Timing

Hi, I'm a solo 21 y/o female planning to visit Xi'an and Mt. Huashan (from Beijing via night sleeper trains) over 4 days or so.
With your 2 day itinerary, stopping at a hostel on the East peak for the sunrise, how long does it roughly take to;

- Hike the route and reach the East peak from the entrance?
- Hike the 2nd day route and walk back down or take the cable car down to the entrance at the foot of the mountain?

Also, which plan do you think is better;

- Beijing to Xi'an for 2 days, then to Huashan for 1.5 - 2 days, then a sleeper train to Beijing
or
- Beijing to Huashan for 1.5 - 2 days, then continue to Xi'an for 2 days, sleeper train back to Beijing