Thousands of people climb the world’s most dangerous path to end up at a teahouse.

[G_j]

http://www.viralnova.com/dangerous-trail-huashan/

January 6, 2014Stories

What you see below is a mountain in China called Mt. Hua Shan. At its base, you’ll find a gigantic set of stone stairs, called “the Heavenly Stairs.” These stairs go so high up the mountainside, it’s hard to see where they end. If that wasn’t enough, the precarious stairs lead to the world’s most dangerous trail, the Hua Shan plank path. The plank trail leads high up the Hua Shan mountain just outside the city Xi’an. No one will force you to wear safety gear, although it’s strongly encouraged. The trail itself is dangerous and stunning, but what is at the top will really shock you.

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(more photos at link)

[boston bean]

1. I was getting vertigo just looking at the pics.. wowza... no thanks for me though.

[Happyhippychick]

2. Did you see the photo of the person wearing some kind of open toed shoes climbing on that path???

That trail is not for me! Although I do love tea

[GreenEyedLefty]

3. "Be sure to bring a helmet."

Okay, sure.

[Nay]

23. Mr Nay and I were laughing hysterically - a helmet? WTF for? If you fall off

this path, a helmet ain't gonna do a damn thing for you except keep your ears warm until your body gets smashed into a million bloody pieces a thousand feet below. A helmet. Yeah, OK.....

[HappyMe]

30. Hey now, cold ears and earaches

can be a problem in that you won't hear yourself screaming on the way down. You would want the full falling off a cliff experience that you signed up for.

[Gormy Cuss]

42. A helmet may protect you from injuring from falling rocks higher up on the trail. n/t

[pinboy3niner]

46. And falling tea-drinkers. nt

[Gormy Cuss]

51. but not from falling teahadists. n/t

[rrneck]

44. On a really high mountain climb

rocks and debris frequently fall down from above. That's a bad place to get beaned unconscious.

[pinboy3niner]

40. I suspect that was sar-chasm

[HappyMe]

4. No. Oh no, no, no!

That's not for me.

[enlightenment]

28. + infinity.

You couldn't get me on the steps, much less the "path". Not if the reward was the fulfillment of my fondest fantasy.

Just no.

[pecwae]

5. Stunning photos

I believe I'd just have to remain thirsty. The pictures of the people crowding the stairs in places give me the willies!

[ProSense]

10. "I believe I'd just have to remain thirsty."

[Whisp]

25. Stay thirsty, my friend.

[laundry_queen]

6. OH hell no

and I'm not even afraid of heights, but those rickety boards! Um, not happening.

[kentauros]

33. The boards looked in good condition to me.

Unlike the whole sections missing and huge holes in the concrete on the King's Pathway (video and link below.)

[TreasonousBastard]

7. Yikes! I want to know more...

how many of the "thousands" who visited the place fell into the valley, and where is the most popular place on it to say "fuck this" and turn back.

How do they get deliveries? What is the water supply...

A little goggling answers one question-- there are no official records, but local lore has it about a hundred people a year fall into the abyss. No word on whether the bodies are found. Or looked for.

When I have more time I might look up some more stuff on this place.

[Frustratedlady]

8. I'd recommend women go casual.

No high heels.

[FSogol]

67. Short skirt optional then?

[kentauros]

9. This reminds me of the "King's Little Pathway" in Spain:

Caminito del Rey

[ProSense]

18. Yikes!

Fascinating, thanks.

[kestrel91316]

26. Oh thanks. Now I'm going to have nightmares for weeks.

That was just terrifying, in spite of the fact that they hook to a safety cable a lot of the way.

[kentauros]

31. I think there are points where the videographer isn't holding onto anything

but his camera! That one point where you see the other hiker wisely using a harness with clips and latching onto the provided cable, the person making the video isn't anywhere near that guy! Plus, there's another part of the video where his shadow shows both arms together with his hands on his camera and nothing else.

He's probably a rock climber and has a better sense of balance than most people.

[GCP]

39. The stuff of nightmares

How the fuck did they build it in the first place?

[kentauros]

41. My guess would be with plenty of ropes and cables from above,

and then people hanging off of them, chiseling the rock for the metal posts. The means for pouring the concrete would be cool to see if there are any surviving images anywhere.

[pecwae]

68. Thanks for scaring the wad out of me.

I watched the entire clip despite the aching fear. It was as if I couldn't tear myself away. I always feel like I have to jump off when I get to a certain altitude. I was in agony even on the Grossglockner and I was in a car!

