9 meters high in the south is the highest peak among all the five main peaks at Mount Huashan, and ancient Chinese called it the “Head of Mount Huashan”. The South Peak is also named Luoyan Peak (落雁峰), meaning landing wild geese, which is because the wild geese returning to the southern China would fly down at this peak to have a break according to the legend. Reaching the summit of the South Peak, you could feel the sky is so close that you can even reach to pick the stars. And all the beautiful views of the rolling mountains, winding Yellow River and Wei River, plains, valleys, and so forth are all contained in your eyes.

Middle Peak

The Middle Peak is about 2037.8 meters high and is situated at the middle of the East Peak, South Peak and West Peak.There is a Taoist temple on the peak named Jade Maiden Temple. Legend has it that the daughter of Qin Mugong (569 - 621 BC) loved a man who was good at playing Chinese tung-hsiao (vertical flute) and she gave up the royal life to become a hermit who cultivated her spirituality here, hence the name Jade Maiden Peak. Today Jade Maiden Temple and Jade Maiden Basin for Shampooing can be found on the peak. Other scenic spots in Middle Peak include Rootless Tree and Sacrificing Tree, which have beautiful stories and add to the supernatural atmosphere of Middle Peak.

● Huashan Plank Walk

Huashan Plank Walk, also called Changkong Plank Road or Plank Road in the Sky, is reputed as the most dangerous hike in the world.
Huashan Plank Walk is located on the eastern side of South Peak (2155m, the highest peak on Mount Hua), built on the precipice with iron chains nailed into it on one side. The Plank Walk is about 20 minutes’ hike from the South Peak, 1 hour’s hike from East Peak and 30 minutes’ hike from West Peak. People usually will go there after the East Peak and then keep hiking West Peak.

Huashan Plank Walk was first built by a Taoist priest named He Zhizhen more than 700 years ago with stone nails carved into the cliff supporting the wooden plank for people to walk on. Now it has been improved with metals considering safety issues, but the path is still very narrow. So you are literally one step away from the bottomless chasm with no protection from the guardrails.

Walking along the path, you will get to experience the thrill and excitement of ascending mid-air across a precipice. The path is divided into three parts. While there are railings along the upper path, in the middle part iron bars protruding from amidst the side of cliff rocks form something akin to a ladder hanging in the air; and when groping one's way through the lower trail, you will need to move sideways and edge forward on the wooden plank while clinging closely to the cliff wall and clasping the iron chain.

In addition, the walk does not lead to other paths on the mountain, which means you need to return by the way you came. So you can experience this thrill twice and imagine how you will feel when you happen to meet someone who heads to the opposite direction on this cramped plank walk in the sky.

Three Sections of Huashan Plank Walk

The Plank Walk is only about 130 meters long, consisting of three sections. The upper section is from South Heavenly Gate to Chaoyuan Cave, where you buy and get the safety rope. This section is about 20m long and 70cm wide with iron guardrails. So it is rather safe.

Under the instruction of the staff, you need to tighten the safety rope around your chest and then keep your adventure to the middle section. This may be the time when you feel your heart start racing. Because this 10m section is nearly vertical. You need to get down holding to the iron chains from the so-called stairs, which are actually metal bars carved into the crevice.

Then keep walking and you will come to the lower section, which is also the most dangerous part. Stone holes are chiseled on the cliff to wedge piles so that the planks can be put there (in some part there is even no plank and you have to pass stepping on the stone holes one by one). Tourists coming here usually need to cling to the cliff and move horizontally inch by inch. After reaching the end of the path, you need to walk same way back.