The wooden plank path on Huashan Mountain in China is considered the most terrifying and dangerous hiking trail in the world.
If you are planning to climb Huashan Mountain in China, think carefully before making your decision, as a single misstep could cost you your life.
This thrilling journey begins with a 20-minute cable car ride. Next, you will have to walk on the 700-year-old wooden plank path. However, despite the dangers of this area, nearly 1 million people choose to embark on this adventure each year to visit the Buddhist and Taoist relics located on one of the highest peaks in China.
At an elevation of 2,154.9 meters, Huashan Mountain in Shaanxi Province, China, is an incredibly attractive destination for adventure travelers from around the globe.
Huashan Mountain is known as the “Western Mountain” of the “Five Sacred Mountains” in China, characterized by its steep cliffs and protruding rocks. Located about 120 kilometers east of Xi’an in Shaanxi Province, this scenic site offers many memorable experiences for visitors.
The breathtaking sunrise, heart-stopping sunset, magnificent sea of clouds, and misty peaks along the trail lure many people to brave the dangers to reach this destination.
Huashan is also home to ancient Taoist temples with fascinating legends passed down through generations.
Huashan is considered the most dangerous mountain in China, drawing many adventurers and climbers to experience its perilous wooden plank path along the cliffs.
Constructed by a Taoist priest named He Zhizhen, the path consists of wooden planks nailed into the vertical rock faces. You will need to grasp onto iron chains, cling to the cliff, and move sideways one step at a time. If you look down, all you see is an endless abyss that can make you dizzy.
To reach the summit of Huashan, you must conquer the “stairways to heaven” that ascend the mountain’s 1,800-meter slope (actually 6 kilometers, equivalent to 4,000 steps). After climbing the steep stone steps, visitors must cling to the cliff to navigate the wooden plank path to the summit.
Huashan is also famous for the Huashan Trail, likened to the “throat of Huashan” due to its treacherous and critical position on the mountain. With over 370 steps carved into the mountain, just wide enough for one person, you must grip the iron chain and climb the steep mountain using both hands and feet. This experience provides an exhilarating thrill for adventure enthusiasts as they walk on the precarious steps on the cliffs that have endured years of rain, sun, and snow.
Moreover, once you ascend the mountain, you must return the same way you came. This means you will experience this thrilling sensation twice!
The wooden plank path is the most dangerous and thrilling route among all the hazardous trails on Huashan Mountain. This over 700-year-old path was built at the South Peak by nailing wood along with stone pegs into the vertical cliffs.
In recent years, as tourism has surged at Huashan Mountain, numerous measures have been implemented to ensure visitor safety. The cable car has also been in operation since the 1990s for the convenience of tourists.
From a distance, the mountain resembles a flower, earning it the name Huashan. It is known as one of the most dangerous and challenging mountains in China and worldwide. The four main peaks of Huashan are surrounded by ancient temples.
Although all visitors are harnessed before climbing the wooden plank path along the cliff and there is a securely fastened chain for everyone to hold onto, many people still hesitate to try. Even just watching the videos or images below will surely make your heart race with fear.
This attraction is open year-round, except during inclement weather or maintenance. The best times to undertake this hike are in April, May, September, and October each year.
Huashan has five main peaks located in the north, south, east, west, and central peaks, with the highest peak called Lian Nan at 2,154.9 meters located in the south. The mountain is entirely surrounded by granite.
Huashan is famous worldwide by various nicknames like: “Stairway to Heaven”, “Hell Just a Step Away”, “Most Dangerous Trail on Earth”, “Sky Plank Path”… Everyone is notably impressed by the rugged wooden planks nailed directly into the rock face at over 2,000 meters high, with no safety barriers while the abyss looms below.
