Xi'an: Mount Huashan Sacred Peaks Hiking Day Tour by Cable Car

Mount Huashan is China's most vertiginous sacred mountain, 120km east of Xi'an. Your private vehicle picks you up at 6am for the 2-hour drive. At the base, ride the West Peak cable car (Asia's longest at 7.8km) to 2,082m. Hike the ridge trail across the South Peak, North Peak, and Center Peak loop — past the famous Plank Walk in the Sky (optional, $30 surcharge), the Sky Ladder, and the chess-pavilion peak that inspired the Jin Yong wuxia novels. Easy to moderate hike on stone steps with safety chains. Mountain noodles for lunch. Return to Xi'an by 7pm. Best for fit travelers who want a proper Chinese alpine adventure.