The Mountain

Not far from Xi'án is Mt Hua Shan, having read a little about it and with a lot of trekking planned for Nepal we thought a day in the mountains would be great. After a couple of hours on the bus there all I wanted to do was get out and stretch my legs. It is 6km to the North Peak - one of the five and although you can take the cable car to the top this kinda felt like cheating. We Could have taken a more vertical and precarious route - but having booked a trek in Nepal already I decided I'd like to live long enough to be able to do that.

The route we chose begins quietly along side the river - which all sounds lovely until it heads quite violently up hill. Clearly I was aware that this was going to occur, but it was still quite hard work. 4km in and you reach the stairs - it is then literally 2km of steps going up and up and up!! In some places the steps were huge and clinging on to the chain either side of the path was the best way to find your way up! On one very steep and narrow section we ran into a few people heading down - no passing places had been built in so rather precarious leaning and holding tight were the best plan!

Yes, this is me.. and yes, I did make it!

3 1/2 hours later and we were at the summit of the north peak! I would like to tell you this was a quiet and enjoyable moment to take in the views, but as it turned out this was where the many Chinese tourists had clambered out of the cable car! I dont think they had the same feeling of achievement as I did'... definitely their legs did not ache in quite the same way!

The view was very impressive...and I had made it! I would very much have liked another 4-5 hours to visit the other 4 peaks. But the many many stairs and lack of time meant that we had to begin the descent in order to catch the last bus back to Xi'án - we almost missed it, but managed to flag it down from the side of the road!

If you ever get to Xi'án you really should go here!