Chang Kong Cliff Road

Chang Kong Cliff Road is a challenging cliff hiking road in China. The cliff walkway is reached by climbing steep stairs.^[1] It is located in Shaanxi Province, Peoples Republic of China at the edge of Huashan mountain.^[2]

The Cliff road is believed to have been created in the 13th century, during the Yuan Dynasty, by He Zhizhen and his followers; He was the first master of the Mount Hua Sect of Taoism.^[3] The monks were seeking immortals who were believed to dwell in the mountains.^[4]

The walkway is made of wooden boards,^[5] nailed together^[6] and installed on a series of iron pegs driven into the sheer mountain cliff^[7] thousands of metres above the ground.^[8] Some sections of the walkway are only 30 cm wide. ^[9] Some sections are cut into the cliff rock.^[7]

The walkway is popular with thrill-seekers,^[10] but, because a number of fatalities have occurred,^[11] tourists and others wanting to negotiate the walkway are required to wear safety harnesses.^[12][13] The walkway is traveled even in winter^[6] and, in order to arrive in time to view the sunrise, many choose to traverse it at night.^[4] Once started, a traveler must continue to the end, because the narrowness of the path prohibits two-way traffic.^[14]

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