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Q: I have climbed the "most dangerous/difficult" mountain in China, have you?
Well, Hua Shan (Flower Mountain, a tricky name) has that title. It is the number one mountain in China to climb as being the toughest open for public tourism.
Basically, it is more like (the mountain of stairs). It takes two days to climb up, see all the peaks (stay overnight in a hostel or hotel), and then head back down. The stairs are incredibly steep most of the way, and you can cheat and take a cable car to certain points but then you sound like a wuss. Me and my group didn't and we suffered lol.
I thought the hike down would be easier than the hike up... (as it usually is) but I was wrong...
The hike down is just as bad as the hike up because your legs are already tired and it feels a lot longer than going up. Plus you probably have altitude sickness at this point.
Overall, it wasn't as tough as I thought with the reputation it has... but I go to the gym. Legs were a little sore (other people were walking like ducks after, but my feet were SUPER sore.
Anyway, just wondering if any of you have climbed any mountains in China. There are five special (Taoist) mountains that have famous titles. They are:
#1 - Hua Shan - Shaanxi
#2 - Huang Shan - An Hui
#3 - Tai Shan - Shan Dong
#4 - Emei - Si Chuan
#5 - Song Shan - Henan
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So have you climbed any? Any plans to give it a shot? I am planning on doing the other four (since I already did the most difficult one). Any interested parties are welcome to group up and give it a whirl... may as well have some other noteworthy accomplishments in China other than just trekking along the Great Wall of China.
10 years 1 week ago in Transport & Travel - China
I did those and you were right, full of stone staircases. Other than the well beaten paths there are some beautiful landscape and lakes in Tibet. The train wasn't in operation when I went. It was true that you could get high attitude sickness no matter how fit you were, the ascend by air was too fast/steep. I saw a few young ladies immediately ran out of breath upon getting off the plane while still inside the 'airport' (if you can call it an airport), turned pale and had to sit down. These days, with the train it SHOULD be a lot better. If you want mountains, Tibet is it. Heck, you can trek all the way out of china and do the Himalayas, few stone staircases there. But Tibet is worth visiting in itself, get a local jeep plus driver, then camp by their lake. I just hope most Tibetans country folks were still as innocent as when I was there. High hopes I know.
Garbo:
I agree about Tibet. It's amazing . Was lucky enough to go many times in the 90s before the train went though . Altitude sickness is real problem and diamox just masks the symptoms . I saw so many people at Mount Kailash unable to do the kora due to the altitude . As they were very nice people , I felt sad they came all that way and couldn't complete it .
earthizen:
Tibet is the kind of place if you're meant to be there, you will be, vice versa. Several times you've been there as early as the 90s and Mount Kailash.....my friend you are in this world but not of this world. There are always other chances for those who couldn't complete the kora, they need to learn to let go. The pyramidal peaks all over Tibet are unique. Pleasant to the eyes they are, and more.
Garbo:
I know but to come all that way and not be able to do it . They were okay with it , but it's just a long way to go. I was lucky and hitched out there and later hitched up to Xinjiang. Stupendously beautiful . My Uighur truck driver had a bald head , beard and big pot belly . The minute I saw him I hoped he was my truck driver . That was an awesome trip too .
earthizen:
Most of them saved their entire life for this spiritual trip. Altitude 5600m is a kill altitude for some, I am glad they're OK with it, don't force it. A spiritual trip is about spiritual quest, it is what you get out of the trip that is important. A few get mystical experiences and that's what counts. Look back at the number of 'lucky' encounters you had, like the Uligur driver, you may discover there is a pattern that supports the saying there are no accidents in life (including winning/losing a lucky draw).
Garbo:
I was relieved they didn't force it. As for the trip up to Xinjiang, stopping in the middle of nowhere at a noodle place and the man meticulously rolling out his noodles for s good half an hour. They were great though. Then the next morning stopping with another truck full of his friends in the middle of the road eating Uighur pastry. It was a hoot.
earthizen:
The simple life they have in Xinjiang, their grapes, desert, have always tempted me for a trip there. Saw a backpacker's video on a nice long road lined with tall trees, the 'hotel' (more like a hostel) she stayed in was truly remarkable. Her 'room' was outdoor, bed under vines (you can pick grapes at the right season) scaffolding. It was a pleasure to backpack prc back then.
I've seen a lot of Hua Shan photos and they've all been pretty amazing!
Not sure if I would dare to go for it any time soon, though. The cliffside trail looks like a path to hell. 
Are you an active tracker/hiker, Rob? And if I may ask, what kind of shoes did you wear while climbing?
