The Huashan Tea House.

I was sceptical when I first read an email on the Huashan hiking trail to a tea house on one of its peaks. Those people who attempted the hike were really nuts, I thought. An acrophobic like me would have quaked and peed in my pants. I believed the photos were doctored and no such trail existed. However, I came to the originator of the story which dispelled whatever lingering doubts I have had. The trail, consisting only of steep cliffs with linked chains and plank paths for support, and footholds in the rock surfaces to aid the climb, does not allow room for mistakes which could be fatal. Here are the pictures:

Huashan in the Shanxi Province is located close to the Himalayas. "Shan" means mountain

The start of the hike: a cable car ride to the starting point

Plank path and linked chains to aid hikers

It is definitely a popular activity judging from the number of people hiking

A close up shot of the trail

The faint-hearted would have collapsed with fear from the sheer cliff they have to cling to

Footholds in the rock surface to provide easier scaling of the cliff

A chain linked ladder

Linked chains and footholds

Closing in on the summit

Rock steps leading to the tea house

The tea house