Here’re more photos from my first day and night on Huashan ( 华山), one of China’s five great sacred mountains. It holds a special place in Chinese history as a place of worship for Taoists and Buddhists, so much so that even emperors came to pay their respects though presumably they did not actually climb to the top. There are temples and shrines scattered on the top, and on the way up.
The popular East Peak, where hikers often overnight at or hike in the night to watch the sunrise. This view is from the Immortal Palm Cliff.
The West Peak, where I watched the sunset from.
South Peak, the highest point on Huashan at 2,154 meters.
Sunset from West Peak.
At West Peak.
The path to West Peak. It’s a precarious walk since those rails are the only thing between you and a quick fall over the edge, but the trail is not as slippery as it seems.
South Peak.
Small temple near West Peak.
Pine forest atop Huashan.
The sky turns dark as I descend.
This is West Peak as seen from Immortal Palm Cliff in the evening. It’s the exact same view in the first photo.
This is at the edge of the path to West Peak.
West Peak is right at the top; I cut my hand on that treacherous steel chain as I was climbing down the steps. It was a small cut but it kept bleeding for a long time. I was even a little fearful I might have gotten tetanus.
Even on a holy mountaintop late in the afternoon, you’ll see construction going on. I encountered this as I went up South Peak.
My Take 