Where is Mount Hua Shan plank walk?

Mount Hua Shan plank walk in actually on Mount Hua Shan which is one of China’s Five Great Mountains and it is located 75 mile outside the city of Xi’an. You can hike the whole thing or take a cable car to various peaks.

The Hua Shan plank walk is a terrifying activity that you can do on Mount Hua Shan. Once you have made your way to the top of the mountain there are more hikes and points of interest at the top. The plank walk is located in the south east section of the mountain. You rent a harness and then independently navigate down a make shift metal ladder and along a wooden plank that is fixed to the side of the mountain. …7000 + feet high! If you’re scared of heights Huashan plank walk is not for you!

Most can work a great return journey for Xian city where they hike up to the north peak and back down in a day or take a cable to the top, visit all the peaks and cable back in day. If you are coming from Xian and want to hike from the base and around all the peaks and brave the Hua Shan plank walk, you really do need two days.

How long you will need to climb Mount Hua Shan?

Most do return journey from Xian where they hike up to the north peak and back down in a day. Some take a cable to the top, visit all the peaks and cable back in day. The latter is a great option if your priority is completing the Hua Shan plank walk. If you are coming from Xian and want to hike from the base upto and around all the peaks and brave the Huashan plank walk, you really need two days.

The Hua Shan plank walk is quite far from the first peak you reach if you hike up. Unless you’re the kind of person who can literally run up and mountain, it is probably too much to get up the mountain on foot and complete the Hua Shan plank walk in one day. If you are really short on time, one crazy but fun option is to do the hike through the night and then be one of the first to complete the Hua Shan plank walk in the morning. If you are crazy enough to like this idea, there is more on it further down under ‘Top tips for climbing Mount Hua Shan plank walk’.

How to get to Mount Hua Shan Plank Walk from Xian

Please note that for each of these instruction, they are just the initial part of getting from Xian up the mountain to then start making your way to Hua Shan plank walk. For full instructions for getting from the first accessible mountain peak to the actually starting point of Hua Shan plank walk please scroll a little further down.

How to get to Mount HuaShan plank walk by bus

For hiking:

You leave from the bus station outside of Xian central station. If you are standing with the train station behind you, you head left until you see buses for the terracotta warriors and the mountain. Check your bus is definitely a Hua Shan one, it should be very obvious, but perhaps just check. The Huashan plank walk has become very popular in recent years, so they will probably know where you’re heading. The bus leaves when full, can take between 2 and 3 hours and costs 36 RMB. (You can buy a day return for 50 RMB) They depart as early as 06:30 and return from where the drop you as late at 18:00.

On arrival you only have to look up the long straight road, studded with shops to see the mountain. As you walk up here, you enter through the beautiful and classically oriental Jade Spring Temple. As you work your way through the moon gate and traditional temple you will find yourself at the ticket entrance where you can begin your hike.

From this bus drop off, the road that leads straight up to the Mt.Hua Shan hiking route (Only about a days walk until you get to Huashan plank walk!!):

For Cable Car:

Same as above, except that when you arrive at the Hua Shan bus stop near the hotel on a junction you will need to barter for a taxi to the tourist centre; the taxi drivers are generally very savy and know where you want to go. This tends to cost around 25 RMB (2.5 GBP / 4 USD). If your main reason for visiting Mount Hua shan is to complete the Huashan plank walk, and you a short on time, you might want to consider going via cable car. Dont worry, There is still plenty of hiking after that!

How to get to Mount Huashan plank walk by train

For Hiking:

You leave from Xian North Railway station by high speed train to Hua Shan North Station. This takes around 30 to 40 minutes depending on the train and costs 54 RMB

Take a taxi for around 25 RMB (2.5 GBP / 4 USD) from the train station to Jade Spring Temple. Make your way through the garden towards the mountain and you will reach an office where you can pay your entrance ticket and begin your ascent. >>> For return journey, just reverse it, the last train leaves Hua Shan North around 21:30.

