Huashan near Xi'an. Famous for being dangerous. I thought that was tourism hype.
It's not hype.
The plank walk:
A wooden plank path bolted to a sheer cliff face. 2,000 meters up. You're clipped to a harness attached to a single chain. You walk the plank, hands on the cliff, feet on 30cm-wide boards.
I got to the entrance. Looked down. Looked at the plank. Looked at my hands (shaking). Turned around.
No shame. I'm alive.
The rest of the mountain:
Even without the plank walk, it's incredible. The sunrise from East Peak is worth the climb.
Practical stuff:
• Night hike is popular — start at 10 PM, reach top for sunrise
• Bring a headlamp, warm layers, and more water than you think
• The cable car saves 3 hours but you'll still climb a lot
• Gloves help — you grab chains for support constantly
Cost: ¥160 entry + ¥80 cable car one way
Would I do it again? Maybe. Would I do the plank walk? Absolutely not.
Posted on 2026-5-23 00:26:23