Most foreign tourists always visit China's cities. China has countless natural beauty and places of interest (many of which are world class) that are actually more worth visiting.
No one talks about the workers who dug those steps in the mountain face and put all the bolts in the walls to attach the cables. Hats off to them and their bravery
The plank walk was built centuries ago by Taoist monks to commute to their temples. Back then they had no safety harnesses they just did it one plank at a time
This was an ancient walkway uses by Taoist priests. Back then there were no safety harnesses, no barriers nor steel steps. Just rocks, stone steps and wooden planks which the priests built.
I second that 100%. I’m from South Dakota and I couldn’t tell you how many times in school and wherever I’ve seen documentaries about carving Mt. Rushmore and it’s amazing the balls those guys had. Literally hanging off sheer cliff faces lighting dynamite and using jackhammers back in the early 1900s has always been insane to me. It takes special people to do things like that. To be fair though I’m not a fan of defacing nature in that manner but I assume it least in this case it was probably more about providing a trail for villagers to get back and forth
The original version only had wooden boards, no safety ropes, and no other auxiliary tools. So you can imagine that the mental and physical qualities of those people in the past were very amazing. Those people devoted themselves to practicing martial arts and spiritual practice.
I did the plank walk around 20 years ago. Can you imagine there was no hook by then. You just walked through with bare hands. Still couldn’t believe I have done this
Hi Joel, please read this comment carefully if you ever consider come back Mount Hua. Firstly, best time to climb is summer. If you spend a night there, you'll see fireflies around the valley. But do bring enough clothes coz sometimes it snows during the night even in summer. Yes. snows. Secondly, the best route is to climb up on foot, starting early morning, to the west peak. so that you won't miss the stunning view on the way, which I think it the best part of Mount Hua. and remember to reach west peak before sunset, coz you can watch one of the best sunsets there. after that, you can go to the same hostel and take a short break. Do you know why there are noisy people during night? Because they are getting ready for the stunning sunrise at the East Peak. So get up at 3'am and put on your warmest jacket, then go to the East Peak, there you are going to watch the red sun rising from ocean of clouds. Amazing view. After that, you can either take a cable or a roller-coaster (yes you are reading it right) to get down to the ground. Another stunning point that you have missed is a place called "edge of eagle". Trust me, it is even more breath taking than the plank walk. This mountain is called Mount Hua because it has five peaks and looks like a flower from the top. You have explored only two peaks so definitely worth coming back. Love your video!
and remember don't climb the mountain during night. You will miss all the view on the way~ Many taxi drivers or tour guides may persuade you to climb during night, only for their benefits. Do climb during daytime.
No, Hua isn't flower but Hua as in 华. They are 2 different characters and different meanings. Still a cute way to remember the name of the mountain though. Also thank you for your guide! Next time I will use it.
I climbed Hua Shan on the night of 2009, starting at 11pm, reaching the top of the mountain at about 4am, and watching the beautiful sunrise, which is definitely an unforgettable memory.
I climb this mountain when I was in university. Back then, There is no cable tram or any safety harness except steel chains along the road. I start climb from bottom of mountain around 7:00 pm and reach south peak around 4:00am to watch sun rise. It is most dangerous and rewarding hike I experience .
@@Harry-hyl The original version only had wooden boards, no safety ropes, and no other auxiliary tools. So you can imagine that the mental and physical qualities of those people in the past were very amazing. Those people devoted themselves to practicing martial arts and spiritual practice.
@@edidervishi7102 Yeah, it looks like it has been "upgraded" a lot. For example, where he traverses those deep stone steps notched into the rock you can see old, eroded holes that seem to be where the wooden supports for the original plank walkway might have been anchored. I guess those old unreliable boards weren't a real plus for this as a tourist destination!
This is the best mountain I even been, I was there 25 years ago and climbed from 9:00pm and reached the north peak at 5：00am next day without taking any cable car, then walk around to the other 4 peaks then went to the botton, finally when I reached my home, I took a rest for one week. there are millions and millions stairs there. if you took the cabe car, you have no experience about how crazy it is. it was definitely the best memories in my life. sometimes when I have a hard time, I always recalled I did climbed mountain Hua. now I'm 48, I don't know if I can still do that again
hey man i dont know if your are chinese or not? but my dad did the exact same thing as you when he was young, and he told me the exact same story as you did. he walked all the way up during the middle of the night to see the sunrise, and got really ill for an whole week from the tiredness. i almost thought my dad wrote this comment, but he does not speak a word of english. what an amazing world.💙
When I was in college, I went to Xi'an with my classmates. We were unsure about climbing Mount Hua, and my parents didn't agree with me going because they thought it was too dangerous. It ended up raining the whole time we were in Xi'an, so I easily decided not to go without any hesitation. Watching your video, I felt nervous along with you, and I couldn't help but gasp at the thrilling parts. Unfortunately, the fog hid some of the best views. It was a very interesting video! By the way, the people who built the mountain paths on Mount Hua are amazing！！！
Thank you so much, I really appreciate this 🙌🏼 It's such a beautiful mountain such a shame about the views, when it was clear the views were absolutely incredible! I hope more people visit Mount Hua from abroad!
Thanks for the sharing👍 I visited HuaShan 32 years ago when I was 22 and also walked along the “most dangerous” / “most scary” trail - The Death Trail. You know what, at that moment, there was no safety harness for us. We were walking with bare hands. But I can still bring along my single lens reflex film camera with me and took many scary photos.😬
It's absolutely mad for the danger you put yourself into climbing huashang. I am glad you are back in one piece and I bet you won't forget it the rest of your life !
It's scary but not dangerous at all. You are double attached to a steel wire that is embedded in the stones a lot. There is no way it will break unless the steel wire corrodes and you can see corrosion.
