Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road of Taihang Mountain in Pingshun, Changzhi

Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road: The Wildest Sky Road in the Southern Taihang Mountains

High above the cliffs of Hongtiguan Township in Pingshun County, Shanxi, a rough gravel road clings to the mountainside of the Taihang Mountains. There are no paved surfaces, no streetlights, and few signs of modern engineering. Inside the tunnels, the rough marks left by hand tools more than half a century ago are still visible on the rock walls.

As you drive into the dim tunnel, your tires crunch over loose stones while shafts of sunlight fall through several openings above, illuminating the damp rock walls. For a moment, it feels as though you are not simply driving along a mountain road, but traveling through a piece of history carved into the cliffs by generations of local people.

This is the Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road (虹梯关挂壁公路), regarded as one of the most primitive and rugged of the seven famous Cliff-Hanging Roads in the Southern Taihang Mountains. It is also the road once described by Britain's Daily Mail as a “road to success” built through blood, sweat, and tears.

From “Luban's Ladder” to a Cliff-Hanging Road: 500 Years of History

The story of Hongtiguan began long before the modern road was built.

During the Ming Dynasty, Hongtiguan was established as a fortified mountain pass and became known as one of Shanxi's Eight Ancient Passes. It controlled an important route between Shanxi and Henan, occupying a strategically important position where the mountains formed a natural gateway.

Historical records from the Qing Dynasty describe the route as “Luban's Ladder,” referring to its extremely steep stone path. According to local tradition, the legendary craftsman Lu Ban carved the route into the mountains. The road was so steep that it was compared to a ladder reaching toward the clouds.

For centuries, Hongtiguan served as an important transportation route between present-day Anyang in Henan and Changzhi in Shanxi. Merchants, travelers, porters, and mule caravans passed through the mountain corridor. Even into the 1950s, the ancient road remained busy.

But traveling through the mountains was never easy.

800 Villagers and Two Years of Hard Labor

In 1968, approximately 800 villagers from Pingshun County began an extraordinary engineering project.

With blankets, cooking equipment, and tents, they moved onto the construction site and lived there while working. Using little more than iron chisels, hammers, and other basic tools, they carved into the northern cliffs near Tihou Village.

Over the following two years, they cut through five mountain tunnels, removed sections of seven ridges, and filled three deep gullies, eventually creating a road directly through the cliffs.

Modern roads have since replaced much of the original route, but sections of the old gravel road and tunnels remain. The rough tool marks on the rock walls are a physical reminder of how the road was built.

The Wildest Cliff-Hanging Road in Southern Taihang

The Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road stretches for approximately 10 kilometers and includes five tunnels carved directly into the cliffs.

The elevation difference between the highest and lowest tunnels is around 200 meters, while some sections have gradients of more than 30 degrees.

Unlike many modern mountain roads, the old Hongtiguan route remains largely unpaved. Its surface is made of gravel and uneven rock, and the tunnels are narrow, dark, and completely without artificial lighting.

This roughness is precisely what makes the road special.

Skylights in the Darkness

One of the most distinctive features of the road is its series of natural-looking openings, or “skylights,” cut into the mountain.

Every few dozen meters, an opening allows daylight to enter the tunnel. When the sun is at the right angle, the light forms dramatic beams across the road and illuminates the rough marks left by the original workers.

Inside the tunnel, the contrast between darkness and sunlight creates an atmosphere that is almost cinematic.

After emerging from the tunnel, look back at the mountainside. The road appears like a narrow crack carved across a nearly vertical cliff.

It is the kind of landscape that photographs struggle to reproduce accurately.

Driving Through Hongtiguan: A True Taihang Mountain Adventure

The Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road can be experienced by self-driving, but this is not an ordinary scenic drive.

The road is narrow, rough, steep, and includes sharp bends. There is no tunnel lighting, and passing another vehicle can be difficult.

Choose Your Vehicle Carefully

A SUV or other vehicle with relatively high ground clearance is preferable.

The road is largely a single-lane gravel route with sharp turns and uneven surfaces. Low-clearance passenger cars require particular caution because loose stones and rough sections can cause damage to the underside of the vehicle.