I'm going to live in Jilin province, so Changbai Shan and and Heaven Lake are definately on my to-do list. I'm looking forward to roam around as much as I possibly can during the summertime, because when that freezing Dongbei winter starts... Yikes.
Robk:
To be honest I was somewhat naive...
Nobody told me this was one of the sacred mountains of China... not to mention the "most difficult" one. I thought it would be a few hours and I would be done... not 2 days!
So... I wore just light running shoes, not too great. The soles weren't very shock absorbent... and I paid the price for that. I did that sky-walk part... it is exactly how it looks... you are walking on worn out wooden planks and metal bars like 6000+ feet above your death lol. It's an additional part... not all the people do it... I did it because, I would feel like a wussy if I didn't lol.
I have been to Changbai Shan. It's just a small hike but very beautiful and interesting. It looks like a meteor crashed into the mountains (I think that is actually what did happen, not sure). But there is a lot of North Korean stuff, and it makes you feel a little excited knowing you are so close to a place that would probably rather shoot you than let you wander in... Actually, North Korea claims that Chang Bai Shan is theirs... so by their thoughts, you are already in North Korea..
I been to the top of Baiyun ... walked it
LOL, yes, it holds a lot of importance for Koreans. The hike doesn't seem to be very demanding, from what I've gathered, the highest peak is only 2. 5 km from the base, but quite spectacular looking.
Regarding Hua Shan plank walk - yes, no way in hell I could ever do that. I always wondered how do they manage to maintain that trail. I mean, even the chains you're holding onto are bound to go rusty, not to mention that wooden planks (which look *really* dodgy).
Anyways, congratulations and please upload some photos.
Robk:
Actually, at the entrance... they scan your finger.
And they give you 48 hours until they send out a rescue party and start notifying people.
They assume you fell off if don't get back within that time...
I've done #4 Emei. Nice snow monkeys, though a bit greedy. Soooo many temples it's ridiculous. There a story that a CCP army scout sergeant reccommended preserving the place for it's natural beauty, which just happened to save its cultural-historic heritage from being pillaged and torn down.
I also did Wawushan (a tabletop plateau with a couple temples) and the Bifengxia trail in Ya'an (Pandas). All in Sichuan.
I slept in a picturesque hotel room in Emei near a mountain lake for off-season prices in the autumn, but couldn't enjoy it because of my back playing up. Wasn't the mountain's fault, though. I'm a couch potato, and all the sitting in ergonomically unsound positions has done a number on my lower back.
Robk:
Yeah, that's true.
Luckily, I had been going to the gym for a couple of months before I went. My job is basically in front of a computer most of the day... so if I went straight off the computer chair... I think it would have made things MUCH worse.
I have to go back to Si Chuan now for that mountain. I climbed up some parts around Jiu Zhai Gou (probably the most colorful place in the world if you go during autumn)... look up the photos. Si Chuan was certainly one of my favorites places in China. Lots of character and seems to hold more of the better roots of the Chinese people.
I think Huang shan is my next stop and it is suppose to be done during the Summer... so if anyone is around during that time... and you got no plans... think about it.
Shining_brow:
Maybe... I'm in Hangzhou, so just up the road. but, I'd need to get my knees working properly for a hike! (and, there's that 'work' thing I've got to sort out)
I did number 2 Huangshan in September of 2012. I was pretty sore when I got done, but enjoyed the scenery. The typhoon hit Anhui while we were on the mountain and made climbing down a bitch. My gf wants me to go again, but not sure it is something I want to do twice LOL. Maybe I should convince her to pick another one instead.
I did half of LuShan, in JiuJiang, JiangXi province.
Took 4 hours just to get to the village halfway up... while the uni students (and octogenarians) were doing it in 2 hours 
I went to TaiHu - does that count??
Next time do it on a bike.
I'd be so up for climbing all of the above. I've been climbing since I was a kid, then at uni I would go to the climbing walls once a week and work on technique etc. but now I feel way out of practice but longing for mountains. I don't think those are anywhere remotely near me though 
Shining_brow:
You know that 'climb' in this context actually means 'hike' - yes?? :)
slice_999_k:
Haha yes I got it, I actually prefer hiking, climbing itself is way too tricky for me
fada:
Mountains In china all have steps, there is not any actual climbing involved, just waking up the very very steep steps. Edit to add: my point is moot.
I did hua shan, best to start at night time and be at the top for sunrise, great view, seriously good. 6 hour hike, not 2 days.(you are going to sweat like you have never sweated before) Once at the top, fart about for a few hours and get the cable car down as it brings you to the bus stop that will bring you back to xian. Good hiking people!
