Huashan cable car lines and fares
Two cable cars lift visitors toward the peaks of Mount Hua. The West line, also called Taihua, starts at the Wengyu and Donggoukou valley station and ends below the West Peak. The North line, also called Sante, starts at Huangfuyu and ends near the North Peak. The two lines are not connected, so a one-way ride on each is a different trip from a return on one of them.
The fares on this page come from the operator's company filing of 30 September 2025 and a press overview of 29 October 2026. The high season runs from 1 March to 30 November, the low season from 1 December to the end of February.
Our picks: Mount Hua cable car tours
The day trip with a guide covers vehicle, entry and cable car, the cable car tour adds a choice of guided or driver-only options, and the private tour puts guide and tickets in one booking.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private guided Mount Hua tour with cable car ride
- Professional tour guide
- Cable car tickets
- Entrance fee
Nine hours in an air-conditioned vehicle with hotel transfers, built for people who want guide, tickets and ride handled in one booking.
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Mount Hua cable car tour with optional Terracotta Army
- Mount Hua entrance ticket
- West Peak up, North Peak down
- Shuttles to and from the cable cars
Choose between guided and driver-only options; the two-day options add a hotel night in Lintong and the Terracotta Army ticket. Driver-only options come without a guide.
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Mount Hua day trip from Xi'an with cable car and guide
- Local tour vehicle
- Entrance, shuttle and cable car
- English-speaking guide
The cable car route depends on the option you choose, and a private option exists. The guide goes with you to the foot of the mountain but does not climb with the group.
Check availability →Huashan cable car tours and tickets
Offers that include cable car rides, from a self-guided ticket for the route you choose to private days with a driver and guide. Each card lists the cable car option it covers.
West up, North down
The classic way across the mountain.
The most common plan rides the West line up, walks between the West, South, East, Central and North peaks, and rides the North line down. The West line climbs 894 m over 4,211 m and takes about 20 minutes. The North line climbs 755 m over 1,524.9 m and takes about 10 minutes. Allow 5 to 7 hours for the whole route, which includes the stairs between the stations and the summits, so allow more if you stop often.
Other combinations also work: North up and West down, or the same line both ways. Each one adds a different amount of walking. A self-guided ticket bundle can include the West round trip, West up and North down, or the North round trip, and you pick the option when you book. See the tickets page for the price of the whole day.
If you prefer to climb under your own power, the hiking page explains the stone trail from Yuquan Yuan.
Shuttle buses to the stations
Neither station is a short walk from the visitor center.
For the West line, the company filing describes a paid special bus from the visitor center to the valley station, so do not count on a private car ride to the gondola. The West bus costs 40 CNY one way and takes about 40 minutes. The North bus takes about 20 minutes, so confirm the North bus fare on the day.
Buses and cable cars are separate tickets from the entrance fee. A self-guided ticket bundle includes the uphill bus for the route you choose, and the ride down by bus is paid separately. The getting there page explains how to reach the visitor center from Huashan North station.
Children's fares
Height counts for the cable car.
Children ride free up to 1.2 m and pay half price between 1.2 m and 1.5 m. This is the cable car height rule and it is separate from the entrance discounts for age groups listed on the tickets page. Borderline cases and the 2026 state of the rule are best clarified with staff at the station, so bring your child's height in mind when you plan.
Waiting times on busy days
No guaranteed queue length and no fast lane.
During Golden Week, 1 to 7 October 2026, the operator published special arrangements and said that queues could be long. No minute figures are given, and nothing on the mountain promises a fast track. Go early, because the visitor center for cable car visitors is open from 07:00 to 16:00 and the cable cars run until 19:00.
Wind, thunderstorms and heavy rain can stop the cable cars. In early August 2026 both lines were closed during a rain warning and ran again from 8 August at 07:00. That was a past event, but it shows why a spare day is useful.
Huashan cable car: frequently asked questions
Which cable car is cheaper?
The North line, at 80 CNY for a single ride in the high season, against 140 CNY for the West line. The North line is shorter, with a lower climb.
Can I ride up the West line and down the North line?
Yes, this is a common plan. It is a one-way ride on each line, with the walk across the peaks between them. Allow 5 to 7 hours.
Do the cable cars run at night?
No. The cable cars run from 07:00 to 19:00. From 1 March to 30 November 2026 pedestrian entry at Huashan Men is open around the clock, but that is not a night cable car.
Is the cable car included in the entrance fee?
No. Entrance, bus and cable car are separate tickets. Some bundles combine them for a chosen route.
Can I reach the plank walk by cable car?
The plank walk is closed since 15 September 2026. The cable cars do not change that, and no reopening date has been announced.