Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

17. Steep Cliffs of Huangshan

On the other side of the mountain, a trail exists that will take you down (or up) the western side of Huangshan. Twice as long as the eastern side, nearly 9 miles, on each side of the trail great peaks reside, every one of them a stupendous detour by curved stairways. The climbs are extraordinarily severe, up hundreds of irregular stone steps that end in a singular panorama, followed by a shock-absorber descent, and a few minutes later by another looming precipice.