Shenlongwan Village

　　Shenlongwan Village is situated at the southeastern border of Shanxi, on the boundary between Shanxi and Henan, at the headwaters of the Taihang Grand Canyon. The area features stunning natural scenery, beautiful mountain and water vistas, and unique local customs. In the past, the terrain here was rugged, with steep slopes, winding roads, and an abundance of rocks, making the environment harsh. To facilitate travel, locals carved a narrow footpath along a sheer cliff about a hundred zhang high. This path consisted of 1,800-plus steps across ninety-nine zigzags, and climbing it was extremely strenuous — the heavy breathing of those ascending sounded like “hā lóu, hā lóu,” leading to its vivid nickname “Hā Ladder.” Today, in stark contrast, stands the newly built cliffside highway. Stretching 1,526 meters in length with 35 skylights, it tunnels through the mountain amid perilous ridges, twisting and turning in a serpentine shape that resembles a giant python suspended among the peaks. This road has completely transformed the appearance of the ancient village.

　　Address: Shenlongwan Village, Dongsitou Township, Pingshun County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province

　　Best time to visit: All year round

　　Opening hours: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

　　Ticket price: 60 RMB per person

　　Transportation: By car: 1. From Taiyuan: Take the Er’guang Expressway (Changzhi exit) → Changping Expressway (Pingshun exit) → drive southeast for about 30 km to reach the scenic area 2. From Beijing: Take the Jingda Expressway (Datong exit) → Er’guang Expressway (Changzhi exit) → Changping Expressway (Pingshun exit) → drive southeast for about 30 km to reach the scenic area 3. From Hebei: Take the Jingkun Expressway (Xiaodian exit) → Er’guang Expressway (Changzhi exit) → Changping Expressway (Pingshun exit) → drive southeast for about 30 km to reach the scenic area

　　Travel tips: The construction of the hiking ladder in Shenlongwan Scenic Area was as arduous as that of the mountain tunnel. Walking it is thrilling but requires caution and attention to safety signs.