Hua Shan Scenic Area

Mount Hua is really close to the famous city of Xi'an. For several years there is already a high-speed train that goes here within 30-40 minutes, amazing really. The northern high-speed train station is also in a great location without any extra bus or taxi required to get to the entrance. This makes this an easy day-trip from Xi'an which you are probably wanting to see for the city walls and those terracotta warriors ;)

The mountain is mostly famous for the Daoist temples but the scenery is also beautiful. From the pictures you might relate to Mount Huang and they are not so different. The entrance ticket is a little steep but I am used to that from other sites in China which charge a bit too much in my opinion. You can take a cable car (extra costs) up to two locations, one which is a little off the main entrance. You can also hike up to the first peak which will take a fit person around 3-4 hours, the hotel owner claimed it would be 5h. The beginning is not too bad but inconveniently place outhouses smell up the path which would otherwise be very relaxing along the creek. It gets a little steeper towards and end as you wind around to the top. If you hike up in the morning there will be no sun on the ascending side and even in summer it should be kind of cool.

On the way you will already see …