China is such an incredible country: massive, extremely diverse, rich with history and cultures. It is refreshing to see you show the country without politics or government things. To see the regular life is good. Most of us all over the planet have a regular life in general. We all eat, sleep, work, have family and friends. We all come from somewhere we grew up. We all have interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes, and feelings, thoughts and dreams. We are ALL much more alike than not. Subbed :)
I have been to China twice on tours. I was treated with respect and honoured by the people I have met. Hopefully I can go there again in my future. Thank you to all my Chinese friends.@@clarezhao3071
In the summer Chinese people usually climbed the mountain during the night, the next morning first watch the sunrise, and then other activities, by noon going downhill…… I have been to the mountain in 1986 when there’s no cable cars, no protection gears while walking on the plank road…..
Think about their ancestors do the same hike without morden equipments hundreds of years ago. Then think about some of their ancestors who managed building the plank path first. Dude...Thats wild...
Many Americans don't know the most dangerous portions of their transcontinental railroad system were built by the cheap labors from China in the 19th century.... and a decade after the railroad was built the Chinese exclusion act was passed... Lol
Maybe the bad weather is a blessing, if there were no cloudy clouds blocking your view, you would feel more horrible. But I still admire your courage, because even many Chinese people dare not go to the Huashan Plank Road.
There used to be no protective gears at this plankwalk a bit more than 10 years ago when I visited Changkong Plankwalk at Huashan Mountains. There was only that thick iron chain and you could only survive by holding onto it with your bare hands. It was said that there were always fatalities there every year until they installed the protective gears and put up managements to make sure everybody comes back safe.
My previous company offered a free trip to Mount Hua once a year. Employees who chose not to go received a consolation of 2000 RMB (300 USD), which was a substantial amount at the time. I never went because I was afraid. See, being timid can even help you make money!
The cloudy weather actually is better than sunny days to walk on the plank. At least you cannot see the stuff under the cliff... 😂😂 Sunny days are more horrible
I believe you are one of first westerners/RUclipsrs who managed to climb the most dangerous Hua mountain in China…what an incredible achievement! Well done, mate!👍🍻🎉🎉🎉
15 Avatar Mountains in China Zhang jia jie （张家界） 湖南省 Hunan Province Shu nan Bamboo sea （蜀南竹海） 四川省 Si chuan Province Chuan xi Bamboo sea （川西竹海） 四川省 Si chuan Province Jiu zhai gou（九寨沟）四川省 Si chuan Province Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海） 江苏省 Jiang su Province YI xing Bamboo sea （宜兴竹海） 江苏省省 Jiang su Province Ge tu he （格凸河） 贵州省 gui zhou Province Gui ling （桂林） 广西省 Guang xi Province Ba ma （巴马） 广西省 Guang xi Province Qi xian ling Sanya （七仙岭） 海南省 Hai nan Province San qing shan （三清山）江西省 jiang xi Province Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海）江苏省 jiang su Province Huang shan （黄山）安徽省 An hui Province Baizhangji Scenic Area （ 百丈漈 ） 浙江省 Jiang su Province wu gong mountains （武功山 ） 江西省 jiang xi Province
10:53 I think people got up early because they want to hike to the East Peak to watch the sun rise. The best strategy to hike Mount Huashan is 1) get to the West Peak by noon of Day 1, check in a hostel, do the plank walk if weather permits, watch sunset if you finish the plank walk early, also weather permits. 2) Get up early on Day 2 and hike to the East Peak to watch the sun rise, then hike to the South Peak (the highest peak) to complete the slam. This takes a lot of stamina and luck because you can't control the time. Additional itinerary for the diehards: there are 72.5 caves around the Huashan Park. Check them all out if you like 😂
Another reason why it’s relatively empty is because it’s actually quite expensive. If you add up the bus rides, entrance tickets and gondola rides, I think it comes out to be something like 500rmb per person, which is a lot more expensive than other public attractions
Thank you so much for posting this video of your hike on the Huashan Plank hike. Now I don't need to do it myself. I can just watch videos like yours from the comfort of my home. Even viewing these videos of the hike is scary.
it is scary, but not dangerous because facility. if it is dangerous, it will not open for tourist. you should know why he said only phone is allowed to take by him. because China government afraid someone suicide in this place.
@@isaacbauman8174It could simply be because with complicated cameras and video recorders, it could clog up the queue and they don’t want people waiting on cliff edges for someone to finish putting away all that equipment. Some people might be having anxiety attacks and need to get moving and off quickly.
A a Chinese, I never visited Huashan Plank Walk, this year I will plan a trip there, this video really gave some useful guidance for me, enjoy your stay in China, bro😀
I climbed Hua Shan the summer of 1990 before any cable cars or crowds. My GF and I spent the night at the top in a temple with some funny Daoist priests (I speak Chinese at an advanced level). Was there a plank walk at the time? I doubt it but opportunities certainly existed for falling into the void.
@@红苹果 The fact is that this very dangerous road was built 700 years ago. The safety measures in the video such as the steel cables were indeed built recently, but the road was built long ago and has been continuously maintained by local residents and the government. As a modern Chinese, I am a little confused as to why these ancient Chinese would rather risk falling off the cliff to build a road to the top of this mountain.
@@corvo6568 The hiking trail(which is quite dangerous indeed, but not as insane) was built 700 years ago, not the plank walk. The plan walk was constructed in late 1990s for tourists, that's why it doesn't lead to anywhere and you have to make a uturn back to where you start
@@kevintang5473 No. The plank walk was there hundreds years ago. It is called 长空栈道（Sky high plank-walk） and the plank walk actually leads to a Tao Temple at the end of the walk. He may have missed it. 长空栈道的尽头是一座小道观，看完了之后原路回。长空栈道也有几百年历史了。只有安全带是最近二十年装的。
Thanks for taking me to this freaking crazy scene. I stay in Hong Kong and didn't know such an adventurous place. China is definitely a must-go place in lifetime and welcome!