For Cable Car:

Take the train as described above. Then, on arrival, take a 25 RMB (2.5 GBP / 4 USD)  taxi or if available, the green 10 RMB bus that will take you to the tourist centre. From the tourist centre you can take internal buses to the base of either cable car. Please see the above table for prices and further details.

>>> For return journey, just reverse it >>>

Note: If you are short on time and want to complete the iconic Hua Shan plank walk, you may need to take the cable car to give you time to actually get to the Hua Shan plank walk on the far side of the mountain from where you first arrive.

How to get to Mount Huashan Plank walk starting point

Maps for Huashan plank walk leave a lot to be desired on the mountain but there are some signs in English. Here is a summary of a route to the Hua Shan plank walk itself.

• From the base trek up to North Peak 
• This is quite a long section and gets steep towards the end, at one point the route splits into some very steep old steps and some less steep new steps
• When you finally reach the North Peak you will see the cable car station and get stunning views on a clear day
• From North peak begin heading up the ridge following signs for East Peak and South Peak (same path at first)
• The paths connecting the peaks are generally wide, have an even surface and easy to follow.
• As you get closer head towards the East Peak (this is great for views and is not much of a detour)
• From the East peak start heading towards the South Peak (you will see an amazing view of a chess pavilion to the left)
• After a short descent there is a steep climb up to the Huashan plank walk
• The Huashan plank walk is near the South Heavenly gate and is on the way up to the South Peak
• You will see a scary looking path round the mountain and there is somewhere to rent harnesses for 30RMB  (3GBP or 5.00USD) This is the start of the Huashan plank walk.

If you see a huge bell you are on the right path! Some local signs call it ‘Cliff side Path’ and others call it ‘The plank road in the sky’. All these are meaning and leading to the Huashan plank walk.

When is the best time to visit Mount Hua Shan plank walk?

The mountain is open all year round. In winter it can however get very traitorous for hikers and extremely cold in the basic hostels at night. It really isn’t an ideal time to visit for the Huashan plank walk. The summer months are hot for hiking and can get very busy. If you can, late spring is the ideal time to go as it warming up but has not hit the summer holiday season.

How much does it cost to do Mount Huashan Plank Walk

The costs vary for the mountain entrance fee depending on season, but the Huashan plank walk fee is always steady. You don’t need specialist equipment to climb the mountain particularly, but you can rent harnesses when you get to Huashan plank walk. Please do look at your harness carefully, to be honest, most of them are poor quality.

Can you buy food on Mount Hua Shan?

Unless you are planning to fork out a lot for a meal and even then you dont get a lot for your money, it is mostly big pot noodles and cucumbers on the mountain. If you’re on a budget, you might want to carry your own food up. You can buy some food at the base of the mount, but buying in Xian is your best option for price and variety. You might also want to take a celebratory Chinese mars bar for when you complete the Huashan plank walk. You will need the sugar!

Top Tips for Mount Hua Shan Plank Walk

There is an awesome culture across China of hiking Chinese mountains in the dark. Of course this brings with it extra dangers and you need to keep your wits about you, but we have done this before and loved it, its an awesome experience. The idea is you arrive in time for sunrise. If you decided to do it, make sure you are well prepared and take at least one torch. If you arrive early and very cold you can rent giant green sleeping bag coats for 10 RMB. Another reason this is a particularly fun idea that just works well is, you can be one of the first in the morning to hike along the Huashan plank walk.

Do like the locals do and take a pad lock and red ribbon with you and attach it at the highest point you get to on the mountain. You can but these in Xian or at the foot of the mountain.

Vendors on China’s mountains hike the prices up with every step you take! So, although you can get food and drink up and on the mountain, if you’re on a budget, takes as much as you feel you can carry.

Bring plenty of water and sun screen, it is a tough hike with a lot of exposed sections.

