Mt.Huanshan, or Mount Hua is one of the five sacred mountains in China. The other four are Taishan in Shandong, Songshan in Henan, Hengshan in Shanxi and Hengshan in Hunan.
Mt. Huashan is reputed as the most precipitous of the five. Then how to visit Mt. Huanshan?
Mt.Huashan is easily accessible by four cities – Xian, Luoyang, Zhengzhou and Taiyuan (Pingyao) which have plentiful trains connecting Huayin City where Mt.Huashan is located. With Xian Zhengzhou high speed trains completed, it is faster and more comfortable to travel from Xian or Zhenzghou (Luoyang) to Mt.Huashan since it is located on the high speed train line between Xian and Zhengzhou. Of course, you may take a long distance bus of renting a private car or van from Xian to Mount Hua, but visiting Mount Hua by train is the best choice for individual tourists who prefer to travel on their own.
The Huayin City (where Mt.Huanshan is located) has two train station, namely Huashan North Railway Station and Huanshan Railway Station. Huanshan North Railway Station is a new station used for bullet trains and high speed trains. If you go to Huashan by high speed or bullet trains from Xian and Zhengzhou (Luoyang), you will arrive at Huashan North Railway Station. For taking other trains, you will arrive at Huashan Railway Station. Huashan North Railway Station is located in the north of Huayin City while Huashan Train Station in the south.
Selected Xian – Huashan Train Timetable
TO:
D1002 (bullet) Xian North Railway Station - Huashan North Railway Station (08:15 – 08:56)
G2004 (high speed) Xian North Railway Station - Huashan North Railway Station (09:05 – 09:37)
D1004 (bullet) Xian North Railway Station - Huashan North Railway Station (10:00 – 10:42)
G2008 (high speed) Xian North Railway Station - Huashan North Railway Station (12:00 – 12:32)
FM:
G2005 (high speed) Huashan North Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station (14:43 – 15:16)
D1003 (bullet) Huashan North Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station (15:52 – 16:35)
G2009 (high speed) Huashan North Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station (15:52 – 16:35)
D1005 (bullet) Huashan North Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station (17:56 – 18:40)
D1007 (bullet) Huashan North Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station (19:55 – 20:37
G2013 (high speed) Huashan North Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station (20:18 – 20:52)
D1009 (bullet) Huashan North Railway Station – Xian North Railway Station (21:17 – 22:01)
Train fares
Bullet Train: First Class RMB60; 2rd Class RMB35
High speed train: First Class RMB90; 2rd Class RMB55
Today I make an excursion from Xian to Mt.Huashan by train, Please follow me into the sacred mountain – Mount Hua. Last night I bought the train ticket for Train D1002 for Huanshan from the ticket office at Xian Railway Station though the train starts from Xian North Railway Station instead Xian Railway Station.
My bullet train No.2005 leaves Xian North Railway Station at 08:15am
My bullet train No.2005 leaves Xian North Railway Station at 0815am
Still a tourist low season, there are not many passenges on the train
Not a tourist high season, there are not many passenges on the train
Within 40 minutes, we arrive at Huashan Railway Station which is located in the north of Huayin City.
Within 40 minutes, we arrive at Huashan Railway Station which is located in the north of Huayin City.
For red train tickets (bullet train), exit under Red characters
For blue train tickets (high speed ), to exit under blue characters
For red train tickets (bullet train), exit under Red characters
I take a cliched picture of the exterior Huashan Train Station
I take a cliched picture of the exterior Huashan Train Station
There are no shuttle buses on the square in front of Huashan Railway Station since it is still a low tourist season. I have to take a taxi from Huashan Railway Station to the Dispatch Center for Mt. Huashan Scenic Spot which is located about 5km to the south of Huashan Railway Station. Local taxi drivers don’t use the meter to calculate the taxi fare since Huayin is a small city. The taxi ride costs RMB 15 from Huashan Train Station to the Dispatch Center for Mt. Huashan Scenic Spot.