[kentauros]

73. In that case

Do Not look up "Top Gear - Bolivia's Death Road" on YouTube

[pecwae]

84. Pure insanity.

I thought for sure the red truck was history during that pass. No way in hell would I be on that road!

[backscatter712]

80. Reminds me of Half Life 2...

There are certain parts of the Half Life series where you're clinging for dear life on a cliff face, you've got Combine troopers shooting at you and throwing grenades at you, and your adventures frequently end in a fast plunge to the bottom, followed by a splat if you miscalculate a jump or a grenade knocks you off a ledge.

[G_j]

85. that's more frightening, in that it's not maintained at all.

you have to hope nobody fell along with those sections of cement that are now missing.
Not as long or strenuous as the other climb, but certainly scary!

[kentauros]

89. According to the wiki link,

they started to restore it in 2011. It's supposed to take three years to complete, so sometime this year it should be complete again. No more missing sections

And I wouldn't go up on it even then!

I would also hope that those missing sections fell just from age and expanding rock when no one was around or on it, either.

[G_j]

90. at least these guys are using cables

It seems to have deteriorated even further at this point. A lot more shots looking down.. yikes

[kentauros]

96. I didn't watch all of that

because I became curious about why that first section had been removed. Then I found this site with more images and more info, including how they haven't started restoration, and it's now slated for sometime this year,

http://www.kuriositas.com/2013/10/caminito-del-rey-most-dangerous-pathway.html

[G_j]

97. ok

that completes the picture.
awesome! and strange that anyone would build such a thing!

[MineralMan]

11. And then I got to the top, and the tea shop told me

their delivery hadn't arrived, so they were out of tea.

I was so bummed out.

[Katashi_itto]

12. AWESOME!!

[pinboy3niner]

22. Yeah, but don't be fooled. The service at the teahouse is terrible!

They always take oolong to bring your order.

[Katashi_itto]

38. Lol!!

[Arugula Latte]

52. I hope you don't chaide the staff for this.

It's a different culture -- one steeped in tradition.

[pinboy3niner]

53. No, I'm a bit on the chai side

I just kept a stiff upper Lipton and didn't blame the Pu-erh workers.

[Arugula Latte]

55. That's good -- you don't want to brew up trouble with them.

[pinboy3niner]

60. No, it's Salada fuss over nothing. nt

[ananda]

13. It's giving me acrophobia just looking at the pics.

I have both acrophobia and claustrophobia.

I would have to be seriously drugged to even consider an attempt,
which I would never do anyway at my age.

However, it sure is breathtaking and gorgeous, and quite a feat
just to get to the top and back down.

[G_j]

14. it hurts my head

just imagining someone building those plank ways.

[Buns_of_Fire]

71. And agoraphobia. And loose bowel syndrome. And violent projectile vomiting.

And any other malady or impairment I could think of.

It was thoughtful of them to carve little benches here and there along the way so people can sit and put the finishing touches to their Last Will and Testament.

No, really, you guys go on ahead and I'll catch up. Yeah, I'll be right behind you. Really. Promise.

[L0oniX]

15. This is why we need to stop tea addiction.

[pinboy3niner]

16. ...when you pry my helmet, safety strap and parachute from my cold, dead hands! nt

[Silent3]

17. Tea, Earl Grey... NOT! n/t

[blogslut]

19. Heights

I'm so freaked out by heights I used to have to make blogslut jr play the sky levels in Super Mario Brothers.

Nope. No heights. Nope. Nope. Nope.

[JHB]

20. Baaah! Who needs planks and chains?

[G_j]

62. wow

obviously no vertigo in that species..

[jsr]

77. They're the best

[cbdo2007]

21. Wonder how many people die or get injured on that each year??

Yikes!

[kestrel91316]

24. How lovely. But NO THANK YOU.

[CherokeeDem]

27. No...

Just no...

[B Calm]

29. I think we should send our Tea Party over there for a cup of tea!

[kentauros]

32. So,

how do people get down once they make it to the top? I didn't see anything about that part, and there's obviously not a set of planks going the other way

[northoftheborder]

35. excellent question. looks like a one-way trek to me.

[kentauros]

36. Well,

then maybe it is the place we should send the Tea Party!

[northoftheborder]

49. Great idea -

They should just love that non-regulated plank walk! And the unregulated tea shop that might be out of tea, today, soooo sorry! And the mysterious walk back that no one has ever seen, too "invasive" of liberty to reveal those facts, plus, sorrry, no money left to build that one. All the tax payers are at the bottom of the mountain. Soooo Sorry!

