[2025 Huayin ] Travel Guide for Yaozifanshen Trail (Updated Mar)

Huashan on the sword, challenge the blind man to turn over, go to the chess pavilion must pass the road, but also the original way back. Some places are almost vertically up and down, and it is hard to find even the footholds. It is still a test of physical strength. When I stood in front of the chess pavilion, I really felt what is the infinite scenery in the dangerous peak!

🌈 Harrier Turns is located on the East Peak of Mount Hua and is the only way to reach the Chess Pavilion. Its path is carved into a steep cliff. Looking down from the cliff top, you can only see the cold chain hanging in the air, not the path itself, like a mysterious ladder hidden among the cliffs. ⛰️ To conquer it, you must face the wall and hold the chain, carefully exploring the stone holes with your toes, alternating as you descend. Each stone hole is small, requiring precise placement of your toes to gain support for the next step. Therefore, there are height requirements. The minimum is 160cm, though being slightly shorter shouldn't be a problem. However, being too tall can make the descent more challenging. 🎫 It's a separate paid activity requiring rope equipment. The rental fee is CNY 30. Tickets must be booked in advance. You can't book at the foot of the mountain beforehand; the system will only allow booking when you're near the East Peak. If you haven't booked in advance, you can only try your luck on the spot, but there are usually few tickets left. It's best to start booking when you're approaching the East Peak. 🌞 Like the Long Sky Plank Road, it's a must-do. The initial descent is thrilling, but the rest of the path isn't scary. After crossing, you'll reach the Chess Pavilion, a unique experience not accessible to all Mount Hua climbers. 📷 You can bring your phone, but it's not convenient to take photos during the climb. Staff will guide you with poses and take photos for you. The photos turn out great. Small prints are CNY 30 (no negatives), and large prints with negatives are CNY 60. We bought four for CNY 240, which I think was worth it. Since you're already at Mount Hua, why not give it a try?

Xi'an·Shaanxi Recommended attractions [One]- Historical sites [GrownHeart]- Qin Shi Huangdi Mausoleum Museum: home to the world-famous Terracotta Warriors, where you can see thousands of lifelike terracotta warriors and feel the power and glory of the Qin Dynasty.  [PurpleHeart]- Xi'an City Wall: One of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. You can rent a bicycle to enjoy the scenery inside and outside the wall.  [BlueHeart]- Shaanxi History Museum: The museum has a rich collection of ancient cultural relics, such as bronze wares from the Shang and Zhou dynasties, gold and silver wares from the Han and Tang dynasties, which can give people a deep understanding of Chinese history and culture.  [Two]- Culture and Art [GreenHeart]- Beilin Museum: It is a paradise for calligraphy lovers, focusing on collecting, researching and displaying steles, tombstones and stone sculptures from past dynasties.  [YellowHeart]- Xi'an Banpo Museum: It is the first prehistoric site museum in China, displaying the life scenes and cultural relics of the Banpo clan period.  [Three]- Natural scenery: [RedHeart]- Huashan: One of the Five Great Mountains known for its strangeness and danger, it has thrilling attractions such as the Sky Plank Road and the Kitesurfing, and you can also enjoy the magnificent sunrise and sea of ​​clouds.  [OrangeHeart]- Zhongnan Mountain: One of the birthplaces of Taoism, it has beautiful mountains and charming scenery. There are many Taoist temples and natural landscapes, which are suitable for hiking and leisure tours.  Food recommendations: - Noodles 🥙- Roujiamo: Made with minced braised meat sandwiched between Baiji steamed buns, the buns are crispy and the meat is fragrant, leaving a lasting aftertaste. Qinyu Roujiamo is recommended. 🍜- Oil-Splashed Noodles: Handmade noodles are added with chopped green onions, chili powder and other seasonings, poured with hot oil, and then mixed well. It has a chewy texture and is spicy and delicious. - Snacks 🍝- Cold noodles: There are many types such as sesame sauce cold noodles and Qinzhen cold noodles. They have a smooth texture and are served with chili oil, vinegar and other seasonings. They taste sour and spicy and are appetizing. 🥞- Zenggao: It is steamed from glutinous rice, red dates or candied dates. It has bright color, is soft and sticky. You can taste the authentic Zenggao in places like Sajinqiao. - Special dishes: 🍲- Mutton soup with steamed bun: rich in ingredients and mellow in flavor, tender meat and thick soup, with smooth steamed bun tendons. When eating, you need to break the steamed bun into pieces and cook it in the soup. Old brands such as Lao Sun's Restaurant and Tong Sheng Xiang are recommended. 🥘- Gourd Chicken: Golden red in color, crispy skin and tender meat, fragrant and mellow in taste, it is a traditional famous dish in Xi'an. Accommodation suggestions: [Hotel]- Near the Bell Tower and Drum Tower: convenient for transportation, many attractions around, and close to Muslim Street, Kaiyuan Mall, etc., such as Xi'an Bell Tower Yongningmen Yazhi Hotel. [Mall]- Near Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps: The environment is beautiful, and you can enjoy the night view of Tang Dynasty City That Never Sleeps at night. It is close to Shaanxi History Museum and other attractions, such as the Westin Xi'an Hotel. Itinerary Planning [Calendar] [One]- Three-day Tour - Day 1: Arrive in Xi'an in the morning, check in to the hotel and go to the Bell and Drum Tower, then go to Muslim Street to taste the food, climb the Xi'an City Wall in the afternoon, and enjoy the night view of the city wall in the evening. - Day 2: Visit the Qin Shi Huangdi Mausoleum Museum, go to Huaqing Palace in the afternoon, and watch the performance of "Song of Everlasting Regret" in the evening. - Day 3: Visit Shaanxi History Museum, and go to Big Wild Goose Pagoda and Tang Dynasty City that Never Sleeps in the afternoon to experience the culture of the heyday of the Tang Dynasty. [Two]- Five-day tour: - Day 1: Same itinerary as the first day of the three-day tour. - Day 2: Visit the Terracotta Warriors, Huaqing Palace, and Mount Li, and watch the performance of "Song of Everlasting Regret" in the evening. - Day 3: Head to Huashan for a day trip. You can choose to hike or take the cable car according to your own needs. - Day 4: Visit Xi'an Museum and Small Wild Goose Pagoda, and go to Daming Palace National Heritage Park in the afternoon. - Day 5: Visit Yongxingfang, experience the intangible cultural heritage and taste the food, then go to Defu Lane, Shuyuanmen and other places to feel the cultural atmosphere of Xi'an.

