Hey guys we did the infamous Skywalk at Mt Hua, otherwise known as the "Most Dangerous Hike in the World". Now since we just did this, we'd like to share with you the most valuable information to know before you go.
1. This particular hike is officially called the "Plankroad in the Sky" - remember this when you look for signage on the mountain.
2. You do not have to hike the 6 hours up the mountain to get to the Plankroad - there are actually two cable cars that can take you up in less than 30 minutes. The easiest route is to take the NEW - west cable car - and then hike the 30-40 minutes from the West Peak to the South Peak where the Plankroad is located. Then follow "Plankroad in the Sky" signage and you will arrive at the site in no time.
3. The Plankroad itself only takes 30 minutes or so to complete. It consists of a staircase down which is metal rods in rock (with large gaps at times), becomes stone cut outs on the cliffside, then comes the actual plank and lastly more stone cut outs leading to the small temple. When you are done you must turn around and go back exactly the way you came.
4. Know that the Plankroad is a TWO WAY trail and you willl be required to pass on the outside of others at times. If you are truly afraid of heights you may want to mentally prepare for this fact.
5. You do not need to bring or purchase a harness. You will rent one upon arrival at the Plankroad and it currently costs $5 USD.
6. Gloves are not really necessary for the Plankroad itself and in certain seasons you may actually feel uncomfortable with the heat.
Prices and additional information as of Summer 2014 are as follows:
1. Tickets for everything other than the actual harness itself can be purchased at the Mt. Huashan visitors center. To get onto the mountain you will need the following:
1.1 Entrance to the mountain is $30 USD ($15 USD with a valid student ID)
1.2 West Cable Car Fees - $6 USD each way for the bus and $22 USD each way for the cable car itself ($16 USD with a valid student ID)
1.3 North Cable Car Fees - $3 USD each way for the bus and $13 USD each way for the cabe car itself ($12 USD with a valid student ID)
2. If you choose to hike the mountain it will take anywhere from 4-6 hours and is extremely strenuous. We only recommend this for those in very good shape. It is also advisable to hike the mountain at night (really early in the morning) and catch the sunrise. The trail up is illuminated, so no worries there. You can also opt to spend the night on the mountain itself, as there are several lodging options available.
3. The cable cars down stop operating at 7pm, so be sure to time accordingly if you want to get down that way. You can chose to take one cable car up and the other down (or do a round trip on one), just buy a one way at the bottom and then get a return on the mountain when you are ready to head down.
4. The are food options all over the mountain - prices are high, but good to know that they are there. Bathrooms also exist at every major peak and sometimes in between, so it is pretty convenient
5. Plankroad in the Sky can have a backup of adventurers waiting to get on the dangerous hike, so there can be a wait. They only let a certain number of visitors on the path at a time (for safety reasons of course) and they also close it down at a certain time of day (around 5pm), so if you have your heart set on the trail, you may want to arrive on the earlier side. We also heard that weekends and holidays can get even busier, so plan accordingly!
6. If you want to make it to all the peaks on the mountain, plan for 4-6 hours depending on your speed. David and I decided to run from the West peak all the way to the North peak, which we were told is a 3 hour hike. We made it in 35 minutes, so it is potentially possible that you could do all the peaks in less time, but I wouldn't necessarily advise it considering the dangerous nature of many parts of the trail.
7. Getting there and away - you can choose to visit the mountain as a day trip from Xi'an (by bus approximately 2 hours each way) or stay in the town of Huashan (accessible by train or bus from Xi'an).
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Music Credit: Showtek feat. We Are Loud! & Sonny Wilson - Booyah! (Party Favor O.G. Remix)
