We slept in Xi'an the night prior and after our hike. We hiked all five peaks, and it took just a few hours. We left about 8 AM, and we were back in time for dinner. We stayed at the Grand Hyatt.

i dont understand. xihai is at least 4 hours away by any way possible. how is it a good solution?

It's Xi'An, not xihai. It's 1 hour and 45 minutes away, and 130 kilometers. We were staying in Xi'An to see the historical sites, and I really liked the city. The food was fantastic. I do recall a tiny town at the base of the mountains. We had lunch there before our hike. I am sure there is a guest house there, if that is your preference.

I understand that you were looking for a place close by, but I thought perhaps, if you were going to Xi'An anyway, then you could go to Huashan as a day trip. Now you have a couple of options.

Oops, you're correct. I hope you can find a guest house nearby.