UPDATE from Brad in California:
Unlike every other report I’ve read on the internet, Brad’s actually been there.
It’s a good sidetrip out of Xian, site of the astonishing Terracotta Warriors.
A few more facts: It is not "Mt." Hua Shan. It is just Hua Shan. …
A hostel is available on the mountain top — what a cool place for a midwinter honeymoon?! Despite the vigor and risk involved in the climb, it is crowded in fair weather! …
The mountain has multiple summits, and looks somewhat like a blossoming tulip: hence the name flower mountain.
You can take a cable car to the vicinity of the lowest summit, or you can hike about 5 or 6 klicks to the same area. The "hike" option is very worthy, with incredibly lengthy and steep staircases carved into the stone, — awesome. Rusty chain handrails are anchored into the rocks.
Once on the lowest summit, you can climb the circuit of the other higher summits. This is where you will encounter the most harrowing exposures, and the pictures that accompany this page.
Again, on a crowded day, it would suck! Everything is one-way, or narrow, etc… We went on a rainy day, with fog, and had the mountain almost to ourselves. It was incredible when the fog cleared!
Snow or freezing rain would make this hike very dangerous. I would not do it!
Mount Hua (Hua Shan) - Wikipedia
We’ve added Hua Shan to our list of the best hikes in Asia.
Click PLAY or watch a “hiker” on the route on MetaCafe.
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==== original post Nov. 6th, 2006:
The most dangerous tourist route in the world is located in Tibet.
Damn Cool Pics: Worlds Most Dangerous Tourist Route
But … they have the location wrong.
It seems these photos are actually from (or Mt Hua or Mt Hua Shan) in Shaanxi province, China. It is the Western Mountain of the Five Sacred Mountains. This error was pointed out in a comment on Cool Pics by JJ.
More photos:
Welcome To China - Welcome2CN.Com
photo set - Fosdick
To a hiker like me, this scramble looks like good fun. Similar to Half Dome in Yosemite.
9 responses so far ↓
Rick McCharles » Blog Archive » another internet photo mystery solved // Nov 5, 2006 at 11:57 pm
[…] … check my hiking blog to see where tourists are allowed to scramble this cliff. […]
DSD // Nov 6, 2006 at 2:57 pm
Great pictures! ‘Tourist route’ - now that’s funny.
What is the small building on top?
DSD
“Summit-Stones” by DSD
Blogger.com
moshi // Dec 21, 2006 at 10:49 pm
oao-simply amazing
moshi
DSD // Jan 2, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Just visiting your scrambles section again. What about posting on some of the Canadian Rockies classic scrambles like: Mt Temple, The Fist, Niblock & Whyte, Pilot, Fortress…
There are some amazing scrambles up here!
DSD
Brad // Jun 5, 2007 at 2:06 am
Been there, done that!
A few more facts: It is not “Mt.” Hua Shan. It is just Hua Shan. I think it is in Shan’Xi province. A hostel is available on the mountain top–what a cool place for a midwinter honeymoon?! Despite the vigor and risk involved in the climb, it is crowded in fair weather! This mountain is located within a day’s travel of the famed Terra Cotta warriors (visited by many organized tours). IF you get there…then GO HERE!!!
The mountain has multiple summits, and looks somewhat like a blossoming tulip: hence the name flower mountain.
You can take a cable car to the vicinity of the lowest summit, or you can hike about 5 or 6 klicks to the same area. The “hike” option is very worthy, with incredibly lengthy and steep staircases carved into the stone,–awesome. Rusty chain handrails are anchored into the rocks.
Once on the lowest summit, you can climb the circuit of the other higher summits. This is where you will encounter the most harrowing exposures, and the pictures that accompany this page.
Again, on a crowded day, it would suck! Everything is one-way, or narrow, etc… We went on a rainy day, with fog, and had the mountain almost to ourselves. It was incredible when the fog cleared!
Snow or freezing rain would make this hike very dangerous. I would not do it!
James randall // Jul 12, 2007 at 5:06 am
i think what he means is for westerners, we always add the Mt at the front of the mountains name, not thinking that the word Shan in chinese is ‘Mountian'’. so it can mean both, if you want to say to your mates you went to mt. hua shan, or tell the chinese, oh, we went to hua shan. they would understand
tunepang // Oct 24, 2007 at 8:02 pm
“oh, we went to hua shan. they would understand ”
I don’t understand how ANYONE in their right mind would even consider this trail.
Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll wait at the bottom.
James Randall // Oct 25, 2007 at 10:59 am
its for the very fact that no one in their right mind would be up here, by western standards anyway. but hell, can you imagine the view from up there while sitting on that stone bench. just don’t get a cold arse or you’l get piles
looks fantasic, and i’d love to visit there. and if a chinese girl can do it, then an Englishman can [Ben Laowai]
daniel // Nov 7, 2007 at 2:55 am
I visited there a few years ago with ALL my familly (includes my 76 yo mom and my 84 yo dad) for my weadding trip (i’m french my wife is shanghainese).
It sure looks impressive but it’s really great place to visit !
Our guide was so surprised i asked to visit there : she say it was first time since many years french people want to go there.
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