Mount Hua — Precipitous Mountain and Root of Chinese Culture

This area was the original place of important Neolithic Cultures, including Yangshao Culture (5000 BC — 3000 BC) and Hongshan Culture (4000 BC — 3000 BC).

Painted Pottery Basin of the Yangshao Culture — National Museum of China (Photo by Dongmaiying)

Since Qin Shi Huang (259 BC — 210 BC), many emperors held grand sacrificial ceremonies there, but only at the foot of the mountains.

It is located near Xi'an (120 km to the east), which had been the capital city of Qin (221 BC — 207 BC), Han (202 BC — 220 AD), Sui (581 — 619), and Tang (618 — 907) dynasties.

Mount Hua is one of the most sacred places of the Taoism Religion.

Ancient Temples on Precipitous Peak of the Mount Hua

Ancient Temples on Precipitous Peak, Photo by Yang Wenzhong.

Danger and Adventure of Climbing Mount Hua

Considering the important geographical and cultural significance, few emperors and scholars have climbed to the top of the mountains in history.

The most important reason is that dangerous, precipitous peaks made it impossible to hike the mountain.

Until the Tang Dynasty (618 — 907), people started to build roadways in the Huashan Mountains, though most were relatively narrow and difficult to use.

Today, besides taking cable cars, climbing to the top is still one of the most adventurous and dangerous hiking trails.

Narrow, Vertical Stone Stairs

Plank Walks of Mount Hua: Builders and Motivation

Taoist master He Zhizhen (1212 — 1299) built plank roads using only wooden rafters and stone nails to practice Taoism on the reclusive and mythical top.

Today's Huashan Plank Walk are strengthened version in recent decades.

The iron chains are added for visitors to hold onto, and the wooden planks are fastened and would be replaced regularly.

Plank Roads and Added Iron Chains on Cliffs of Mount Hua

Plank Roads and Added Iron Chains on Cliff Face of Huashan Mountain

Main Deities of Mount Hua

Mount Huashan is believed as a wonderful place for many celestial beings to visit or live.

Xiyue the Great, or Xiyue Dadi, is in charge of wind, rain, river, lake, metal, and alchemy.

Yellow Emperor, Taoism deity Taishang Laojun, and other immortals had visited or lived there to do alchemy, meet with different deities, or practice Taoism.

Pond Yangtianchi on Top of the Mountain, Believed the Place that Deities Take Water to Do Alchemies.
This Mythical Small Pond is Surrounded by Rocky Stones but Had Never Overflown nor Dried Up.

Important Cultural Sites of Mount Hua

Xiyue Temple

First built in 134 BC, it expanded and rebuilt several times later for emperors to worship the Deity of Mount Huashan, Xiyue the Great.

Today, many historical stone inscriptions, paintings, and other cultural relics praising the mountains are well preserved inside this ancient building ensemble.

Panoramic of Xiyue Temple at the Foot of Mount Hua

Panoramic of Xiyue Temple at the foot of Huashan Mountain, Photo by Wang Chuang.

Chess Pavilion

This is believed to be where Emperor Taizu of Song (927 — 976) played Chinese chess with Taoism master Chen Tuan (871 — 989) and lost the mountain to him.

Chess Pavilion on A Peak, Photo by Tianxin Dazhong.

Bridal Chamber

This stone cave in legend was the bridal chamber, where a hermit there and Princess Nongyu, daughter of King Mu of Qin (682 BC — 621 BC), got married.

Since then, this place has become representative of great love.