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, Mount Everest North Base Camp requires weeks of acclimatization but offers no such heart-pounding challenge. 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.