Great video. The intro travel stuff leading to the plank walk was terrific and I'm sure useful to others headed there. I'm going to go watch your other videos too. The cinematography was perfect as was the narrative. Thank you !
Friend, your video has gained more than one million plays and more than 100,000 likes on China's social media bilibili.If you can open an account, you will gain a lot of China fans.❤
@@Rav01508 He certainly has a job and he is doing it, can't you tell? For someone who truly dislikes China, he won't even watch the video let alone read the comments. It is reasonable to believe he actually got paid for it.
Gotta admit, kind of jealous lol, I made it all the way to the door and then a storm rolled in, but I'm so happy that you were able to share your experience with us. Cheer!
The mountain being so high has its own ecosystem as many tall mountains do, thus it’s often enshrined in clouds and rains a lot. When we were there we met some photographers stationed at the base of the mountain waiting for people up there to tell them that the clouds had lifted. Hilarious.
oh I did that hike about 10 years ago. It was alright. You seem way more prepared than me. I did it in jeans and brought a bottle of water. good stuff!
I think you can open an account on Chinese social media（such as bilibili) ，and upload your videos of traveling in China, because the quality of your videos has surpassed many Chinese youtubers, and I think it will make you very popular in China。
It is very rare for foreigners to find the opportunity to travel to Mount Huashan. Btw, there is always wireless internet on this mountain, tourist area. A nice video bro.
I visited Mount Hua in April this year. I arrived a day early and stayed at a hotel at the foot of the mountain. The next morning, I took a cable car to the North Peak and hiked through the North, Middle, East, and South Peaks, finally descending via cable car from the West Peak. The entire hike took nearly 12 hours. I didn't get to try the Changkong Plank Trail because I went too late, and the line was too long. However, I did get to experience the Yaozi Fanshen, which was equally thrilling despite the half-hour wait. One thing puzzled me: why did you only have one safety harness? For the Yaozi Fanshen, each person is equipped with two safety harnesses. Whenever you need to change ropes, you must keep one harness attached to the rope at all times. You only unclip one harness at a time to attach it to the new rope before unclipping the other. This way, you are always secured by at least one harness. Seeing you with just one harness seemed very dangerous to me. Nevertheless, I’m glad you completed the challenge safely. Anyone who conquers the Changkong Plank Trail or Yaozi Fanshen is truly a brave soul.
Why only one harness ? Observe carefully how he pushed the hook of harness through those pegs secured on the cliff. This is a new design which does not require climber to release the hook and reattach the hook again and agin through those pegs on the cliff. Few years back I saw climbers were still using those double-hook old design to get through the plank.
Originally there were two harnesses. But after someone committed suicide after releasing both hooks in 2018, and videos about people unintentionally unclipped both harnesses went viral (including some videos on RUclips), the plank went under refit. The harness was redesigned so that it can't be detached from the security cable on the cliff.
I am glad you lived to tell the story. My palms and my forehead were sweating watching you guys. Did you say you want to go back on a clearer day in the future and do it all over again?
The view on the mountain top is just so amazing. Huashan is one of the five most famous mountains in China. It's the steepest of them all and it's really worth the challenge. !
I was there 3 weeks ago and the line was 3-4 hours wait. We only scheduled one day for Huashan so didn’t get to do the plank walk. What a shame! You have a much better strategy than us! Good job 👍
I Climbed the same route ten years ago. There wasn't as much fog as in the video. You could clearly see where you were and how far you were from the ground. My feet couldn't help shaking when I walked on the plank. I'm glad I conquered this mountain when I was young. Now I don't have the courage any more. The younger I was, the less afraid of death. Now I'm more afraid of death as I get older.
I am speechless. How much courage and strength is required to finish such dangerous walk.I visited Huashan some years ago, did some hiking, amazing experience.
Chinese people usually climb Huashan Mountain at night, because they can see the sunrise scenery, which can also reduce the fear of climbing, and go down in the daytime, which can increase the sense of accomplishment. Psychologically, there is a feeling that the path of climbing last night is crazy but the summit is successful
Wow. This brings back memories! It has also completely changed since I climbed Hua Shan in 2006. We took a local bus from Xian. We didn’t do the cable car, walked up over a few days time staying in guest houses. The plank walk was closed due to rain, but still the trekking was amazing.
I can't help but think of the workers who built the stairs. It must be an incredibly challenging job for them, and this thought makes me feel a bit sad every time...
imagine the level of danger it took to carve out and lay this path in the first place. it's children's play in comparison to walk across after the work is done
The noodles are not peanut butter but sesame sauce, Xi'an has a lot of food, but they are famous for carbohydrates, especially noodles. As a Chinese Xi'an, I am from abroad, but I would like to say that China welcomes people from all over the world to travel.
Great video, Joel! The Huashan Plank Walk looks absolutely thrilling and your footage really captures the intensity of the hike. If you haven’t been to Yunnan already, you should definitely check it out. The landscapes and culture there are breathtaking. Keep up the awesome adventures!
I'm so happy that the trip met and maybe even exceeded your expectations. On your next trip, that I'm sure you will do, it will be even more enjoyable as you'll know what to expect food and accommodation wise. I never could do it but have great admiration for those who do. Great video!
It’s such a shame that it was so cloudy and you couldn’t see over the ledge. As scary as it was, I’m sure that if you could actually look down to see how high up you was, it would have been absolutely terrifying. Thanks for sharing you adventure.
I am an adventurous guy but this is too much. But I’m glad you did this so that we can experience the thrill of near death vicariously 😉 Glad you survived Joel! Great video as usual!
