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Well, a little more extreme and adrenaline for today. Some people are fierce opponents of all this, and a decent portion are intoxicated by the thrill!
If you cannot live without thrills and simply dream of a new dose of adrenaline, then the extreme “attraction” on the Chinese Huashan Mountain is for you. Both daredevils come here who want to prove to themselves and the world their own fearlessness, as well as weak-spirited people who dream of getting rid of their inner insecurities. Huashan Mountain is an effective pill for fears and an effective vitamin of self-affirmation.
Flower Mountain, which is how the word Huashan is translated into Russian, is a sacred Chinese mountain that unites five petal-shaped peaks and is located near the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. There are many fascinating tourist routes here - among them there are cable car ascents and hiking. Curious travelers can, if desired, reach each of the five peaks of Huashan - South, North, West, East and Central.
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The most convenient way is to use the funicular and climb from the foot North Mountain to its top. The road to the Western Peak is also safe. The hike to the North Peak, starting from the eastern entrance, with all the tortuosity and steepness of the ascent, although it requires a fair amount of physical training, is also not associated with much risk, since it is laid along fairly wide stone steps.
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But there is also one a tourist route, which can make the most impressionable tourists faint, is the transition from the North Peak of Huashan to the South Peak. Some travelers, having taken the first step, literally turn to stone with horror, unable to unclasp their cramped fingers and move from their place. And this is not surprising.
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This road, laid along sheer vertical cliffs, is not for nothing called the path of death () - falling off the narrow boards into a bottomless abyss would mean certain death, but the flow of tourists trying to make the risky climb is not thinning. Travelers step on boards nailed over the abyss and move to the top, hugging the rock or holding on to chains firmly soldered to the stone wall.
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No railings or fences - just you, a crazy wind, and hundreds of meters under your feet. Of course, there is some kind of insurance - all daredevils are wearing a belt with a cable and a carabiner on it so that they can cling to the safety rope stretched along the entire route.
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The reward for brave tourists will be not only the marvelous panorama opening from the South Peak - the highest of all five “petals” of the Huashan flower, but also a whole bouquet of stormy emotions experienced by travelers who have overcome the ascent. The news that climbing a dangerous path is not a one-way route, but a round trip, sounds like a bolt from the blue to many tourists, but the descent, as a rule, is easier.
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Couples in love who believe in lucky omens leave symbols of unquenchable feelings on the top of the conquered mountain - shiny locks and red ribbons, the abundance of which dazzles the eyes. Each of those who have conquered the dangerous path happily shares the extraordinary sensations of the climb - at first it is panic fear, and then the delightful euphoria of not giving up, succeeding, overcoming, winning.
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120 km east of Xi'an, the granite peaks of the Huashan massif rise above the northern plains. This is one of the five sacred mountains of China, in their system it was called Xiyue, Western Peak. She was especially revered by the Taoists.
Huashan has five peaks in total: the highest is South (2154 m), then East (2096.2 m), West (2082.6 m), Central (2037.8 m) and North (1614.9 m). The shape of these peaks resembles a lotus flower. Perhaps this is how the mountains got their name.
The climb to Huashan, which is about 14 km, is very dangerous. In some places there is no road, the steps are simply carved into the sheer rock. In ancient times, Huashan was called “The steepest mountain in the Celestial Empire.”
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The most famous section of the trail is the Green Dragon's Rib, with chasms on either side of the steps.
From Huashan village to the top of the mountain it takes six to nine hours, but you can stay overnight both in the village itself and in fairly modest hotels along the route up.
By the way, massive chains were screwed to the walls of the mountain relatively recently - for Western tourists. Previously, people climbed Huashan simply - on planks. It’s good that at least in some sections of this amazing route the chains are not adjacent to the rock itself, but are suspended in the form of a railing with outside paths.
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The Death Trail is a unique attraction for extreme sports enthusiasts, which is located on Mount Huashan almost in the very center of China, namely in Shaanxi province. The famous trail is located on a steep cliff at an altitude of several hundred meters and consists of 3-4 boards fastened together and laid along the mountain. The route involves an approximately 30-meter path, where at the end there is a special platform with views of the surrounding area, and a return path.
The peak tourist season on Mount Huashan falls from May to October. However, in winter, Mount Huashan is also open to visitors, but it is not recommended to conquer its peaks.