✨As a lazy person who "would never climb a mountain if you can hang out" You can even easily get the beautiful sunrise at the top of Mount Huashan Hurry up and collect this super labor-saving guide👇🏻 ⛰【Zero Climbing Sunrise Route】 🌅Sunday Viewpoint: West Peak Cableway Top/East Peak Observation Deck (30 minutes in advance) 🚠 Lazy Cableway: Choose "West Peak Cableway"! 20 minutes through the sea of ​​clouds, the carriage is fully transparent super shocking ⏰Timeline: 15:00 Arrive in Huayin County straight to fat woman meat dumplings 16:30 West Peak Cableway up the mountain (💰140/one way) 17:30 Check-in at West Peak/East Peak Hotel (book 1️⃣ week in advance!) 5:00 Wake up and rush to the sun viewing spot (in a down jacket!) 6:00 Orange cloud sea rolls + sunrise blockbuster is born! 📸【Photo Spot】 1️⃣ West Peak Cable Car: Overhead shot of the cliff under your feet + overhead shot of the clouds above your head 2️⃣ East Peak Sunrise: Take a side silhouette + open arms back 3️⃣ Long Sky Canyon: No challenge can borrow a place to pose 💡Tips: ✅ Check the Huashan weather forecast in advance! You can see the sunrise first on a sunny day ✅ Cableway tickets + tickets in advance at "Huashan Scenic Area" green bubble 🫧 ✅ Simple accommodation conditions on the mountain, bring disposable sheets/wet wipes ✅ After watching the sunrise, it is recommended to go down the mountain from the North Peak Cableway (💰80), and see Canglong Ridge along the way 🍜【List of Surrounding Foods】 ▪️ Meng Kee Da Dao Noodles: Spicy oil splash noodles fragrant to stamp your feet! ▪️Huayin crystal cake: downhill souvenir TOP1 ▪️Old Tongguan Meat Dumplings: Crispy to the point of falling off the crumbs of mille-feuille dumplings ▪️Cumin baked dumplings at the night market: double happiness of carbohydrates + carbohydrates Hurry up and accept this lazy romance!

Please 🙏 visit Mount Hua, no matter the occasion. You'll be amazed!! ✅Must-see attractions: 1️⃣Long Sky Plank Road (east side of South Peak): The most dangerous trail on Mount Hua. Safety ropes are required. A must-try for thrill-seekers! It's incredibly nice!! 2️⃣Harrier Turns Back (East Peak): Climb a vertical cliff for a thrilling experience. Leads to the Chess Pavilion. 3️⃣蒼龍嶺 (Cānglónglǐng) (from North Peak to Five Cloud Peak): A narrow ridge resembling a dragon's back, with cliffs on both sides. Every step is thrilling, and the experience is truly special. 4️⃣Sunrise at East Peak: The best sunrise viewing spot. Recommended for night climbers or those staying overnight on the mountain. It's exceptionally beautiful. 5️⃣Lotus Peak (West Peak): Legend says this is where Chen Xiang split the mountain to save his mother. The sunset views are stunning. ✅Recommended climbing routes ✔️✔️Classic hiking route (suitable for those in good physical condition) ✔️Route: Jade Spring Temple (starting point) → Thousand-Foot Building → Hundred-Foot Gorge → North Peak → 蒼龍嶺 (Cānglónglǐng) → East Peak (sunrise) → South Peak (highest peak) → West Peak → Middle Peak → Descent ✔️Duration: Approx. 8–10 hrs (night climbing for sunrise requires a pre-dawn start). ✅Transportation guide 🚆Xi'an → Mount Hua 📍High-speed rail: Xi'an North Station → Mount Hua North Station. A 10-min taxi ride from the station to the visitor center. 📍Bus: Xi'an East Bus Station → Mount Hua Visitor Center. Takes longer, not recommended if you're short on time. 📍Car: Navigate to "Mount Hua Visitor Center." Parking lot fees are approx. CNY 20–30/d. ✅Accommodation recommendations 🏚Mountaintop accommodation (convenient for sunrise viewing): 📍East Peak Hotel, West Peak Hotel (dorm beds CNY 150–300/person, standard rooms CNY 600–1,000+). 🏚Accommodation at the foot of the mountain: 📍Hotels/B&Bs near the visitor center (CNY 100–300/night, great value). Recommended! ✅Important notes 1️⃣Safety first: Assess your physical abilities before attempting dangerous trails. Some attractions are closed during rain/strong winds. 2️⃣Recommended gear: Non-slip athletic shoes, gloves, warm clothes for nighttime, headlamp (for night climbing). 3️⃣Supplies: Prices on the mountain are high (water CNY 10/bottle). Bring your own high-calorie snacks. 4️⃣Check the weather forecast in advance and avoid holiday crowds. 5️⃣Pick up a scenic map at the entrance or use your phone's navigation.