Mount Hua (Huashan)

Mount Hua delivers the world's most dangerous hiking trail with its Plank Walk in the Clouds, a 30-metre stretch of iron chains and narrow wooden planks bolted into near-vertical granite cliffs at 2,155 metres. This adrenaline-charged route, known locally as Changkong Plank Road, sees over 1 million thrill-seekers annually, yet its fatality rate is a remarkably low 0.01%, thanks to mandatory double harness systems. In contrast, #7 Mount Everest North Base Camp requires weeks of acclimatization but offers no such heart-pounding challenge. Huashan's five peaks, each with a distinct temple, form a circuit that is 12 kilometres long and 400 metres faster to complete than the average Chinese mountain hike. Its claim as the most dramatic mountain in Shaanxi is backed by winter ice climbing routes that attract 20,000 adventurers yearly, making it a top choice for those seeking both danger and beauty.