Yeah I'm not a fan of concrete stepped mountains filled with tourists. I've climbed a few mountains back home, but it's never interested me here. I suppose in the off season it might be better.
I did those and you were right, full of stone staircases. Other than the well beaten paths there are some beautiful landscape and lakes in Tibet. The train wasn't in operation when I went. It was true that you could get high attitude sickness no matter how fit you were, the ascend by air was too fast/steep. I saw a few young ladies immediately ran out of breath upon getting off the plane while still inside the 'airport' (if you can call it an airport), turned pale and had to sit down. These days, with the train it SHOULD be a lot better. If you want mountains, Tibet is it. Heck, you can trek all the way out of china and do the Himalayas, few stone staircases there. But Tibet is worth visiting in itself, get a local jeep plus driver, then camp by their lake. I just hope most Tibetans country folks were still as innocent as when I was there. High hopes I know.
Garbo:
I agree about Tibet. It's amazing . Was lucky enough to go many times in the 90s before the train went though . Altitude sickness is real problem and diamox just masks the symptoms . I saw so many people at Mount Kailash unable to do the kora due to the altitude . As they were very nice people , I felt sad they came all that way and couldn't complete it .
earthizen:
Tibet is the kind of place if you're meant to be there, you will be, vice versa. Several times you've been there as early as the 90s and Mount Kailash.....my friend you are in this world but not of this world. There are always other chances for those who couldn't complete the kora, they need to learn to let go. The pyramidal peaks all over Tibet are unique. Pleasant to the eyes they are, and more.
Garbo:
I know but to come all that way and not be able to do it . They were okay with it , but it's just a long way to go. I was lucky and hitched out there and later hitched up to Xinjiang. Stupendously beautiful . My Uighur truck driver had a bald head , beard and big pot belly . The minute I saw him I hoped he was my truck driver . That was an awesome trip too .
earthizen:
Most of them saved their entire life for this spiritual trip. Altitude 5600m is a kill altitude for some, I am glad they're OK with it, don't force it. A spiritual trip is about spiritual quest, it is what you get out of the trip that is important. A few get mystical experiences and that's what counts. Look back at the number of 'lucky' encounters you had, like the Uligur driver, you may discover there is a pattern that supports the saying there are no accidents in life (including winning/losing a lucky draw).
Garbo:
I was relieved they didn't force it. As for the trip up to Xinjiang, stopping in the middle of nowhere at a noodle place and the man meticulously rolling out his noodles for s good half an hour. They were great though. Then the next morning stopping with another truck full of his friends in the middle of the road eating Uighur pastry. It was a hoot.
earthizen:
The simple life they have in Xinjiang, their grapes, desert, have always tempted me for a trip there. Saw a backpacker's video on a nice long road lined with tall trees, the 'hotel' (more like a hostel) she stayed in was truly remarkable. Her 'room' was outdoor, bed under vines (you can pick grapes at the right season) scaffolding. It was a pleasure to backpack prc back then.
I did climb 黄山 in Anhui in the fall of 2007 or so. I was going to take the ski lift up, but there were a million elderly people so up I went. I huffed and puffed, but I made it. Some workers were carrying steel beams to the top. I was proud of my achievement.
What was more fun was walking to the bottom of the ski lift, all the way out of the park and down the hill (walking the road which goes to the park) to the enterance. Some other things, if you go there and see a (obviously Chinese) man approaching you about dinner, take him up on it. Ate there twice (basically the open kitchen of their home) and both times was excellent, including a sweet and sour chicken. The town itself is not so much. No KFC, no bars, discos or crap like that. I liked the town actually, but you only need to spend two days there.
I always had problems with mountains. I lived in Alps area during my early age, and everybody climbs and hikes there.
I could never find out, why one first walks up to the mountain, and then must return to the valley again.
I somehow find it complicated.
Isn't it simpler (and less walk), if one just stay in the valley and see the whole mountain range from there?
Haven't climbed any of thet op five, since I haven't had the chance to get to them, but have climbed Purple Mountain in Nanjing, and was kinda dismayed to see stairs (and I'm also dismayed to find there are stairs even on the five "most difficult/dangerous" mountains.
I've climbed mountains in the US (California and Utah), and in Poland (Zakopane), and none of them had stairs. It seems like cheating, and just wrong, to have stairs on a mountain. Given China, and the current population trend, I can see the government replacing the staris with escalators in the future.
Huang Shan - Last Nov... walked all the way up and down. weird weather though!!.. started out normal temp, got super hot in the midway, then started snowing on top.
yes it was difficult my car really struggled on the way down it was ok