Sustainable Responsible Travel when climbing Mount Huashan Plank Walk

The Hua shan plank walk is a super exciting thing to do and hiking if done responsibly is a very eco friendly option when visiting a country, if done badly, collectively it can do a lot of harm. In recent years China is becoming increasingly environmentally aware and there is a move in the right direction. As a traveller PLEASE set the example. Even if you see locals littering, damaging things on the mountain, generally not looking after the environment, please don’t go with that flow.  Set the example, maybe even do a litter pick on the go.  The Chinese are lovely kind welcoming people, but it is only in recent years there has been a pushing in education towards caring for the environment.  They will look to you to see how you treat the environment as a foreigner, so please set a good example.

Scams and Frustrations

Aside from it being reeeally expensive for internal transport, there are no reported scams in the area. The only thing to be aware of is the usually rippy taxi drivers that you may have to barter with if you chose to go either by train TO or if you need to take a taxi from where the Hua Shan bus drops you to the cable station. Often after people have completed the mount hike and Hua Shan plank walk their resolve is low! STILL don’t let them over charge you for that taxi though!

If you take the bus and then hike from that base, it should be straight forward. Generally there are not so many scams in China. A big part of this is in China, it’s mostly the Chinese that travel China, pretty much everyone you will meant on your way to Hua Shan plank walk will be Chinese.

To be quite honest the BIGGEST frustrations is the safety side of doing the Huashan plank walk. The harnesses are poor quality and the steps are poorly built. As fun as it is, please don’t overlook the fact that the Hua Shan plank walk is actually just dangerous.

Accommodation near by and on Mount Huashan Plank walk

If you are planning to complete the Huashan plank walk you need to start by booking your bed in the city of Xian for before and after your Adventure. There are some amazing places to stay inside the city walls. Make sure you check the map when carefully when booking a place to stay in Xian .

For the mountain, please do note that prices can fluctuate a great deal on the mountains, try to avoid holidays if you can. Private rooms can rocket to thousands, but the basic dorm beds have never been known to go above 200 RMB a bed. Before you set off on your Huashan plank walk adventure, you could ask your hostel or hotel in Xian to help you call ahead for accommodation.

Budget option for Accommodation near Hua Shan plank walk:

North Peak Hotel: Fills up more quickly, but you can call ahead: 157 1913 6466.

Dorm Bed: 100 RMB (10 GBP / 15 USD ) | Basic twin room: 260 RMB (26 GBP / 40 USD)

West Peak Hostel: Very basic, first come first served each day, great for sunset.

Dorm Bed: 100 RMB (10 GBP / 15 USD )

East Peak Hostel: Very basic, first come first served each day, perfect for sunrise.

Dorm Bed: 150 RMB (15 GBP / 23 USD )

Shoe string idea for completing the Hua Shan plank walk:

A good option for the very fit person. shoer on time and on a shoe string is to stay at base of the mountain. On the road leading up to Jade Spring Temple there are many simple guest houses that will let you sleep and leave your bigger bag for around 50 RMB (5 GBP / 8 USD). If you wake up early at the base and are pretty fit, you could hike to the south peak and back in a day.

Shoe thread idea for completing the Hua Shan plank walk:

A fun option for the tough traveling on a shoe thread is to rent a big green army coat to sleep in. They can be found at both the east and the west peak and cost for between 20 RMB and 50 RMB depending on the season. This is your best option if you are on a very tight budget but want enough time on the mountain to complete the Huashan plank walk.

Chess Pavilion on Mount Huashan

If you have time after completing the Hua shan plank walk, head to the East Peak, where you can also harness up to journey like a monk of old to the spectacular Chess Pavilion.  Granted, they probably didn’t use a harness, but when you begin to scale round, you will be glad you have one on! To be honest if you are short on time and want an epic alternative to the increasingly popular Hua shan plank walk, this is a great option!

What it is really like on Huashan plank walk!