[kentauros]

50. I think we're on to something!

[madmom]

45. I was wondering the same thing..n/t

[northoftheborder]

34. OMG. My feet are aching, frozen to my shoes in anxiety.

That's how heights affect me, like my feet trying to grow roots into the ground.

[PDJane]

37. Nope. Thanks, but I'll have my tea experience at a nice little japanese place around the corner.

I've had all the flying I'm willing to handle in small planes and helicopters and such. I prefer terra firma. Very firma.

[Vashta Nerada]

43. Must be really good tea.

I'd do it.

[Earth_First]

47. I'm in!

Looks like a really challenging and rewarding summit.

[bluedigger]

48. There isn't enough tea in China...

(Graduate of US Army Mountain Warfare School )

[Demo_Chris]

54. Maybe if there was an Olive Garden up there...

But Tea?! No way!

[pinboy3niner]

56. Ooh, you're just begging to get flamed by somebody with a bad altitude about that

[kentauros]

74. Tread lightly.

Some people cling to the Olive Garden path.

[ryan_cats]

57. Wait until someone tries to mountain bike it.

I can't wait until someone tries to mountain bike it. I'd have to see it in person to determine if I'm insane enough to walk, I'd crawl, this path.
The one in Spain looks do-able.

[pinboy3niner]

58. It's not so bad if you close your eyes and don't pekoe. nt

[1000words]

70. That's steep!

[RadleyJ]

59. Yeah... FUCK THAT!

But, if they want to make it even more of an adventure, they should serve beer and wine to make the trek down even more challenging.

[MrScorpio]

61. No fucking way

Not at all

[1000words]

63. As a rock climber and tea enthusiast, this is nirvana.

Instant bucket list entry. Thanks for posting.

Rec'd

[FSogol]

64. Gotta agree. Amazing. n/t

[Number23]

91. Yeah, but you be beyond pissed if you went through all of that and the tea house was closed

[pinboy3niner]

92. That happened to me in Canada after hiking from Lake Louise up to Lake Agnes

The climb is about 2 miles of steep switchback trails, and the teahouse was closed. Luckily, I wasn't doing the climb to go for tea and crumpets--I had sandwiches and beers in my backpack.

[nadinbrzezinski]

65. I am NOT that adeventorous

but thanks for the photos. That is good enough for me

[FSogol]

66. For the non-climbers, look at the first picture.

You wear a seat harness with 2 leashes attached. You clip the 2 leashes to the steel cable and move along the path. When you come to an anchor, you move one leash at a time to the other side of the anchor and then continue on. Piece of cake.

[LadyHawkAZ]

69. OH. HELL. NO.

[CFLDem]

72. No thanks. Lipton tea on my patio is just fine...

[Blue_Tires]

75. What kind of person sees some remote mountain peak and says

"let's build a teahouse here! it's such an ideal location!"

[kentauros]

76. In this case, a Taoist did!

From the link, it's revealed that it used to be a Taoist temple

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Hua

[pinboy3niner]

78. And even that Taoist had to face the age-old question...

"You climbed all the way to the top of Mt. Hua Shan and all I got was this lousy tea-shirt?"

[kentauros]

86. Or

"No, I climbed all the way to the top of Mt. Hua Shan and all I got was this lousy tea!"

[G_j]

87. actually, Lao Tzu would probably have said,

why climb to the top of the mountain, when the tea is right there in front of you?

[kentauros]

88. True.

And you won't need a helmet for tea

[Politicalboi]

79. "Just make sure to bring a helmet."

Like that is going to save you if you fall. Reminds me of a Simpson's I saw. Behind the Master, a sign is there that says
Master knows everything except combination to safe.

[RadleyJ]

81. It would suck getting all the way to the top

sit down, order a cup of tea and discover you forgot your fucking wallet.

[backscatter712]

82. After seeing the planks and the parts where you've got only a chain and toe-holes in the rock...

[nyquil_man]

83. If anybody ever wants to avoid running into me, they know where to go.

No effing way would they find me up there.

On another note: If you think it's dangerous climbing those planks, imagine what it was like to lay those planks in the first place.

[struggle4progress]

93. IIRC there are now multiple routes to the top, including a cable car, and there are multiple hotels

at the top

[postatomic]

94. I just added something to my bucket list

Can you imagine the 'rush' you'd get from this? Sign me up.

[Liberal_in_LA]

95. that's so scàry, i can barely look at it