Accidents on the Death Trail on Mount Huashan
Only the most courageous can take such a step as passing one of the most dangerous and terrible routes in the world. The path of death is so narrow that any wrong step can lead to an accident.
But, fortunately, official statistics do not confirm the tragedies. Nevertheless, local residents We are sure that one way or another people are dying here.
Features of the Trail
The Path of Death, despite its name and exciting impressions, attracts an increasing number of tourists and the Chinese themselves every year. This is why you have to wait in line here, since the trail has the same beginning and end. At the end of the trail, everyone who reaches it will be treated to an incredible view from the top of Mount Huashan, but the most important thing is the emotions that will last a lifetime.
The Path of Death is not recommended for the faint of heart, because on one side there is a colossal rock, on the other side there is a deep abyss. But of course, you will not have to walk the trail without equipment. The bravest ones who decide to go through it wear a belt with a small cable. As you move towards the peak of the mountain, you must hold tightly to the chains that are attached to the rock itself along the path.
History of appearance
The Path of Death did not just appear and was not made specifically to attract tourists. The original wooden path across Mount Huashan was built by monks about 700 years ago. At that time the trail consisted only of planks, and the chains, handrails and equipment were relatively recent.
Mount Huashan in China
Mount Huashan, which means "Flower Mountain" in Chinese, consists of five main peaks, namely North, East, South, West and Central. The highest is the South Peak, which has a height of 2154 meters.
Mount Huashan quite recently was still a place for hermits, but in recent years this place has become so popular among tourists that everything is done here to attract them. But as for the Path of Death, it attracts extreme sports enthusiasts solely with its phenomenal atmosphere. The most reckless tourists decide to follow the trail from the North Peak to the South Peak.
The Death Trail is not the only route to overcome. There are many unusual trails here, including cable car climbs and hiking, all of which are safe, but require excellent physical fitness and attentiveness from travelers. If you wish, you can conquer each of the 5 peaks, on some you can even rent a hotel room, guest houses or just rent a room.
How to get there
To get to the Path of Death, you need to go a long way: first get to the mountain, then get to the nearest peak, and only then to the path itself.
You can get to Mount Huashan in the following way:
- In the nearest city of Xi'an, take the metro (Red Line No. 2) to Xian North RailWay Station.
- Next, you need to go up from the metro and go to the station to the right of the exit, from where trains periodically go to the “HuaShanBei” station, i.e. HuaShan North. Travel time by train will be no more than 40 minutes.
- Then from the station square you need to go to the nearest bus stop, from where bus number 1 runs to the very foot of the mountain.
- Already there you can take a bus that goes to the funiculars, having previously purchased a ticket to national park, where Mount Huashan is located.
You can climb the mountain itself in two ways: by cable car through the Eastern Gate of the park or directly to the Northern peak of the mountain, from where routes to other peaks are laid.
The road to the trail has a long start. First you need to go through the long staircase on the northern peak, called the "Sky Staircase". It seems to lead to the sky, since it is impossible to see where its steps end. At the end of the stairs there are houses and a village where there are even hotels. And the road to the Path of Death continues. Next you need to walk along the southern side of the mountain, where the famous Death Path is located.
Panorama of the Death Path and its surroundings:
Video: Path of Death, Mount Huashan
Greetings, dear friends!
Today we will go to one of the 5 great mountains of the Celestial Empire and one of the most dangerous mountains world for tourists - Mount Huashan in Shaanxi province (not to be confused with the mountain in Anhui province).
The mountain has a bad reputation. According to unofficial statistics, Huashan claims up to 100 human lives every year. It is here that the world-famous “Path of Death” is located, attracting extreme sports enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.
To be fair, we note that Mount Huashan is not a tea mountain. The climate here is cooler and not humid enough to grow tea. Our goal is the "Path of Death".
It is for the sake of the “Path of Death” that we travel 120 km from the ancient capital of China - Xi'an, spending about 2 hours on the journey by train.
10 minutes by local bus, and here we are at the foot of Mount Huashan. Entrance to the mountain will cost you 180 yuan ($30), and if you are a student it’s 2 times cheaper. Go!
At first the climb is quite comfortable and the going is easy.
But gradually the steepness of the steps increases.
