Mount Hua, also known as Taihua Mountain, is located in the south of Huayin County, Shaanxi province China, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Xi’an. It is one of China’s Five Great Mountains, together with Mount Tai in Shandong Province, Hengshan Mountain in Hubei Province, Hengshan Mountain in Shanxi province, and Songshan Mountain in Henan province. Mount Hua is well-known for its steep slope and precipitous cliffs, whose height is only second to Hengshan Mountain among the Five Great Mountains. Mount Hua is composed of five main peaks, namely: Yuntai peak in the North, Chaoyang peak in the east, Luoyan peak in the south, Lotus Peak in the west and Yunv peak in the middle, the highest being South Peak at 2,154.9 meters (7,070 ft).
The weather on Mount Hua can vary drastically, but offers the breathtaking scenery of cloud-enshrouded Mount Hua, and rainy, foggy, and snow-capped Mount Hua. If viewing Mount Hua at the right time of year, visitors can get the sense that they have been transported to some sort of magical fairyland thanks to the crisp air and abundance of trees. Besides, Mount Hua is also one the nine best places to watch sunrises in China. On Mount Hua, Chaoyang stage on Chaoyang Peak is the best place to watch the sun come up.
Mount Hua is also the major Taoist resort in China and there are many famous Taoists. Now, Mount Hua hosts 72 half-suspended caves and more than 20 of them are Taoist temples, among which Yuquan Temple, Dongdao Temple, and Zhenyue Hall are nationally protected temples. Emperors in the past dynasties made pilgrimages to Mount Hua, recognizing Mount Hua as the holy land of Taoism.
Climbing Mount Hua is a highly popular activity for the more adventurous traveler. Mount Hua is home to many steep paths leading to the summit and foot-wide plank walkways fastened to a sheer rock with only a chain for support. The hike is one of the most terrifying and exciting in the world, according to Huffpost! The route continues with a vertical ladder built along the perilous cliffs. Standing on the summit of the mountain, visitors can capture a panoramic view of this great mountain.
Admission Fee: 180RMB (Apr.-Nov.); 90RMB (Dec.-Mar.)
How to get there:
By train: Take the train to Huashan and get off at Huashan Station
By bus: Take the bus tourist1 at Xian Rain Station to get there. These buses start at Xian train station and get back from Mount. Hua at 17:00.
Open Time: 8: 00 – 18: 00