Most Chinese mountains are climbed by staircase. On Huangshan and Hua Shan tens of thousands of granite steps carry hikers to the summits, with hotels, noodle stalls and cable cars along the way. The wild trekking lies further west, where the Himalaya bend into Yunnan and Sichuan and the trails run between Tibetan villages and glaciers.
The classic is the high trail through Tiger Leaping Gorge, two days on a path cut into the side of one of the deepest gorges on earth, with guesthouses every few hours. North of it, the village of Yubeng sits in a hidden valley under the sacred Meili Snow Mountain near Deqin, and in western Sichuan, Yading and Mount Siguniang offer high lakes and 6,000 m peaks a day’s drive from Chengdu.
Spring and autumn are the seasons. Summer brings monsoon rain and landslides to the southwest, and Chinese holiday weeks bring huge crowds to every famous mountain.
At a Glance#
- Best multi-day trek: the high trail through Tiger Leaping Gorge from Qiaotou, about 22 km over two days with guesthouse nights, a short bus ride from Lijiang.
- Sacred mountains: Yubeng village under Meili Snow Mountain near Deqin, and the three holy peaks of Yading in western Sichuan.
- Alpine valleys: the Changping, Shuangqiao and Haizi valleys of Mount Siguniang, with Dagu Peak (about 5,000 m) as a guided trekking summit.
- Stairway peaks: Huangshan, Hua Shan, Mount Emei and Mount Tai, climbed by stone steps, often overnight for the sunrise.
- Great Wall walks: restored and ruined towers on the Great Wall north of Beijing, best done at Jinshanling.
- Pilgrim circuit: the three-day Mount Kailash kora in western Tibet, only on a permitted tour.
- When to go: April to June and September to October; avoid the national holiday weeks in early May and early October.
Yunnan#
Tiger Leaping Gorge is where the Jinsha River (the upper Yangtze) squeezes between Jade Dragon Snow Mountain and Haba Snow Mountain, with the peaks rising about 3,000 m above the water. The high trail starts in Qiaotou, about two hours by bus from Lijiang, and runs roughly 22 km to Tina’s Guesthouse and Walnut Grove. The hard part comes early: the 28 Bends, a steep zigzag climb on the first day. Most people sleep at the Naxi Family, Tea Horse or Halfway guesthouses, where the terrace views across to the snow peaks are the reason to stop. The ticket is paid at Qiaotou, about 65 yuan (around 9 USD) in 2025, and the whole trip with two nights and the bus back costs roughly 350 yuan. The middle gorge, a steep descent to the rapids, has extra local tolls on its paths.
Yubeng is a Tibetan village with no through road, tucked under Kawagebo, the 6,740 m summit of Meili Snow Mountain, which has never been climbed. Walkers base themselves in Feilaisi near Deqin and spend three or four days: the hike in, a day to the Ice Lake from Upper Yubeng, and a day to the Sacred Waterfall from Lower Yubeng. The usual approach from Xidang was closed for road building in 2025, so the way in has been the longer trail from Ninong along the Mekong gorge. Yubeng entry (about 80 yuan) is also sold within a Meili Snow Mountain package ticket of about 230 yuan; check current access in Feilaisi before you set out.
Lower down, the Yuanyang rice terraces in the far south have easy village-to-village walks among Hani hamlets, best when the terraces are flooded from December to March.
Western Sichuan#
The Tibetan grasslands west of Chengdu are the most rewarding high country you can reach without a Tibet permit. Mount Siguniang, the Four Sisters, rises above the small town of Rilong, a long day’s drive from Chengdu through the Balang Shan pass. Its three valleys suit different walkers: Shuangqiao has a road and bus, Changping a boardwalk and then a trail toward the base of the main peak, and Haizi a two or three day hike or horse trek past alpine lakes. Dagu, the lowest sister at about 5,000 m, is climbed with a local guide in two or three days and needs no technical skill in summer.
Yading Nature Reserve, near Daocheng, protects three sacred peaks of nearly 6,000 m. The standard day hike leaves Luorong pasture (reached by park electric car) for the Milk Lake and Five Colour Lake at about 4,600 m, a long, breathless climb on a good path. Sleep a night or two in Daocheng or Litang first. Further north, Hailuogou has glacier walks below Mount Gongga, and Tagong has grassland rambles around its monastery.
Stairway mountains#
Huangshan, the Yellow Mountain in Anhui, is all granite pinnacles, twisted pines and sea of clouds. Entry is 190 yuan (about 27 USD) from March to November and 150 yuan in winter. Walkers usually climb the shorter Eastern Steps from Yungu, sleep in a summit hotel for the sunrise, explore the Xihai Grand Canyon loop, and descend by the longer Western Steps past Lotus Peak, about 1,860 m and the highest point. Cable cars cut out the climbs for anyone short of time.
