Mt.Wuling Shan, the highest peak of the Yanshan Mountains, locates in the northwest of Xinglong County, Hebei Province. Clothed by flourishing plants and wreathed by clouds and fogs all the time, the 2118-meter steep mountain used to be the forbidden area of the emperors during the Qing Dynasty and had been exclusive for more than 260 years.

To the south of the peak of Mt.Wuling Shan stands a 48-meter natural rock tower formed by the crustal motion long ago. The local residents called the rock God's Tower because they thought nobody can ascended to the top of the rock except God. The tower is made of hard granite and has a steep face offering an indispensable choice for climbers in China.

The following guide was based on the information we got in 1998.

How To Get There

Take a train from Beijing to Xinglong County, Hebei Province. In the town, select a tour bus or a mini-bus to bring you to the south gate of the Mt.Wuling Shan Park. You can then go to the Tower of God on foot or by a car. Except for the tickets for the train or the park, all the prices are negotiable.

Climbing Routes

The Tower of God is not a developed rock, without fixed bolts. However, climbers can use friends or nuts for protection since there are many crevices on the rock tower.

The route illustrated in the right image was first topped from southwest by Xu Xiaomin and Wang Bin in May 1998. It starts from the south of the tower and change to the west rock face in the midway till the summit. The route is divided to two pitches at a grade of about 5.8. Two difficult spots midway are at a grade over 5.10 and need a ladder.

The first pitch is nearly 30 meters high and the second about 18 meters. Some climber tried to ascend directly from west but failed. Based on what is seen under the tower, there are possible routes to its top from either east side or west side of the tower.

When to Climb

The best climbing seasons are May, June, August and September in a year. In such months, it rains little and has a comfortable temperature.

Gear to Bring

Harness, descender, ascender, quickdraws (15x), slings, rope, helmet, friends, nuts, pitons, piton hammer and ladder

Chinese contributor: Wang Xiaodong
Photos: Wang Bin and Li Weizhi
Edited by ChinaOutdoors.com