The taxi ride costs RMB 15 from Huashan Train Station to the Dispatch Center for Mt. Huashan Scenic Spot.
Mt.Huashan is a well organized scenic spot and rated as a 5 star attraction at the national level in terms of safety, cleanness and convenience. All passengers are supposed to go to the Dispatch Center for Mt. Huashan Scenic Spot where people buy entrance tickets and bus tickets. Each entrance ticket for Mt.Huashan is valid in two days which also covers the admission for other three attractions – Xiyue Temple, Yuquan Temple and Xianyu Valley. Entrance ticket fee RMB 180 (April – November); RMB100 (December – next March).
Enquiry: 0913 – 4361979
Complaint: 0913 – 462692
SOS: 0913 – 4625088
The Dispatch Center for Mt. Huashan Scenic Spot
the Dispatch Center for Mt. Huashan Scenic Spot
Mt.Huashan Scenic Spot is mainly composed of 5 peaks – North Peak (1614.pm), the Central Peak(207.8m), East Peak(2096.m), West Peak(2086.2m) and South Peak(2154.9m). People have to climb up to the North Peak before reach other four peaks. There are two walking trails leading to the North Peak. The most popular is the traditional route in Huashan Yu (Huashan Gorge) starting from Yuquanyuan Temple (west gate)); the second trail is the Huangpu Yu (Huangpu Gorge) starting from Huashan East Gate. A cable car is set over the Huangpu Yu (Huangpu Gorge) trail.
I first take the shuttle bus (RMB40 two ways) from the Dispatch Center to Huangpu Yu, the starting point for cable car up to the North Peak.
I first take the shuttle bus (RMB40 round trip) from the Dispatch Center to Huangpu Yu, the starting point for cable car up to the North Peak.
Cable car ticket: RMB 80 (two ways Dec – Feb); RMB150 (two ways March – November). The cable car ticket is separated from the entrance ticekets and people have to buy at the cable car station. Each cable car accommodates 6 passngers.
Each cable car accommodates 6 passngers.
It takes about 6 minutes up to the North Peak.
It takes about 6 minutes up to the North Peak
We get off the cable car and continue to walk up for 15 minutes before we reach the North Peak.
We get off the cable car and continue to walk up for 15 minutes before we reach the North Peak.
Now we are on the platform of the North Peak with the West Peak and East Peak as the back drop.
Now we are on the platform of the North Peak with the West Peak and East Peak as the back drop.
Looking at the East Peak and West Peak from the North Peak where I stand. To climb all the peaks take about 5 hours.
Looking at the East Peak and West Peak from the North Peak where I stand. To climb all the peaks take about 5 hours.
If you don’t have strong legs, you may just stop on the north peak and enjoy the beauitful surrounding views. If you’s like to continue your climb, you may do as the two gentlmen.
If you's like to continue your climb, you may do as the two gentlmen.
Even more dangerous
Even more dangerous
Passengers have hung thousands of locks along the safety chain at various places along the trail for good wishes.
Passengers have hung thousands of locks along the safety chain at various places along the trail for good wishes.
Mt. Huashan is reputed as one of the most precipitous mountains in China
Mt. Huashan is reputed as one of the most precipitous mountains in China.
What time of year are these pictures taken ?
Is it safe to climb all the peaks in mid March ? Will it be snowy and icy then ?
Thanks.
Hello John Stavrou，
The pictures in my blog were taken in March, 2010. No snow and no icy, but still a little cold on the mountain.
Mt.Huashan is a AAAAA National Scenic Area with good management in terms of safety measures. But when you climb, you should always take care. Don’t walk while taking pcitures. Every year accidents happen! Mainly because the mountain is so beautiful that some people just forget the narrow path under their feet. Have a nice trip!
Hello John Stavrou，
The pictures in my blog were taken in March, 2012. No snow and no icy, but still a little cold on the mountain.
Mt.Huashan is a AAAAA National Scenic Area with good management in terms of safety measures. But when you climb, you should always take care. Don’t walk while taking pcitures. Every year accidents happen! Mainly because the mountain is so beautiful that some people just forget the narrow path under their feet. Have a nice trip!
