Mount Huashan Day Tour: Four Peaks & Local Dinner

You hike four separate peaks on your own, with your guide waiting at each summit to brief you before you move on.

A private day tour from Xian to Mount Huashan combines cable car access to the North Peak with self-guided hiking across four summits, where you choose how many peaks to tackle based on your fitness and the day's conditions. Your English-speaking guide provides route information in advance, meets you at each peak, and leads the descent. The day ends with a traditional Chinese dinner before hotel return. The tour departs early morning and runs roughly nine hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Mount Huashan hiking and local food

• Pick up from hotel in Xi’an
• Drive two hours to Mount Huashan
• Take shuttle bus and cable car to summit
• See stone inscription of "Competition on Mountain Huashan"
• Hike and explore four peaks independently
• Pass Gold Lock Pass and optionally buy golden lock
• Return to North Peak to meet guide
• Take cable car and shuttle bus down
• Enjoy local snack banquet at restaurant
• Transfer back to hotel

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Xian hotel around 7:30am, followed by a two-hour drive to Mount Huashan. A shuttle bus and cable car carry you to the North Peak summit, where you'll see the stone inscription of "Competition on Mountain Huashan" from Jin Yong's famous kung fu novel. From there, the hiking is yours to shape: your guide gives you detailed information about the route and the four peaks, then you set your own pace and decide which summits to visit based on how you're feeling and what the mountain conditions allow. The hike typically takes two to four hours and involves steep paths and long steps.

As you move between peaks, you'll pass through the Gold Lock Pass, where many travelers buy a golden lock to fasten onto the iron chains: a tradition meant to bring safety and health. Your guide meets you at each peak to confirm you're on track and ready for the next section. Around 5pm, you return to the North Peak to meet your guide, then take the cable car and shuttle bus back down together. Bring your own lunch, since restaurants aren't available on the mountain. One bottle of mineral water is provided.

After descending, you head to a local restaurant for a traditional Chinese dinner to refuel after the climb. The tour wraps up with a transfer back to your hotel, arriving around 8pm. All transportation (the drive to and from Xian, the shuttle bus, the cable car, and the return transfer) is included in a private air-conditioned vehicle with your guide.

What’s included

• All private transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle from your Xian hotel.
• North Peak cable car and shuttle bus access up and down the mountain.
• entrance ticket to Mount Huashan.
• English-speaking guide for the full day.
• one bottle of mineral water.
• and a traditional Chinese dinner at a local restaurant after the hike.

Options for this experience

2 options

Round trip to North Peak, going up and coming downGuide in English · 08:30Private tour: this package covers a private transfer, a tour guide, a round-trip North Peak shuttle bus and cable car. Pickup is included.

Round trip to West Peak, going up and coming downGuide in English · 08:30Private tour: this package covers a private transfer, a tour guide, a round-trip West Peak shuttle bus and cable car. Pickup is included.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (7 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 6 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersInfants must sit on laps

Operated by China Travel Service

Is this one for you?Choose the North Peak option if you want cable car access that gets you to the summit quickly and leaves most of your day for exploring the four peaks on your own. Pick the West Peak option if you prefer a different starting point and route. Either way, the private guide and vehicle mean no coordinating with other travelers, and the early morning departure lets you make the most of daylight on the mountain.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 6 years); Infant (under 3): free.

Can I choose which peaks to climb on Mount Huashan?

Yes. Your guide briefs you on the four peaks and the route before you start hiking, and you decide how many to visit based on your physical condition and the day's mountain conditions. Most hikes take two to four hours across steep terrain.

What's included in the Mount Huashan tour from Xian?

The tour includes all private transfers by air-conditioned car, the North Peak cable car and shuttle bus up and down, entrance fees, an English-speaking guide, one bottle of mineral water per day, and a traditional Chinese dinner after the hike. Lunch on the mountain is not included, so bring your own food.

What time does the tour start and end?

Pickup from your Xian hotel is around 7:30am. After the hike and dinner, you're returned to your hotel around 8pm, making it a full nine-hour day.

Is the guide with me the whole time I'm hiking?

Your guide provides route information before you start, then meets you at each peak to check in and brief you on the next section. The hiking itself is self-guided, so you move at your own pace across the four summits.

What should I know about the hike difficulty?

The hike involves steep paths and long steps and typically takes two to four hours. You need at least a moderate level of physical fitness. The tour is not recommended for travelers with leg problems, back issues, heart conditions or other serious medical concerns, or for pregnant women.