This man have gained some notoriety in bilibili, but not in a bad way. He actually filmed it with phone in 1 hand, while others is holding to the rope with both hands, especially when stepping down those steel beams ladder. 😂
Mad but true story - back in the 80s/90s, the safety harness wasnt actually required. There are literally old photos of tourists just standing on the planks posing with no rope. And the even madder thing is - cameras back in the day weren't like smartphones or gopros today. That means the person taking the photo most likely had to use two hands to operate the camera, close one eye and stick the other eye right up close to the viewfinder to take the photo, taking their entire attention off of where they're standing. Insanity.
Joel. How did u manage climbing, holding on to the rail n carrying your phone? It's so dangerous! My heart thump when you show the aerial view. Great n Thanks!!
Most foreign tourists always visit China's cities. China has countless natural beauty and places of interest (many of which are world class) that are actually more worth visiting.
As a Chinese, I prefer to recommend the vast rural areas.
Can't agree again, I highly recommend Huangshan (Anhui Province)😁
Covid 💋
Totally agree. The west part of China, such as Yunan province and Xinjiang province has lots of beautiful natural scenery.
You definitely found the way to explore China, hahaha
No one talks about the workers who dug those steps in the mountain face and put all the bolts in the walls to attach the cables. Hats off to them and their bravery
Literally just people with safety ropes?
The plank walk was built centuries ago by Taoist monks to commute to their temples. Back then they had no safety harnesses they just did it one plank at a time
This was an ancient walkway uses by Taoist priests. Back then there were no safety harnesses, no barriers nor steel steps. Just rocks, stone steps and wooden planks which the priests built.
I second that 100%. I’m from South Dakota and I couldn’t tell you how many times in school and wherever I’ve seen documentaries about carving Mt. Rushmore and it’s amazing the balls those guys had. Literally hanging off sheer cliff faces lighting dynamite and using jackhammers back in the early 1900s has always been insane to me. It takes special people to do things like that. To be fair though I’m not a fan of defacing nature in that manner but I assume it least in this case it was probably more about providing a trail for villagers to get back and forth
The original version only had wooden boards, no safety ropes, and no other auxiliary tools. So you can imagine that the mental and physical qualities of those people in the past were very amazing. Those people devoted themselves to practicing martial arts and spiritual practice.
My legs are shaking just by watching your footage.
Me too 😂
Hahahaha
I’m sweating already ,that was f*ucking mental
Entering the vibrant world of Chinese 中国航拍 中国堵车 中国汉服 中国古筝 美国媳妇 俄国媳妇 youtube searc
it's really interesting
I did the plank walk around 20 years ago. Can you imagine there was no hook by then. You just walked through with bare hands. Still couldn’t believe I have done this
that's sound like a deadly walk, I took the walk in September, can't get my hand off the hook
Red Bull 🤣🤣
You're kidding, aren't you?
@@ДраганНонковићno, he doesn't
My dad did this with his brothers 20 years ago, and he sweared he'll never do this again in his life cos it rained while he was on the track😂
Hi Joel, please read this comment carefully if you ever consider come back Mount Hua. Firstly, best time to climb is summer. If you spend a night there, you'll see fireflies around the valley. But do bring enough clothes coz sometimes it snows during the night even in summer. Yes. snows. Secondly, the best route is to climb up on foot, starting early morning, to the west peak. so that you won't miss the stunning view on the way, which I think it the best part of Mount Hua. and remember to reach west peak before sunset, coz you can watch one of the best sunsets there. after that, you can go to the same hostel and take a short break. Do you know why there are noisy people during night? Because they are getting ready for the stunning sunrise at the East Peak. So get up at 3'am and put on your warmest jacket, then go to the East Peak, there you are going to watch the red sun rising from ocean of clouds. Amazing view. After that, you can either take a cable or a roller-coaster (yes you are reading it right) to get down to the ground. Another stunning point that you have missed is a place called "edge of eagle". Trust me, it is even more breath taking than the plank walk. This mountain is called Mount Hua because it has five peaks and looks like a flower from the top. You have explored only two peaks so definitely worth coming back. Love your video!
and remember don't climb the mountain during night. You will miss all the view on the way~ Many taxi drivers or tour guides may persuade you to climb during night, only for their benefits. Do climb during daytime.
但是晚上爬山可以节省体力，你这个攻略非常好，我记下了。
@@zilaiyang9424 爬上去的高度都是一样的，晚上只是因为气温降了没那么热而已。但是路上的景色才最美，晚上爬全错过了。早些年推崇晚上爬是因为第一火车一般中午才到，华山脚下商家要赚钱，刚好开钟点房让游客歇到晚上。现在高铁9点前就可以到了，完全够时间爬到西峰看日落。西峰日落东峰日出鹞子翻身和长空栈道都很值得看。
No, Hua isn't flower but Hua as in 华. They are 2 different characters and different meanings. Still a cute way to remember the name of the mountain though. Also thank you for your guide! Next time I will use it.
华 meant flower when this name was given to this mountain many many years ago.
Mad respects to the people who actually built the walk.
thanks
@@nataliezementbeisser1492 wedonotcare
@@nataliezementbeisser1492 böse in zement gebissen
it was built by some monks more than 700 years ago.
I climbed Hua Shan on the night of 2009, starting at 11pm, reaching the top of the mountain at about 4am, and watching the beautiful sunrise, which is definitely an unforgettable memory.
That sounds dangerous climbing mountain at night.😂
@@HendrickHuangmaybe less scary when you can't 🙈
@@HendrickHuang夜爬华山是最成熟的夜爬路线，全程覆盖地灯
@@HendrickHuang there are lights on the road
欢迎再来游玩
I climb this mountain when I was in university. Back then, There is no cable tram or any safety harness except steel chains along the road. I start climb from bottom of mountain around 7:00 pm and reach south peak around 4:00am to watch sun rise. It is most dangerous and rewarding hike I experience .
