“The Path of Death”, which not everyone can walk along. Death trail on Mount Huashan in Xi'an, China Mount Huashan: fatalities


The Death Trail is considered the most dangerous hiking trail in the world. Extreme sports enthusiasts from all over the world come to the foot of the mountain to which this road leads to tickle their nerves and loudly declare their courage. The whole danger of the “Path of Death” lies in the fact that it is made of narrow boards hanging over a bottomless abyss.


In order to climb Mount Hua Shan in China, you need to go along one of the most extreme roads in the world. This trail begins at its foot with steps carved directly into the mountain itself, which rise upward almost perpendicular to the surface of the earth.



But the climb up the mountain does not end on this stone path. For those who want to reach the south side of the summit, the further journey will be more dangerous. After overcoming mountain slope Along the “Heavenly Staircase” carved from stone, travelers will find its extreme continuation - a road made of wooden planks. Tourists who have any health problems are offered to get to the southern peak using a special cable car.



It is because of the second part of the road that climbing Mount Huashan is considered the most dangerous place for pedestrians.





Chains nailed down as handrails appeared relatively recently. 700 years ago, when the path was built by hermits, people climbed the mountain only on rough planks.





Mount Huashan is sacred to the Chinese. Its name is translated from Chinese as “Flower Mountain,” which is quite justified, since it unites five peaks, thus resembling the shape of a petal. In addition to the “Road of Death”, there are many less dangerous tourist routes to Huashan.



A narrow wooden path leads to the very top of Mount Huashan, which is located far beyond the town of Xi’an located at its foot.



So much effort put in by travelers on the most dangerous path in the world does not bring them untold riches. At the end of the road there is an ordinary tea house, which was once a Taoist temple. In it, travelers can rest and replenish their strength after a difficult journey.

If you can't live without thrills and just dream of a new dose of adrenaline, then the extreme “attraction” on the Chinese Mount 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 desired, reach each of the five peaks of Huashan - South, North, West, East and Central.

The most convenient way is to use the funicular and climb from the foot North 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 round trip, 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.

Many people are not ardent adherents extreme recreation, but there is a fairly decent number of fans of thrills, a chilling sense of danger and If you are one of them, then Mount Huashan in China is what you need. Walking route, known as the death trail, does not require any special technical skills, but extreme caution is required while negotiating the long train of stone steps of the so-called heavenly staircase.

The Cure for Fear

Famous for its majestic rocks (path of death) is China, which is located near the city of Xi'an (Shaanxi province). There are many breathtaking routes on offer, including ziplining, rock climbing and hiking. The climb, which is about 14 kilometers long, is accompanied by a certain amount of risk; in some places there is not even a road, but only steps carved into stone.

The preferred option for many tourists is to climb from the foot of the Northern Mountain to its top using a cable car. This saves everyone a lot of time and energy. But there is a tourist route from north to south that will make the most daring travelers simply petrify with fear or, conversely, feel a sense of wild delight.

Path of Death

The number of tourists wishing to visit the death route on Mount Huashan is not decreasing, but, on the contrary, is growing every year. Those who dare to make such an extreme journey overcome a path made of boards built over the abyss and move to the peak of the mountain, holding on well to the chains attached to the vertical rocks. There are no fences, on one side there is a powerful rock, on the other there is a bottomless abyss and a crazy wind.

Of course, there is still a minimum safety kit there, this is a belt with a small cable and a carabiner. The prize for brave climbers will be not only a wonderful view from the top of Huashan (mountain), but also a whole storm of emotions that does not leave those who managed to overcome the deadly climb alone. Climbing a dangerous path is not a one-way journey, it is a round trip, but the descent is usually a little easier, and sometimes harder, as the accumulated tension and fatigue make themselves known.

How dangerous is climbing Mount Huashan? Climbing there should not be considered as mountaineering, which involves the use of modern equipment, and therefore the definition of mountain tourism is more suitable here. In numerous photographs you can see people in ordinary clothes and without special shoes. They resemble ordinary pedestrians, only very brave ones.

Mountain traditions

There is a big difference between mountaineering and mountain tourism. Climbers have undergone appropriate training, experience and special equipment. They are also quite aware of the risks they are taking. - this is what amateurs usually do, especially since you need to be especially careful and be in good physical shape.

Those who manage to get to the very top usually leave some personal item there. For example, among couples in love it is customary to attach shiny locks and red ribbons, the abundance of which simply makes your eyes wide open. Each of those who conquered the dangerous path joyfully shares a pleasant feeling of satisfaction from the ascent. The famous one flowing far below looks like a thin trickle, and everything seems so tiny. The unforgettable, awe-inspiring view from a great height and the pictures will remind you of a crazy and exciting adventure for a long time.

Mount Huashan in China

This one is huge mountain world resembles a separate reality, its own small world. Huashan (mountain) has five peaks, the highest of which is the South Peak, which reaches 2154 meters. Eastern peak is 2096.2 meters high and is best place to watch the sun rise. The Western Peak has a height of 2082.6 meters, the Central Peak is 2037.8 meters (another name is the Jade Maiden), and the Northern Peak with a height of 1614.9 meters is also called the Terrace Cloud.

In ancient times, Mount Huashan (path of death) was called the most dangerous and steep mountain in all of China. The most famous part of the path is called the Green Dragon's Rib, flanked by two huge chasms. Covering the distance from the village to the top of the mountain takes from 6 to 9 hours, but if you wish, you can stay overnight in the village itself, where there is a small but cozy hotel.

sacred place

In the second century BC this place was large religious center, in the heart of which a Taoist temple was built. It is also a center for traditional martial arts. Many emperors came to this sacred place to pray and make a sacrifice to the God of Mount Huashan.

They say that Lao Tzu, the founder and patriarch of Taoism, once lived and preached here. Since then, pilgrims, monks and nuns began to gradually populate the mountainous surroundings. Access to five mountain peaks, each of which has important religious significance, is possible thanks to a network of narrow paths built of wood and stone. There is a tea house on one of the three peaks.

Mount Huashan: deaths

IN last years, thanks to the large influx of tourists, the paths have been more or less improved, but still the road to the peaks remains an extremely risky undertaking. Although there are no official mortality statistics, it is said that Huashan (the mountain) steals about 100 human lives every year.

Making their way along the narrow and winding path, tourists risk their lives every time. There is a high probability of receiving various types of injuries during climbing. These steep mountains under the skies are the real natural miracle. The breathtakingly sharp rocks and cliffs present a daunting challenge for those climbers who dare to conquer them. The landscape changes dramatically at every step of this winding path. There is a feeling that the beauty of the mountain has a real magical effect on everyone who visits it.

Even from the photographs taken, you can see how dangerous this route is. On some parts of the journey, it only takes one mistake to cost your life. Despite this, many tourists make an annual pilgrimage to Mount Huashan. The world-famous attraction in China, Huashan - Death Mountain, is not free. Entrance to the mountain costs about $30 dollars ($15 for students).

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. The whole network 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.

Mount Huashan is one of the five sacred mountains Taoism.

Some parts of the trail are truly terrifying.

The area has been considered sacred since the second century BC.

Monks and pilgrims built these “steps” to the top of the mountain.

The trails were strengthened as the route grew in popularity among tourists.

The most high peak the mountain reaches 2160 m.

The main thing is to look where you are going... And it’s better not to look down.

In some places local residents they also cut steps right into the mountain wall.

But in other places, the only security measure is iron chains.

This trail has a bad reputation, but that hasn't stopped many adventurers from trying this dangerous road for themselves.

Of course, if the adrenaline still takes over you completely, you can always take a break and relax in the chess pavilion.

 

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