North Peak of Mt. Huashan

North Peak, or Cloud Terrace Peak, is one of the main peaks of  Mt. Huashan, located in the north position. It is 1614 m above the sea level, with precipitous cliffs on all sides, imposing and solitary, making it look like a plat terrace in the cloud, hence the name Cloud Terrace Peak.

 

Located at the north part of Mt. Huashan, the North Peak has White Cloud Peak at north, Liangzhang Hill at east, approaches East Peak, South Peak and West Peak and connects with Thousand-Foot Precipice, Hundred-Foot Crevice and Laojun Plough Ditch. The summit is joint by several groups of rocks. On the tiptop, there is a terrace, Yiyun Pavilion, which is a great place to see the other 3 main peaks and Black Dragon Ridge. In 1996, the cable car opened to tourists.

 

There are many attractions on the peak, such as Zhenwu Temple, Jiaogong Stone Chamber, Changchun Stone Chamber, Jade Maiden Window, Xianyougong, Shentu Cliff, Yiyun Pavilion, Iron Cow Terrace and so on.

Changchun Cave was seclusion of Du Huaiying, the Taoist priest of Zhengguan Period of Tang Dynasty. It is said that Du Huaiqian painstakingly practiced and do not need to eat. He liked flute and told his disciple to buy back lots of flutes. He was named himself- Mr. Changchun and the cave he stayed was called Changchun Stone Chamber.


►Canglong Mountain
Climbing on Mt. Huashan North Peak, then going south through the Er Cliff by ladder, there is a long mountain appears. Its vast gray, pale black ridge lies straight like a black dragon flying in the sky, so called “Canglong Mountain (black dragon ridge)”. The steps of only over 2 feet wide and great deep on both sides and it are very steep. Ridge about 500 meters elevation difference, slope gradient is more than 45 degrees. Looking pine and white clouds at here, listen to the wind which is really great.

If you climb Canglong Mountain at night, overlooking at Canglong Mountain, you can see countless lights point as a straight line, sloping to the sky, and the lights are tourists slowly moving up the mountain with flashlight or visitors head lamp.

►Gold Lock Pass
Gold Lock Pass is one of five passes in Mt. Huashan, built on the three peaks of a stone arch, is the key from Cloud Terrace Peak to east, west, south peak, and there is no way after entering Gold Lock Pass, so here also known as heaven gate.

Gold Lock Pass connect to the Cloud Terrace Peak in the north, holding main peak in the south, on both sides of east and west have a thousand deep valley, and there is one a stone path of 0ne meter wide in the Gold Lock Pass. From here looking back at the north, Canglong Mountain is more magnificent, and Yuntai Peak is more beautiful. Verdant ancient pines are surrounded mountain, and stone forest stand everywhere. In the Gold Lock Pass there are many couple's locks hung on the iron chain in both side of the road, winding with the red cord threads, is also a beautiful scenery in the Gold Lock Pass. 

 

It is suitable for visiting all the seasons, and each season has its own characteristics. Spring, with less rain, the mountain’s flowers in full blossom, is a good season to go on spring outing; summer is cool and comfortable, and can see the sunrise and sea of clouds; autumn is full of red leaves; winter is a write land, just like fairy land.

 

The mountain is steep, be careful while climbing.