Zhurong Peak, at 1,300 metres, is the highest of Mount Heng's 72 named summits and the mountain's natural destination. The climb on foot from the lower cable car terminus takes four to five hours through nine named primitive forest zones, passing more than a thousand recorded plant species, some of them extremely rare. The ridge trail is well maintained and well marked; the ascent through old-growth cloud forest is one of the best walks in Hunan.
A faster option combines the cable car from Nanyue town to the upper station with a 4-5 kilometre ridge walk to the summit. The cable car ride is spectacular in itself, crossing heavily forested gorges and offering views down onto Nanyue town. At the summit, a Ming-dynasty temple dedicated to the fire deity Zhurong is still active. On clear days the view from the top extends across the Hunanese lowlands; in cloud — which is common — the summit is often above the mist layer, with ridge-tops appearing like islands.