There are three more steep sections between the Taoist shrine Yuquanyuan and the Northern Peak – namely Qianchichuang (thousand-foot stela), Baichixia (hundred-foot gorge) and Laojun Ligou (Laojun furrow). Qianchichuang is a crevasse between two huge rocks. The trek is on a 70 degree angle slope and consists of 370-odd steps, each extremely narrow. Climbers proceed with the help of iron chains along both sides of the rock walls. As the crack goes deep between the rocks, only a ribbon of sky is visible when looking up.

Baichixia is a section of stone steps between two escarpments, between which hangs a huge monolith named Heart-quake Stone that appears to be falling from the skies. It gives access to scenic spots such as the Immortal Bridge and Black Tiger Ridge.

The deep, dangerous Laojun Ligou climb comprises 570 or more steps, hidden amid steep cliffs. Legend has it that Taoist immortal Taishang Laojun, or Supreme Lord, found his way there but could not get out, and so had his ox build the trekking trail through the night.

Because of a light rain, which makes climbing even more perilous, I took the western cable car line to the West Peak, whose huge stones resemble a lotus. The West Peak is connected to the South Peak by the dragon-shaped Quling Range – another highly challenging climbing route.

Rich Cultural Heritage

As it was raining when we climbed Mount Hua we decided for safety’s sake not to brave the steep treks. But we made the most of the mountain’s cultural sites. The main reason why Mount Hua is one of China’s Big Five mountains is the bond it represents with Chinese history and culture.

Mount Hua is one of the cradles of Chinese culture. Certain archaeologists and contemporary scholars believe that terms such as Zhonghua, Huaxia (both meaning China in a cultural sense), and Huaren (meaning Chinese people) all derive from the name of Mount Hua, because they contain the Chinese character hua.

Historical documents show that many celebrated personages have left their footprints on the mountain. More than 4,000 years ago, the Yellow Emperor and sagely kings Yao and Shun all offered sacrifices to Mount Hua. Rulers of the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties of 3,000 years ago would pray on Mount Hua every year. After Qinshihuang, first emperor of a unified China, instituted the ceremony honoring Mount Hua, emperors of succeeding dynasties over the course of 2,000 or more years conducted large-scale ceremonies paying homage to the mountain. Eminent rulers such as Emperor Wudi (156-87 BC) of the Han Dynasty, Empress Wu Zetian (624-705) and Emperor Xuanzong (685-762) of the Tang Dynasty and Emperor Qianlong (1711-1799) of the Qing Dynasty all went to Mount Hua to offer sacrifice.

Since the Sui (581-618) and Tang (618-907) dynasties, famous men of letters in Chinese history such as Du Fu and Li Bai have written 1,000 or more poems, articles and travelogues dedicated to Mount Hua. On our climb we saw many inscriptions on cliff faces and stones that give insight into the development of Chinese characters, and styles of calligraphy denoting different periods.