Idiotic bro, but glad you’re alive
@@Harry-hyl The original version only had wooden boards, no safety ropes, and no other auxiliary tools. So you can imagine that the mental and physical qualities of those people in the past were very amazing. Those people devoted themselves to practicing martial arts and spiritual practice.
@@edidervishi7102 Yeah, it looks like it has been "upgraded" a lot. For example, where he traverses those deep stone steps notched into the rock you can see old, eroded holes that seem to be where the wooden supports for the original plank walkway might have been anchored. I guess those old unreliable boards weren't a real plus for this as a tourist destination!
This is the best mountain I even been, I was there 25 years ago and climbed from 9:00pm and reached the north peak at 5：00am next day without taking any cable car, then walk around to the other 4 peaks then went to the botton, finally when I reached my home, I took a rest for one week. there are millions and millions stairs there. if you took the cabe car, you have no experience about how crazy it is. it was definitely the best memories in my life. sometimes when I have a hard time, I always recalled I did climbed mountain Hua. now I'm 48, I don't know if I can still do that again
what a pity that you didn't try "鹞子翻身“，”棋亭“。they are also famous like "长空栈道”。
hey man i dont know if your are chinese or not? but my dad did the exact same thing as you when he was young, and he told me the exact same story as you did. he walked all the way up during the middle of the night to see the sunrise, and got really ill for an whole week from the tiredness. i almost thought my dad wrote this comment, but he does not speak a word of english. what an amazing world.💙
才48，一样可以爬上去的
@@吕吕开心 Yes, I'm Chinese. I'm living in Shenzhen now. what a small world!!
@@墨迹更 当年爬山时23岁，刚刚大学毕业参加工作，同行的有几位刚从军队复员的同事，所以才有勇气从山底爬到山顶，又从山顶下到山底，东西南北中五个峰全部爬上去的。一转眼已经25年过去了，现在定居在深圳，每次去爬深圳的第一山梧桐山时，我都对孩子讲，爬这座山的难度只相当于华山的十分之一。哈哈！
The workers who built this are the real heros!
That applies to all infrastructure. Yet they are poorly paid and in precarious job conditions.
HELPING PEOPLE BE STUPID?
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx false
This is an ancient road, built by ancient people.
@@RebeccaTurner-ny1xx It was built by Daoists. They are not paid workers. They built it for their beliefs, be respectful.
Fantastic video! Great video production and editing. Thank you.
Thank you so much Alexander! This means so much! So glad you enjoyed the video, took a long time to put this together so I’m glad it payed off! :)
谢谢您的打赏。。。❤❤❤
When I was in college, I went to Xi'an with my classmates. We were unsure about climbing Mount Hua, and my parents didn't agree with me going because they thought it was too dangerous. It ended up raining the whole time we were in Xi'an, so I easily decided not to go without any hesitation. Watching your video, I felt nervous along with you, and I couldn't help but gasp at the thrilling parts. Unfortunately, the fog hid some of the best views. It was a very interesting video! By the way, the people who built the mountain paths on Mount Hua are amazing！！！
Thank you so much, I really appreciate this 🙌🏼 It's such a beautiful mountain such a shame about the views, when it was clear the views were absolutely incredible! I hope more people visit Mount Hua from abroad!
干的漂亮🤩
you went shanxi province which same like British in map@@Joelfriend
@@Joelfriend Why can't you access WeChat in China??? Thanks!
@@MarcusAurelius7777 Maybe because he don't have a Chinese SIM card
You are so brave. It would be really scary if I stood on it
it is challenge
Thanks for the sharing👍 I visited HuaShan 32 years ago when I was 22 and also walked along the “most dangerous” / “most scary” trail - The Death Trail. You know what, at that moment, there was no safety harness for us. We were walking with bare hands. But I can still bring along my single lens reflex film camera with me and took many scary photos.😬
It's absolutely mad for the danger you put yourself into climbing huashang. I am glad you are back in one piece and I bet you won't forget it the rest of your life !
It's scary but not dangerous at all. You are double attached to a steel wire that is embedded in the stones a lot. There is no way it will break unless the steel wire corrodes and you can see corrosion.
He did the cable car up, not climb it. We climbed it from the bottom of the hill for 8 hours
China is such an incredible country: massive, extremely diverse, rich with history and cultures. It is refreshing to see you show the country without politics or government things. To see the regular life is good. Most of us all over the planet have a regular life in general. We all eat, sleep, work, have family and friends. We all come from somewhere we grew up. We all have interests and hobbies, likes and dislikes, and feelings, thoughts and dreams. We are ALL much more alike than not.
Subbed :)
你说的真好！作为普通中国人，生活在中国，我很知足！我的祖先埋在这里，有亲戚有朋友，有聚会，我哭，我笑。。。从没钱到有钱，这就是人生。
I have been to China twice on tours. I was treated with respect and honoured by the people I have met. Hopefully I can go there again in my future. Thank you to all my Chinese friends.@@clarezhao3071
Without politics and government things? What are you talking about? Never heard of the CCP?
@@HaYlEeXx19 you are so amazing! You heard of the CCP！ Good Job Beta
@@HaolinYu-en8rd what a strange response to my statement.
Climbed it 30 years ago. No cable cart at the time, no harness. Was crazy
不可能没有安全带。我1988年爬过，这一段有安全带的。
There was no harness when I climbed it in 1986, and also needed to sign an agreement
@@wmcheng7706 Yup. I did in 1982.
你是真正的勇士😂
Wow, you need to have the nerve of steel to do that 🙏
The safety string was only installed in the last 10-20 years, imagine how it's like in the past
In the summer Chinese people usually climbed the mountain during the night, the next morning first watch the sunrise, and then other activities, by noon going downhill…… I have been to the mountain in 1986 when there’s no cable cars, no protection gears while walking on the plank road…..
