Hua Shan's Chess Pavilion: A Thrilling China Climb
Forget the Plank Walk - This Secret Mount Hua Climb is WAY Scarier!!
I woke up on top of the world at Mount Hua’s West Peak and started the day with one of the scariest (and most underrated) hikes in China: the Chess Pavilion climb. Forget the famous plank walk — this vertical cliffside trail had no safety rails and barely any room to breathe. It felt like a climb straight into the clouds.
After surviving the Chess Pavilion, I made my way to the North Peak and hiked down to the cableway, exhausted but hyped. From there, I took the train back to Xi’an, where I ended the night at the stunning Datang Everbright City (a.k.a. the Great Tang Mall).
The lights, the energy, the insane night-time vibe — and yes, the LED rain showers — made it feel like I stepped into a futuristic dream. This might be one of the wildest travel days I’ve ever had!
