I wrote this after visiting Huashan, China in the middle of winter.

For me, who has been studying martial arts since I was young, it was my lifelong wish to go to Hwasan, the main character of Hwasan Nongeom.

And in the winter of 2025, he impulsively bought a plane ticket to Xi’an and arrived in Huashan.

It is a 4-5 hour course that usually takes you up to the west peak by cable car and then down easily, and then to the north peak by cable car.

Unfortunately, the West Peak Cable Car is out of service until mid-December due to regular inspection.

So, I walked to the highest western peak visible in the distance in the photo above and then walked back to the northern peak, a 12-hour intense course.

They say that Huashan is the most difficult mountain among the five mountains in China, and when I went there, I found out that was true. It’s so fucking hard.

The level where you get cursed while going up.

On the way up, I crossed the mountain and the plain was beautiful.

Let’s take a look at some mountain peaks in between.

A volcano where Taoist culture is alive

The hiking trail was better than I expected.

Geummunguan, the halfway point on the road from the North Peak to the West Peak.

They say that if you lock it here, you can’t go astray like a lock, so they call it the Golden Gate Hall.

On the way, I took a picture with the western peak in the background.

Finally arrived at the eastern peak

Here, there is a pavilion where a immortal named Yojabeonsin is said to have played baduk.

I don’t know if it’s real

Yojabunshin near the eastern peak

Blade-like mountain peaks

Personally, I thought the mountains on the southern peak were the most beautiful.

The jagged mountain peaks like knives are beautiful.

And at the southern peak, there is a courage experience course called Janggongjando where you pay money and go through a lot of trouble.

Usually, government servants who brag about having passed through dangerous roads pay money to go there, but since I am a government official, I pay money and go through hardships.

Now, we slowly descend to the western peak, the main character of Hwasan Nongeom.

This is the western peak of Hwasan Nongeom, the main character of Mr. Kim Yong’s fundamental martial arts story. The monument with the name Hwasan Nongeom written on it is beautiful.

majestic western peak

Dude, this place is a volcano wave.

Anyway, I came back after hiking for 12 hours to the volcano, which was the greatest wish of my life.

If you have colleagues who are into martial arts like me, I would advise you not to go to the volcano in winter.

There are no plum blossoms and the cable car is closed for regular maintenance, so it is highly likely that you will have a hard time.

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