Think about their ancestors do the same hike without morden equipments hundreds of years ago.
Then think about some of their ancestors who managed building the plank path first.
Dude...Thats wild...
The country whom ancestors built mega projects, such thousands km great wall and canal 2k+ years ago.
这个国家再漫长的历史中一直是世界第一
Many Americans don't know the most dangerous portions of their transcontinental railroad system were built by the cheap labors from China in the 19th century.... and a decade after the railroad was built the Chinese exclusion act was passed... Lol
我们的祖先自古以来就创造了很伟大的文明，以至于在中国大家觉得这样平平无奇，因为他一直都存在
You are so brave. Even just watching the video I felt so flustered.
China is amazing. Love the mountains❤
Maybe the bad weather is a blessing, if there were no cloudy clouds blocking your view, you would feel more horrible. But I still admire your courage, because even many Chinese people dare not go to the Huashan Plank Road.
我爬了两次华山，1990年和2023年，都没有去鹞子翻身和长空栈道
You are very brave to go hiking in Huashan👍👍👍! It looked so dangerous and scary😥😥😥. Glad that you enjoyed it and you made it back safely !
it is scary, but not dangerous. if it is dangerous, it will not open for tourist.
There used to be no protective gears at this plankwalk a bit more than 10 years ago when I visited Changkong Plankwalk at Huashan Mountains. There was only that thick iron chain and you could only survive by holding onto it with your bare hands. It was said that there were always fatalities there every year until they installed the protective gears and put up managements to make sure everybody comes back safe.
Now this is 100% something I’m up for! Love the adrenaline. Great video as always 🙌🏼
Thanks legend! Appreciate your supported buddy!
My previous company offered a free trip to Mount Hua once a year. Employees who chose not to go received a consolation of 2000 RMB (300 USD), which was a substantial amount at the time. I never went because I was afraid. See, being timid can even help you make money!
Where’s your girl why isn’t she coming with you on this epic journey?
The cloudy weather actually is better than sunny days to walk on the plank. At least you cannot see the stuff under the cliff... 😂😂 Sunny days are more horrible
I believe you are one of first westerners/RUclipsrs who managed to climb the most dangerous Hua mountain in China…what an incredible achievement! Well done, mate!👍🍻🎉🎉🎉
Aww thank you so much! It was such a great experience
amazing. and he is not 12 like the kids behind him or some older people in the video who did the same hike. amazing
I climbed it in 2004 before RUclips was invented. Didn’t see any westerners back then either, but already a lot of Chinese.
15 Avatar Mountains in China
Zhang jia jie （张家界） 湖南省 Hunan Province
Shu nan Bamboo sea （蜀南竹海） 四川省 Si chuan Province
Chuan xi Bamboo sea （川西竹海） 四川省 Si chuan Province
Jiu zhai gou（九寨沟）四川省 Si chuan Province
Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海） 江苏省 Jiang su Province
YI xing Bamboo sea （宜兴竹海） 江苏省省 Jiang su Province
Ge tu he （格凸河） 贵州省 gui zhou Province
Gui ling （桂林） 广西省 Guang xi Province
Ba ma （巴马） 广西省 Guang xi Province
Qi xian ling Sanya （七仙岭） 海南省 Hai nan Province
San qing shan （三清山）江西省 jiang xi Province
Nan shan Bamboo sea （南山竹海）江苏省 jiang su Province
Huang shan （黄山）安徽省 An hui Province
Baizhangji Scenic Area （ 百丈漈 ） 浙江省 Jiang su Province
wu gong mountains （武功山 ） 江西省 jiang xi Province
you are the bravest youtuber for sure . this is awesome bro
His is why I love RUclips so much. Thank you very much for taking me to a place I'd never go to myself! 😊
10:53 I think people got up early because they want to hike to the East Peak to watch the sun rise. The best strategy to hike Mount Huashan is 1) get to the West Peak by noon of Day 1, check in a hostel, do the plank walk if weather permits, watch sunset if you finish the plank walk early, also weather permits. 2) Get up early on Day 2 and hike to the East Peak to watch the sun rise, then hike to the South Peak (the highest peak) to complete the slam. This takes a lot of stamina and luck because you can't control the time. Additional itinerary for the diehards: there are 72.5 caves around the Huashan Park. Check them all out if you like 😂
What an amazing video!😮😮
I'm totally afraid of heights, this video looks really disturbing
😂
Another reason why it’s relatively empty is because it’s actually quite expensive. If you add up the bus rides, entrance tickets and gondola rides, I think it comes out to be something like 500rmb per person, which is a lot more expensive than other public attractions
Feeling scary just by watching it. Imagine how ancient Chinese built these pathway. Great man-made project!👍 Magnificent!👍
14:31 the cliff printing house is the coolest thing in the world
indeed
and dude was chilling, nothing can stop him from making money
What is that actually?
@@jiayunlee7382 IT is an instant photo printing shop run by a guy that can lay-down-snore-sleep along the cliff when idle
@@jiayunlee7382a Photo Booth I believe. Pay to get a selfie shot on premium cameras, as doing it yourself is probably way too dangerous.
People who build things like this and skyscrapers, bridges are a rare breed. It takes nerves of steel to do these types of jobs.
Thank you so much for posting this video of your hike on the Huashan Plank hike. Now I don't need to do it myself. I can just watch videos like yours from the comfort of my home. Even viewing these videos of the hike is scary.
i admire your adventurous spirit, no many people are dare to climb the most dangerous trail in the world.
Dude, I am not afraid of height but those footage you have made me want to reconsiders my fears 😂
it is scary, but not dangerous because facility. if it is dangerous, it will not open for tourist. you should know why he said only phone is allowed to take by him. because China government afraid someone suicide in this place.