Dear sir/madam?
I am going to Xian on 23 Febuary and have to fly back on 24 night or 25 early morning to Shanghai to catch my flight to Indonesia on 9 am. I would like to joint the bus tour to Huashan Mountain, so is it possible if I joint on 23 Feb? My flight from Shanghai will be arrive on 10 am. Looking forward from you.
Best regards,
Elizabeth
Hello Elizabeth,
At the moment, we don’t operate Huanshan group tours from Xian to Huanshan. We are able to offer a private tour ( check http://www.tour-beijing.com/xian_side_trip/). But for a single travel, this is very expensive. Suggest you may take the highspeed train from Xian to Huanshan and travel on your own. Any further request, please contact us. Thanks!
Thank you for your prompt reply…there are some question I would like to ask…is it ok?
1) is it enough time on 23 Feb if I go to Huasan by high speedtrain? How long to go there?
2) whats time the first flight to Shanghai and which airline? I need to know the possibility to catch my fligh from Shanghai to Jakarta – Indonesia. So I can go to Huasan on 24 Feb. Then I will joint the Terrakota tour on 23 Feb.
3) I also need hotel for stay if you can give reference for me. Good location to go anywhere, and not to expenses, may be 3 or 4 star hotel.
I know I have very short time…but I wanna see your beautiful city as much as I can
I have been some beautiful city in China like Hangzou, Xitang, Beijing, suchou, and of course Shanghai….I wish I can have another chance also to Harbin, Guilin, Guangzou, Shenzen, etc.
Thanks in advace.
Hello Elizabeth,
One of our staffers will contact you for the details.
Hi,
Could please let me know how to reach Mt Huashan from Beijing?
Are there any bullet/high speed trains?
Thanks in Advance.
Hello Raghuveer,
Yes, there are 3 daily highspeed trains running from Beijing to Huanshan:
G651: 07:05 12:14
G655:10:05 15:08
G661:14:43 20:08
Ticket fare: First class RMB 751; Second Class RMB 469
Hi there,
I will be in Beijing for 4 days then I want to hike Mount Huashan on my way to Xi’an. Is Mount Huashan a one day hike or how many days does it usually take to hike the whole mountain?
Thank you,
Tom (Canada)
Hello Tom,
Normally, most travelers would have a one-day hike on Mt.Huanshan. Some would spend two or three days. Some would hike step by step to the summit and others prefer to take a cable car up to the top. It all depends.
Thank you for the reply,
Is one day enough time to take the cable car and hike the wooden plank walk way?
Tom
Hello Tom,
One day is not enough for hiking all the 4 peaks ( north, east south and west). Maybe just get a feeling for two or three peaks on a day trip. It all depends on your legs.
How long it take you to climb from The north Peak to East peak. I will visit Huashan in Sep, will take the train from Chengdu to direct to mt Huashan. I will arrive train station in Huashan at mid day. Then go to mt Huashan. I hope I can catch East peak before dark and will stay 1 night in East peak. Do you have the information of hotel in East peak. Can I book hotel in advance
Hello Thaolin,
It takes about 1.5 – 2 hours hiking from the North Peak to the East Peak. There is only one hotel on the East Peak called “Dongfeng Hotel” (meaning “East Peak Hotel”). But the hotel is very basic. So please be well prepared for the hard condition there. You can call them to book your room. The hotel phone number is 0913 – 4301312. Good luck!
Hi there,
I’m thinking visiting Mt Huashan and do all the hiking part for all the peak.
Can you suggest me which month is the best in terms of not too cold and lower people around.
If the hotel rooms is fully book,is there any other way that I can stay up the peak?
Thanks
Chan
Hello Chan,
April, May, September and October are the best months to hike Mt.Huashan, but avoid May Day Holiday ( May 1-3) and National Holiday (October 1-8). It is not safe to camp on the summits. It is better to put up in a hotel or inn. Be ready for the basic or poor accommodation conditions on the tops.