Is the Huashan plank walk open?
The Huashan plank walk, known in Chinese as Changkong Zhandao, is closed. The West cable car operator announced on 14 September 2026 that the plank walk and the neighbouring Yaozi Fanshen would shut from 15 September 2026 for a general overhaul and better safety equipment. The notice says the sections will reopen only after the work is finished and accepted, and that a date will follow. It does not give one.
So do not build a Mount Hua day around the plank walk, and do not trust older route plans that still list it as a highlight. Those were written before the closure. The rest of the mountain was described as open in the same notice, but weather can still close sections, so check the day before you go.
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Mount Hua tours and cable car trips
Day trips from Xi'an and ticket bundles for the mountain. Check each listing for what it includes before you book.
Where it is
The plank walk sits on the east side of the South Peak.
It is a path of wooden boards fixed to a sheer rock face with iron brackets and chains. You walk out along the wall and come back the same way, because the path is not a loop. You do not have to walk it to reach the South Peak, which is the highest of the five summits at 2,154.9 m. Visitors who skip it still get the ridge views, the stairs and the temples on the summit routes. For the summits themselves see the five peaks of Mount Hua.
Yaozi Fanshen
Yaozi Fanshen is a second harness attraction with the same closure date. It is a separate thing from the stairs and ridges that most hikers use, and it is not part of reaching any of the peaks.
Time before the closure
Before the closure, plan about 1.5 hours for the return walk and a possible wait of 1.5 to 3 hours before the closure. These are old figures; do not use them for planning.
Fees
The 30 CNY figure was a pre-closure price. No new fee has been published for after the rebuild, so treat it as history.
Rules before the closure
These come from a notice dated 2 September 2024 and are history, not current rules.
That notice described booking in the main summit area, with reservations for 2 to 5 people and no single bookings. Height limits were over 150 cm for the plank walk and over 160 cm for Yaozi Fanshen, and visitors had to be over 15 and under 55 years old. It excluded people with a fear of heights, heart disease or high blood pressure, and anyone barefoot, in unsuitable shoes, with pets or with dangerous items. Staff instructions had to be followed.
It is open whether these rules will carry over after the rebuild. If the path reopens, expect new conditions and check the notice that comes with it.
Is it dangerous?
It is an exposed path on a vertical wall, and it was built for people who are comfortable with that. Anyone with a fear of heights should skip it, and the earlier rules said so directly. Treat it as a risky activity rather than a safe one, and keep in mind that this site quotes no accident figures.
It also helps to keep the terms apart. Most routes on Mount Hua are ordinary stone paths, stairs and narrow ridges, and they are not all via ferrata routes. The harness attractions are the special case. If you want a demanding walk without harness equipment, the Mount Hua hiking routes cover the stair climb from Yuquan Yuan and the night ascent.
What to do instead
Take the cable car to a summit and walk the ridge routes, or climb on foot. The cable car page explains the West and North lines, and the ticket page lists entry fee and opening times. The tour listings on this page describe mountain trips; read what each one includes before you book.
Huashan plank walk: frequently asked questions
Can I walk the Huashan plank walk now?
No. It has been closed since 15 September 2026 together with Yaozi Fanshen, and the operator notice gives no reopening date.
Do I need to do the plank walk to reach the South Peak?
No. The path is on the east side of the South Peak, and you can reach the summit without walking it.
Will it reopen this year?
No date has been announced. The notice only says the sections reopen after the work is finished and accepted, so plan your trip without it.
Is the Huashan plank walk safe?
It is an exposed harness path on a vertical wall and is unsuitable for anyone with a fear of heights. Follow staff instructions and the rules of the day if it reopens.
How much did the plank walk cost?
It cost 30 CNY before the closure. That is not a current fare, and no new price has been published.