In some places we are forced to stand on all fours.
The hike to the highest southern peak takes about 6 hours. Incredibly stunning views!
On the southern peak we find our “Path of Death”. Wow, it's scary here at first! But then the fear disappears, not for everyone, but for some it decreases...
The Death Path consists of several boards roughly nailed to each other at an altitude of 2 km.
But when the board runs out, we have no choice but to walk along the grooves in the rock that Taoist monks made for their own needs many centuries ago.
You still don’t realize that the traffic on the path goes in two directions, and you have to manage to get around the Chinese coming towards you.
The goal was achieved, the trail was completed, and we received an unrealistic charge of positivity and adrenaline!
Huashan is also a sacred mountain; it is full of Taoist temples and pagodas; at the foot of the mountain there is a huge park.
If you're in Xi'an, be sure to visit Huashan!
More photos below. Photos are in chronological order.
We attach a 10-minute video from Mount Huashan:
When traveling around Central China, I advise you to definitely visit one of the five Sacred Mountains of Chinese Taoism - Mount Huashan, located in Shaanxi province, about 123 km east of the city of Xi'an.
This mountain consists of five main peaks (peaks) - Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western and Central, which resemble a flower in appearance. This is where it got its name: “hua” means flower, and “shan” means mountain.
Huashan has great religious significance in China and is the site of mass pilgrimages for supporters of Taoism. In addition, it is famous for its amazing rocky landscapes, as well as monasteries, pagodas, temples, caves, and very dangerous climbs to the peaks.
You can climb Mount Huashan on foot from the town of the same name below (there are two walking routes), and by funicular (to the Northern Peak). Usually pilgrims climb only on foot and spend the night on one of the peaks, and the next day they walk around all five peaks.
In general, to get to any of its five peaks on foot, you first need to climb to the Northern Peak, the lowest (1614 meters). As mentioned above, it can be reached by two routes:
The first is the traditional and most popular route “Hua Shan Yu”, developed back in the 3-4th century AD. Its length is about 6 km (on average it will take about 5 hours), starting from the village of the town of the same name in Huashan.
Second - new route"Huang Pu Yu", running parallel to the cable car through the Huang Pu Yu gorge.
From the Northern peak there are a number of narrow paths along which you can get to four other peaks - Western (height 2038 m), Central (2042 m), Eastern (2100 m) and Southern (2154 m). Until 1998, this was the only option to get to other peaks, but then an alternative was built in the east of the mountain. The new path goes around the ridge and branches into several paths leading to the tops of the mountain.
East Peak is considered best place to watch the sunrise. Next to it is the “Cave of Dawn”, near which tourists usually pitch tents. From the top there is a narrow path, literally hanging over the abyss, at the end of it there is a small pagoda. Here are the approximate sunrise times:
Spring: 05:00 - 06:00
Summer: 04:30 - 5:20
Autumn: 05:00 - 5:20
Winter: 5:30 - 06:00
By the way, most peaks have guest houses where you can stay either in a separate room (from 120 USD per night) or in rooms designed for 4-20 people (from 20 to 40 USD per person). Not cheap, but the pleasure of seeing the sunrise at bird's eye level is worth it. Please note that the guest houses are not equipped (no running water, toilets are outside) and are not heated, including in winter.
Just thirty years ago, Mount Huashan was a place of solitude for hermits, but over the last two decades it has been gaining popularity among tourists (for whom a cable car was even built), and not only among pilgrims, but also among extreme sports enthusiasts.
Very steep climbs, dangerous narrow paths and suspension bridges– it is because of them that the routes to the peaks of Huashan are called “Paths of Death” and “The Most Dangerous Paths in the World”, and it is they that attract those who like to tickle their nerves.
The peak tourist season for Mount Huashan is from May to October, but the most beautiful time to visit is September. During the winter months the mountain is open to visitors, but nevertheless this is the best time for hiking.
Tourists usually reach Mount Huashan from nearby city Xi'an, located 120 kilometers away. There are buses from Xi'an to the town of Huashan (35 yuan one way, during the season they start from 6 am, travel time 2 hours). From here to the East or West Gate national park Huashan, where the mountain is located, can be reached by taxi (10 USD per car). Cable car– 80 yuan one way, 150 – round trip. Entrance to the national park is also paid - 180 yuan per person.
