Climbing Mount Heng, the Northern Peak

Take the shuttle bus in the scenic area (¥7) to the entrance of Mount Heng (ticket ¥45). Instead of taking the cable car or ferry bus, start the hike from the foot of the mountain. The 6-7 kilometer stretch from the base to the trailhead is a gentle slope on asphalt roads, easy to walk but with many hairpin turns. By following some shortcuts through the woods, it takes about an hour to reach the trailhead. The trail to the summit is not far, but it consists mostly of steep stairs. It takes about an hour and a half to reach the peak of Mount Heng at an altitude of 2,016 meters—Tianfeng Ridge. Honestly, the view from the summit is average, but it’s one of the easier peaks to collect among the Five Great Mountains. At the top, there’s usually a long queue of people waiting to take their summit photos, so be prepared to spend some time waiting for your turn.