The most dangerous hiking trail in China. Mount Huashan China - Path of Death - why was it called that? What is the path of death

If you can’t live without thrills and just dream of a new dose of adrenaline, then the extreme “attraction” on Chinese mountain Huashan is for you. Both daredevils come here who want to prove to themselves and the world their own fearlessness, as well as weak-spirited people who dream of getting rid of their inner insecurities. Huashan Mountain is an effective pill for fears and an effective vitamin of self-affirmation.

Flower Mountain, which is how the word Huashan is translated into Russian, is a sacred Chinese mountain that unites five petal-shaped peaks and is located near the city of Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. There are many fascinating tourist routes here, including cable car rides and hiking. Curious travelers can, if they wish, reach each of the five peaks of Huashan - South, North, West, East and Central.

The most convenient way is to take the funicular and climb from the foot of the Northern Mountain to its top. The road to the Western Peak is also safe. The hike to the North Peak, starting from the eastern entrance, with all the tortuosity and steepness of the ascent, although it requires a fair amount of physical training, is also not associated with much risk, since it is laid along fairly wide stone steps.

But there is also one a tourist route, which can make the most impressionable tourists faint, is the transition from the North Peak of Huashan to the South Peak. Some travelers, having taken the first step, literally turn to stone with horror, unable to unclasp their cramped fingers and move from their place. And this is not surprising.

It’s not for nothing that this road, laid along steep vertical cliffs, is called the path of death - falling off the narrow boards into a bottomless abyss would mean certain death, but the flow of tourists trying to make the risky climb is not thinning. Travelers step on boards nailed over the abyss and move to the top, hugging the rock or holding on to chains firmly soldered to the stone wall.

No railings or fences - just you, a stray wind, and hundreds of meters under your feet. Of course, there is some kind of insurance - all daredevils are wearing a belt with a cable and a carabiner on it so that they can cling to the safety rope stretched along the entire route.

The reward for brave tourists will be not only the marvelous panorama opening from the South Peak - the highest of all five “petals” of the Huashan flower, but also a whole bouquet of stormy emotions experienced by travelers who have overcome the ascent. The news that climbing the most dangerous path is not a one-way route, but a two-way road, sounds like a thunderbolt to many tourists. clear skies, but the descent, as a rule, is easier.

Couples in love who believe in lucky omens leave symbols of unquenchable feelings on the top of the conquered mountain - shiny locks and red ribbons, the abundance of which dazzles the eyes. Each of those who have conquered the dangerous path happily shares the extraordinary sensations from the climb - at first it is panic fear, and then the delightful euphoria of not giving up, succeeding, overcoming, winning.

Would you like to taste tea on a mountain 2160 meters high? What about getting an adrenaline rush combined with the constant fear of death? If you agree to this, then you should visit the most dangerous hiking trail in the world on Mount Huashan in China, which will take you straight to the tea house.

Since the 2nd century BC, when a Taoist temple was built at the foot, Mount Huashan has been the most important place for Taoists. Since then, monks and pilgrims have lived on and around the mountain. In order to get to one of the five peaks (on one of which the tea house is located), a whole network of very dangerous paths.

All together these peaks form the petals of the lotus. Due to the recent influx of tourists, the trails have been strengthened. But even despite this, she remains the most dangerous walking trail in the world and has a bad reputation. The “Path of Death” is made of narrow boards that hang over a bottomless abyss, without any railings or fences. Some parts of the trail are terrifying, so it's best to watch where you're going... and it's best not to look down. According to uncertain data, up to 100 people fall from these trails every year.

In some places local residents They also cut out the steps, making a staircase with railings. In other places, the only safety measure is iron chains (previously, locals simply walked on planks). Some daredevils, having taken the first step, become petrified with fear, unable to unclasp their fingers and move, which is not at all surprising.

Despite the fact that the trail has a bad reputation, many adventure seekers come here to test themselves.

For those who are bored with monotonous tourist programs with visits to various monotonous temples and an endless number of museums, there is an excellent alternative for real extreme sports enthusiasts: this is the death trail on Mount Huashan in the city of Xi'an, Shaanxi Province.

This trail is located at an altitude of about 2000 meters at sacred mountain Huashan has five petal-shaped peaks, the most high peak– Its southern height is 2154 meters from sea level, the lowest Northern peak height 1614.9.

How to get to the top

There are two ways to get to the mountain, there are two entrances, one entrance from the West, which is equipped with a cable car and you can only go to the top along it (the cost of a one-way lift costs 140 yuan, which is about $20), the cost of a bus that will take you to it is $3.

Second entrance from the North, there is also cable car, but it costs a little less than 120 yuan in both directions. But there is also walking route with steps carved into the rock and rope bridges. But the journey will not be easy and will take you about 6-8 hours to climb.

What is the path of death

At the top there is simply stunning views of the mountains and nature of China.

The trail on Mount Huashan is very popular tourist place both among visitors from other countries and among the Chinese themselves. Therefore, very often there is a decent queue for it, so get ready to stand in it for at least 20-30 minutes. (maybe, of course, you will be lucky and you will pass it, but we were not lucky).

Although the death trail looks scary from the photographs, it is practically safe, since before you start you are given special safety equipment (belts and a cable with a carabiner, the total cost is about 30 yuan - that’s about 4 bucks).

After you receive the ammunition and put your things in the storage room (so as not to accidentally drop them while walking along the trail to the bottom).

You'll have to wait a little longer, since the path has only one end and you can only return from there the same way you came, trying to miss the people coming back to meet you.

Only after this can you hit the road. The trail begins with a descent along metal piles driven into stone.

At the bottom you will be met by a Chinese man who will help you fasten the carabiner from one cable to another.

Somewhere in the middle of the path, there is a booth in a hole in the rock where you can take first-class photographs, but if you have a phone with you, you will not need its services; the main thing is not to drop your gadget down. The Chinese say that this happens very often, maybe they do it to sell their photos, but it’s better to be safe.

The route lasts only 15-20 minutes. Climbing to the top you can see a small sacred altar and beautiful landscape opening from Mount Huashan.

Be sure to visit the death trail, get new emotions and enjoy the views of the surrounding nature.

Watch the video

As delicious as Chinese tea is, it is not usually associated with adrenaline rushes and fear of death. However, Mount Huashan in China managed to combine both tea and adrenaline, because it is here that the most terrible and dangerous hiking trail in the world is located, along which tourists go straight to a tea house at an altitude of 2160 meters.

Mount Huashan has been one of the most important places for Taoists since the second century BC - then a Taoist temple was built at its foot. Since then, pilgrims and monks have lived on and around the mountain. A whole network of dangerous paths allows them to reach five peaks, each of which has a religious building, such as a tea house. Together these five peaks form the petals of the lotus. The trails have been strengthened due to the recent influx of tourists, but they are still very dangerous and have a bad reputation. They say up to 100 people a year fall from these trails.