关于高度的问题，我想说我在飞机上并不害怕，但是在悬崖上就很难说了😅
@@isaacbauman8174It could simply be because with complicated cameras and video recorders, it could clog up the queue and they don’t want people waiting on cliff edges for someone to finish putting away all that equipment. Some people might be having anxiety attacks and need to get moving and off quickly.
I’ve been there with my ex bf. I can only remember this 13:00 since It’s really horrible 😂any other almost forgot
A a Chinese, I never visited Huashan Plank Walk, this year I will plan a trip there, this video really gave some useful guidance for me, enjoy your stay in China, bro😀
I climbed Hua Shan the summer of 1990 before any cable cars or crowds. My GF and I spent the night at the top in a temple with some funny Daoist priests (I speak Chinese at an advanced level). Was there a plank walk at the time? I doubt it but opportunities certainly existed for falling into the void.
木板可能是近几年安装的😂
@@红苹果 The fact is that this very dangerous road was built 700 years ago. The safety measures in the video such as the steel cables were indeed built recently, but the road was built long ago and has been continuously maintained by local residents and the government. As a modern Chinese, I am a little confused as to why these ancient Chinese would rather risk falling off the cliff to build a road to the top of this mountain.
@@corvo6568 The hiking trail(which is quite dangerous indeed, but not as insane) was built 700 years ago, not the plank walk. The plan walk was constructed in late 1990s for tourists, that's why it doesn't lead to anywhere and you have to make a uturn back to where you start
@@kevintang5473 No. The plank walk was there hundreds years ago. It is called 长空栈道（Sky high plank-walk） and the plank walk actually leads to a Tao Temple at the end of the walk. He may have missed it. 长空栈道的尽头是一座小道观，看完了之后原路回。长空栈道也有几百年历史了。只有安全带是最近二十年装的。
Thanks for taking me to this freaking crazy scene. I stay in Hong Kong and didn't know such an adventurous place. China is definitely a must-go place in lifetime and welcome!
你早该来大陆了
Hong Kong have some pretty good hiking trail as well as some stunning views in them, granted not as much as in Mainland China.
香港的要多来内地旅游，大把地方玩。
Great video. The intro travel stuff leading to the plank walk was terrific and I'm sure useful to others headed there. I'm going to go watch your other videos too. The cinematography was perfect as was the narrative. Thank you !
You're very brave. Not everyone in China is brave enough to walk Mount Hua.
Friend, your video has gained more than one million plays and more than 100,000 likes on China's social media bilibili.If you can open an account, you will gain a lot of China fans.❤
So someone already stole his content to gain views without his permission. Guess this is true Chinese hospitality.
@MaximSupernov i saw u in another video spamming anti china propaganda. Get a life bro. do u have a job?
@Rav01508 So you are the one that stole his content. Bravo! You just prove my point! Without stealing, China dies.
@@Rav01508 He certainly has a job and he is doing it, can't you tell? For someone who truly dislikes China, he won't even watch the video let alone read the comments. It is reasonable to believe he actually got paid for it.
@@MaximSupernov NOBODY GOT PAY FOR COPY THIS VIDEO . DON'T BE SO MEANS
Been there, was an absolute blast. It literally make you feel like you are standing on top of the cloud
I was shaking when I watched the video. I can't imagine what it would be like to face it (huashan) in real life. You are so brave.
Gotta admit, kind of jealous lol, I made it all the way to the door and then a storm rolled in, but I'm so happy that you were able to share your experience with us. Cheer!
The mountain being so high has its own ecosystem as many tall mountains do, thus it’s often enshrined in clouds and rains a lot. When we were there we met some photographers stationed at the base of the mountain waiting for people up there to tell them that the clouds had lifted. Hilarious.
oh I did that hike about 10 years ago. It was alright. You seem way more prepared than me. I did it in jeans and brought a bottle of water. good stuff!
I think you can open an account on Chinese social media（such as bilibili) ，and upload your videos of traveling in China, because the quality of your videos has surpassed many Chinese youtubers, and I think it will make you very popular in China。
yes，you need to bilibili，Otherwise, there will be too many videos that infringe your copyright and be moved to Bilibili.
Totally agree!!!
Not only you can finish the hike safely you can also make a very nice video at the same time, very impressive! Well done!!🎉❤👍🏻
I did that 40 years ago, and I cried after the gruesome hike.
The way you immerse yourself in different cultures is truly admirable.
Amazing
你很勇敢，挺喜欢你的。
Walking on one of the craziest hikes in the world... with one hand holding the phone and filming 🤦♀️. I am actually impressed 😂
It is very rare for foreigners to find the opportunity to travel to Mount Huashan. Btw, there is always wireless internet on this mountain, tourist area. A nice video bro.
With the help of your easy going personality and informative dialogue, that was absolutely riviting viewing. 10/10
I visited Mount Hua in April this year. I arrived a day early and stayed at a hotel at the foot of the mountain. The next morning, I took a cable car to the North Peak and hiked through the North, Middle, East, and South Peaks, finally descending via cable car from the West Peak. The entire hike took nearly 12 hours. I didn't get to try the Changkong Plank Trail because I went too late, and the line was too long. However, I did get to experience the Yaozi Fanshen, which was equally thrilling despite the half-hour wait.
One thing puzzled me: why did you only have one safety harness? For the Yaozi Fanshen, each person is equipped with two safety harnesses. Whenever you need to change ropes, you must keep one harness attached to the rope at all times. You only unclip one harness at a time to attach it to the new rope before unclipping the other. This way, you are always secured by at least one harness. Seeing you with just one harness seemed very dangerous to me. Nevertheless, I’m glad you completed the challenge safely. Anyone who conquers the Changkong Plank Trail or Yaozi Fanshen is truly a brave soul.