‘I’m not afraid of heights, I’m just afraid of falling’ – Quote Emma – Pre Hua shan plank walk! The day i nearly killed myself

I’m not sure why I thought for years that it was a perfect dichotomy. Perhaps I was trying to convince myself that I was tougher than I am. My first attempt at the Hua shan plank walk certainly put me straight and these blogs are about being honest, so here it goes!

We had made our way to the infamous Hua Shan plank walk on China’s most dangerous mountain. I strolled confidently along the railed mountain path that hosts more than a 7000 foot drop, paid my 30 RMB and grabbed a harness.

The harness was frayed to the point of pointless. As I inspected the array of would be harnesses it appeared to be a choice out threadbare of a sticky carabiner. I could feel the voices of my avid climber friends from Sheffield reminding that this is something you don’t scrimp on! But if I wanted to complete the Huashan plank walk there was no other choice. The harnesses are for when you get it wrong; I’ll just have to not get it wrong…

Sort of harnessed up, I edged my way over to the gap in the rock that leads to the vertical make shift metal ladder down the cliff side. As I placed my hand on the first metal bar I felt it shift from within the wall I was relying on it remaining attached to. GULP.

Bar by bar I edge my way down, not quite brave enough to look at the view yet. The Hua Shan plank walk ordeal was definitely made comically more intense by sharing these rickety bars with a dozen Chinese people who somehow seem less scared of dying. Just as I could feel a very slight subside in my fear, I found myself on a section where a bar simple protrudes out the cliff face and from what I could gather there was nothing else to reach out for.

That was it.

My foot began to shake rapidly, which caused me to jerk all over. Instead of mind over matter, my mind sprung to the poor excuse for a harness. Palpitations kicked in and I was sure I was actually going to hurtle myself off the side.

Was this it? Was I about to become another Hua Shan plank walk statistic?

I couldn’t get a grip.

Precariously perched on a bar overhanging a 7000 foot drop that made the occasional breeze feel more like a hurricane.

My foot did slip.

The fear was blinding.

But, you know I survived, otherwise this would be an obituary.

It turns out, that in my blinding fear I couldn’t see that I was a shuffle away from a series of footholds carved into the rock. As I followed them round I found myself two feet strong on the infamous Hua Shan plank walk! … and that was the easy bit!

The fear dispersed and I was left to what felt like the sturdiest darn plank I had ever stepped foot on!

So we wondered up and down and enjoyed the spectacular views.

Sometimes fear can stop us from seeing a perfect solution that is closer than we realise.

Looking For Places to Stay in China?

The Huashan plank walk is definitely an epic and iconic thing to do in China, but there are so many more epic things to do in China! Making the most of your VISA in China is hard work as it is such a HUGE country! Being well planned is supper important if you really want a chance of seeing some of the most epic sites in China. We made a list of some of our favourite places with links to accommodation to get you started. Happy Planning…

Book your stay in Beijing HERE (Bustling capital. Great Wall, Summer Palace, hutongs)

Book your stay in Shanghai HERE  (Pearl of the Orient. Bund river, teahouses & noodles )

Book your stay in Hong kong HERE (Vibrant gem made up islands, high rises beach & jungle)

Book your stay in Xian HERE (Terracotta warriors, ancient walled city & Hua shan plank walk)

Book your stay in Chengdu HERE (Giant Panda Sanctuary & starting point for Tibet)

Book your stay in Hangzhou HERE (Home of green tea, beautiful lake & trekking routes )

Book your stay in Guilin HERE (Limestone karst hills city with great street food)

Book your stay in Yangshou HERE (Mud caves, light caves, cormorant fishing & bamboo rafts)

Book your stay in Zhang Jie Jie HERE (The Avitar Stone Forest & iconic 24 bend road)

Book your stay in Kunming HERE (Spring city & starting point for Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-La)

Pinterest is one of the best most fun ways to plan a trip, so make sure you don’t miss out on Huashan plank walk and pin this one now.

PIN Hua Shan Plank Walk Guide