Hua Shan, two hours from Xi’an by train, is famous for its exposed paths and the plank walk on the South Peak, where you clip a harness to a chain and edge along boards bolted to a cliff. The entrance ticket is 160 yuan from March to November (less in winter) and the plank walk is charged separately. Many hikers climb by night to watch sunrise from the East Peak.
The same pattern of steps, temples and summit sunrises applies on Mount Tai in Shandong, Mount Emei in Sichuan (a two-day walk up from Baoguo Temple, past monasteries and bold Tibetan macaques) and Wuyi Mountains in Fujian. Our national parks guide covers these parks in detail.
The Great Wall#
Walking the Great Wall between towers is the most popular hike near Beijing. Badaling and Mutianyu are fully restored and busy. Jinshanling, about two and a half hours northeast, is partly restored and partly crumbling, with a ridge-top walk of a few hours along dozens of watchtowers; the hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling adds wilder sections. Unrestored “wild wall” such as Jiankou is officially off-limits, and the through-hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu was reportedly blocked by a barrier in 2025. Stick to open sections and go on a weekday.
Tibet and the far west#
The Mount Kailash kora circles the sacred mountain in about 52 km, usually in three days, crossing the Drölma La pass at about 5,630 m. Pilgrims walk it in one day. Foreign visitors need a Tibet Travel Permit and further permits for the Ngari region, which means a tour with a licensed agency, a guide and a driver; independent trekking in Tibet is not allowed. Agencies also run treks to the north side of Mount Everest near Rongbuk Monastery.
In Xinjiang, Kanas Lake in the Altai has forest and meadow walks, and Karakul Lake lies beneath Muztagh Ata on the Karakoram Highway. Expect police checkpoints and registration across the region.
When to go#
April to early June and September to October are the best months: clear skies in Yunnan and Sichuan, comfortable temperatures on the stairway peaks and autumn colour on the Great Wall. From June to August the southwest monsoon brings rain, leeches and landslides, though the high Tibetan plateau is green and mild. Winter closes high passes but suits Huangshan’s snow and the Yunnan rice terraces. Avoid the Labour Day holiday (1 to 5 May) and Golden Week (1 to 7 October), when famous mountains sell out. Our best time to visit China guide has the weather month by month.
Permits, maps and safety#
- Tickets: most famous mountains are scenic areas with an entry fee, opening hours and sometimes timed booking on WeChat; bring your passport.
- Permits: Tibet needs a Tibet Travel Permit through an agency; some Tibetan areas of Sichuan and Qinghai close to foreigners at short notice. Check our China visa guide for entry rules.
- Banned routes: the Ao-Tai traverse in the Qinling Mountains has been officially closed after many deaths. Do not attempt it.
- Maps: Google Maps is blocked and weak in China. Download offline maps (Maps.me or Organic Maps) and GPX tracks before you arrive.
- Altitude: Yading, Kailash and Siguniang are above 4,000 m. Ascend slowly and check your insurance covers trekking at altitude.
- Getting there: fast trains reach Lijiang, Xi’an and Huangshan; see getting around China.
Start early on the stairway mountains. Tour groups arrive with the first cable cars around 8am, and by mid-morning the narrow summit paths on Huangshan and Hua Shan can be one-way queues.
For more trails across the region, see Trekking in East Asia and Trekking in Asia.
Best places to hike in China#
More Things to Do#
China hiking FAQs#
What is the best hike in China?
Tiger Leaping Gorge’s high trail in Yunnan is the best-known multi-day hike: two days, guesthouses on the way and views of 5,000 m peaks. For a single day, Huangshan in Anhui and the Great Wall at Jinshanling are the favourites.
Do you need a guide to hike in China?
Not for Tiger Leaping Gorge, the Great Wall’s open sections or the stairway mountains, which have clear paths and signs. Yubeng and the Siguniang valleys are easier with a local guide, and Tibet, including the Kailash kora, requires a licensed guide and tour by law.
When is the best time to hike in China?
April to early June and September to October. Summer brings monsoon rain and landslides to Yunnan and Sichuan, and the national holidays in early May and early October bring the biggest crowds of the year.
Can foreigners trek in Tibet?
Only on an organised tour with a Tibet Travel Permit, a licensed guide and a vehicle, booked through an agency. The Kailash kora and Everest treks need extra permits that the agency arranges.
How hard is the Tiger Leaping Gorge hike?
Moderate. The 28 Bends on day one are a steep hour or more of climbing, but the rest is a well-trodden path. Anyone reasonably fit can do it in two days with light packs.
Is it safe to hike the wild Great Wall?
Unrestored sections are crumbling, steep and officially off-limits, and injuries are common. Choose open sections such as Jinshanling or Mutianyu, wear shoes with grip and avoid the wall in rain or ice.