Why only one harness ? Observe carefully how he pushed the hook of harness through those pegs secured on the cliff. This is a new design which does not require climber to release the hook and reattach the hook again and agin through those pegs on the cliff. Few years back I saw climbers were still using those double-hook old design to get through the plank.
Originally there were two harnesses. But after someone committed suicide after releasing both hooks in 2018, and videos about people unintentionally unclipped both harnesses went viral (including some videos on RUclips), the plank went under refit. The harness was redesigned so that it can't be detached from the security cable on the cliff.
You know when you climb a mountain, you deserve an ice cream. Also when you don't climb a mountain, you deserve an ice cream.
I am glad you lived to tell the story. My palms and my forehead were sweating watching you guys. Did you say you want to go back on a clearer day in the future and do it all over again?
The view on the mountain top is just so amazing. Huashan is one of the five most famous mountains in China. It's the steepest of them all and it's really worth the challenge. !
I was there 3 weeks ago and the line was 3-4 hours wait. We only scheduled one day for Huashan so didn’t get to do the plank walk. What a shame! You have a much better strategy than us! Good job 👍
假期吧？我三周前工作日去没多少人！
China is truly amazing, with a wide range of cultural, architectural, culinary, and natural beauty options.
cnn、bbc欺骗了西方的群众
I Climbed the same route ten years ago. There wasn't as much fog as in the video. You could clearly see where you were and how far you were from the ground. My feet couldn't help shaking when I walked on the plank. I'm glad I conquered this mountain when I was young. Now I don't have the courage any more. The younger I was, the less afraid of death. Now I'm more afraid of death as I get older.
It scared me by just watching the video
I can tell how much this kind of video scares me because I literally have to shut my eyes at certain points, lol.
I am speechless. How much courage and strength is required to finish such dangerous walk.I visited Huashan some years ago, did some hiking, amazing experience.
Chinese people usually climb Huashan Mountain at night, because they can see the sunrise scenery, which can also reduce the fear of climbing, and go down in the daytime, which can increase the sense of accomplishment. Psychologically, there is a feeling that the path of climbing last night is crazy but the summit is successful
Wow. This brings back memories! It has also completely changed since I climbed Hua Shan in 2006. We took a local bus from Xian. We didn’t do the cable car, walked up over a few days time staying in guest houses. The plank walk was closed due to rain, but still the trekking was amazing.
I recommend you to visit Mount Huangshan Mountain, which is the most famous mountain in China.
Huangshan is the most beautiful mountain in China
@@oyakefire yes！
Can't imagine how they build the stairs, the cable rope and everything... Must be even scarier
Awesome bro! Still can’t believe you did it! Not a chance I could attempt that! 😂 👏
Walking on the plank walk is scary enough. And you were doing the filming and walking at the same time.
Yeah most go early in the morning before it gets too hot, I went 6 months ago and we were staying at a nearby hotel and got up at 6am for it
I can't help but think of the workers who built the stairs. It must be an incredibly challenging job for them, and this thought makes me feel a bit sad every time...
These stairs were built 700 years ago. The ancient people at that time were stronger and more fearless than modern people.
imagine the level of danger it took to carve out and lay this path in the first place. it's children's play in comparison to walk across after the work is done
I dare not tell you about my China trip in 1993 - you probably weren't born then. But it's a miracle I reached the age of 60 this year!!!!
that’s so crazy for me😢but really nice video thx joel ❤❤❤
The noodles are not peanut butter but sesame sauce, Xi'an has a lot of food, but they are famous for carbohydrates, especially noodles. As a Chinese Xi'an, I am from abroad, but I would like to say that China welcomes people from all over the world to travel.
Great video, Joel! The Huashan Plank Walk looks absolutely thrilling and your footage really captures the intensity of the hike. If you haven’t been to Yunnan already, you should definitely check it out. The landscapes and culture there are breathtaking. Keep up the awesome adventures!
I'm so happy that the trip met and maybe even exceeded your expectations. On your next trip, that I'm sure you will do, it will be even more enjoyable as you'll know what to expect food and accommodation wise. I never could do it but have great admiration for those who do. Great video!
Huashan is well worth a visit and you are very brave.
It’s such a shame that it was so cloudy and you couldn’t see over the ledge. As scary as it was, I’m sure that if you could actually look down to see how high up you was, it would have been absolutely terrifying. Thanks for sharing you adventure.
Wow, absolutely crazy! You're incredibly brave
I am an adventurous guy but this is too much. But I’m glad you did this so that we can experience the thrill of near death vicariously 😉 Glad you survived Joel! Great video as usual!
Huashan Mountain is one of the best places to visit in China, and the Hua in their ethnic name may come from Huashan Mountain
admire your adventurous spirit and very chill. That is how you get the most from a trip.
You are so brave. hope you will visit zhangjiajie one day！I can't wait to see you be there
This man have gained some notoriety in bilibili, but not in a bad way. He actually filmed it with phone in 1 hand, while others is holding to the rope with both hands, especially when stepping down those steel beams ladder. 😂
Just went there a month ago, unfortunately was raining heavily and was unable to go to the plank walk.
thanks for your vlog. it reminded me that I had been there 20 years back. I was crazy and excited after the hike
my legs are even shaking when i watch your video!So crazy
Mad but true story - back in the 80s/90s, the safety harness wasnt actually required. There are literally old photos of tourists just standing on the planks posing with no rope.
And the even madder thing is - cameras back in the day weren't like smartphones or gopros today. That means the person taking the photo most likely had to use two hands to operate the camera, close one eye and stick the other eye right up close to the viewfinder to take the photo, taking their entire attention off of where they're standing. Insanity.
Amazing video. Deserve more views.
Joel. How did u manage climbing, holding on to the rail n carrying your phone? It's so dangerous! My heart thump when you show the aerial view. Great n Thanks!!