Spain. El Caminito Del Rey Balancing on the brink between life and death, thrill seekers from all over the world walk along a narrow, crumbling path, which is laid at an altitude of more than a hundred meters above the ground, trying not to think that any careless movement could be fatal for them. 
The El Caminito Del Rey Trail was created in 1905 to facilitate the movement of workers between two hydroelectric power plants. 
It is also known as the King's Path. To walk along it, you must be at least 12 years old and have good height tolerance. 
China. Huashan Mountain Trail The Qinling mountain range divides the Chinese central province of Shaanxi into two parts. Here is Mount Huashan, to the top of which the Hua Shan Yu walking trail was built back in the 4th century. This trail was improved during the Tang Dynasty, but remains extreme even today. Despite safety measures (stone steps have been built, the width of the path has been increased and railings have been added), fatal accidents still occur here. 
But the second path leading to Mount Haushan is the most dangerous; it is literally a road over an abyss. It is also known as new Yueyang trails or "Path of Death" Both daredevils come here who want to prove to themselves and the world their own fearlessness, as well as weak-spirited people who dream of getting rid of their inner insecurities. The “Path of Death” consists of boards nailed to a sheer cliff hundreds of meters high, and chains that you can hold on to. Creating these trails is very difficult and dangerous. An entire army of “spider people” from Hunan province is building hundreds of meters of mountain trails at enormous heights, using only seat belts. Each such path is only a meter wide and is not even equipped with railings. As the head of the team of trail builders, Mr. Zhang Bin, said, workers who build a trail among steep cliffs must be very brave and, at least, extremely resilient psychologically. China. Mountain path to school
The village of Gulukan is located in Western China. Probably the most fearless children live here, because every day they have to walk to school along a narrow path carved into the rock, which is located at an altitude of 1500 meters. There is simply no other road from the village. France. Roche Veyrand
There are about 120 via ferratas in France, which range from easy to very difficult routes. (Via ferrata or “iron path” is a rocky area equipped with wooden or metal structures to make it easier to overcome). Roche Veyrand is one of the most difficult and dangerous mountain trails in France. The trail is located in the south-eastern part of the country, in the Rhone-Alpes region, in Saint Pierre d'Entremont. 
Switzerland. Ebenalpe Trail In Switzerland there are the prehistoric Ebenalp Caves, which are very often visited by tourists. So that travelers could reach this natural attraction, the Ebenalp trail was built, which begins at the mountain station of the same name. The journey along the trail takes only 20 minutes, but the impressions of this route will remain with tourists for a lifetime. Unfortunately, there was only one photo of this trail. Ireland. Cliffs of Moher This trail is intended for those cyclists who like to tickle their nerves. The Cliffs of Moher Path is considered the most dangerous cycling trail on the planet. It rises 215 meters above Atlantic Ocean, and the width of the path in some places is less than one meter. 
It’s scary even just walking along this path over the abyss, not to mention riding a bicycle. But if dangerous hiking trails exist mainly for thrill-seekers and adrenaline addicts, then moving along equally dangerous highways is a severe daily necessity for residents of those places that will be discussed below. There are countless such roads around the world. Below are three of the most prominent examples of them. 
Some roads are more forgiving of minor driving mistakes, some less so, but Old Yungas Roads doesn't forgive anything. Every year, the number of deaths among those who dare to drive along the forty-mile Old Yungas Road exceeds one hundred. Ironically, this route has become a place of tourist pilgrimage among those foreigners who want to add “riding the most dangerous road in the world” to their list of achievements. One lane, steep slopes, and lack of guardrails only add to the danger. In addition, fog and rain can reduce visibility and cover the road surface with mud, as well as loosen the rock above. Guoliang Tunnel in Taihang Mountains (China).
The name of the tunnel is translated from Chinese as “The Road That Makes No Mistakes.” First, a tunnel was created by villagers from the remote region of the Taihang Mountains to get to the outside world. It is now a 3.1m wide road which is quite scary for drivers. The tunnel has 30 windows to see what's what. 
Halsema Highway, Philippines
Magnificent, but in places very dangerous road on the island of Luzon. In addition to unpaved parts of roads, landslides and large rocks, heavy fog is possible. 