Before entering the mountains, fill your fuel tank in the county town. Gas stations are limited in the surrounding mountain areas.

It is also strongly recommended to download offline maps before departure, as mobile reception can be unreliable in the mountains.

Start Early

Before 8:00 AM is an ideal time to drive through the road.

There is usually less traffic early in the morning, making it easier to navigate the narrow sections. Morning sunlight can also create beautiful shafts of light through the tunnel skylights.

If traveling in the afternoon, try to complete the cliff road before around 3:00 PM. The tunnels have no lighting, and visibility becomes more difficult as evening approaches.

From the Cliff Road to the Taihang Sky Road

Once you emerge from the tunnels, the adventure continues.

The route connects with the Taihang Sky Road, which winds along mountain ridges at elevations of around 1,600 meters. One side rises into steep cliffs while the other drops toward deep valleys.

At viewpoints along the highest sections, you can look across layer after layer of Taihang peaks, while clouds sometimes gather deep below in the valleys.

The contrast is striking: first you travel through a dark tunnel carved into the mountain, then suddenly emerge onto an open ridge surrounded by vast mountain scenery.

Travel Tips for Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road

Best Time to Visit

The best periods are May–June and September–October.

Spring brings wildflowers to the mountains, while autumn covers the surrounding slopes with red and golden foliage.

It is better to avoid July and August, when heavy rainfall can make the gravel road slippery and increase the risk of falling rocks.

Winter can bring snow and ice, and some mountain roads may become inaccessible. Winter self-driving trips should only be considered after confirming current road conditions.

How Long to Stay

Allow half a day to a full day if you are mainly visiting the Cliff-Hanging Road and Taihang Sky Road.

If you want to combine Hongtiguan with Hongni Village, Hongni Waterfall, and Tongtian Gorge, plan for two days and one night.

How to Get There

Self-driving is the most practical way to visit Hongtiguan.

• From Changzhi: Drive along Provincial Highway S324 to Pingshun County, approximately 1.5 hours, followed by another 40 minutes into the mountains.
• From Linzhou, Henan: Drive north along National Highway G234. The journey to the Pingshun County border takes approximately 1 hour.
• By public transportation: Because the cliff road and surrounding attractions are spread through the mountains, independent travelers may need to combine buses, taxis, and local transfers. A private vehicle is considerably more convenient.

Recommended Route

A classic route is:

Pingshun County → Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road → Taihang Sky Road → Hongni Village → Tongtian Gorge

This route combines the historic cliff road, high mountain scenery, an ancient village, and a major canyon attraction without unnecessary backtracking.

Photography Tips

The skylights inside the tunnels are the signature photographic scene of Hongtiguan.

When sunlight enters from the side, it creates dramatic beams against the rough rock walls and emphasizes the tool marks left by the original construction workers.

After emerging from a tunnel, stop at a safe viewpoint and look back at the road. A telephoto lens can compress the perspective and make the narrow road appear like a crack running across the vertical cliff.

The viewpoints along the Taihang Sky Road are ideal for photographing layers of mountains and clouds.

Bright-colored clothing can also create strong contrast against the dark tunnels and gray rock surfaces.

For safety, do not stop your vehicle inside narrow sections or tunnels simply for photography. Find a designated or sufficiently safe area before getting out of the vehicle.

What to Bring

The mountain climate can change quickly, particularly in the morning and evening.

Bring a windproof or lightweight jacket, even during warmer months.

Because the road is rough and the surrounding attractions involve walking, comfortable shoes are essential.

If driving the original gravel sections, a vehicle with higher ground clearance is strongly recommended.

There are very few places to stop inside the tunnels, so take care of personal needs before entering the cliff road.

Nearby Attractions

Hongtiguan is located in the heart of the Southern Taihang's famous Cliff-Hanging Road network, making it easy to combine with several other attractions.

Hongni Village

Hongni Village (虹霓村) is an old mountain settlement often described as a “village on the cliffs.”

Located among steep valleys, the village preserves a distinctive mountain environment. Nearby Hongni Waterfall (虹霓瀑布) plunges through a deep gorge and provides another scenic stop after driving the cliff road.

Tongtian Gorge

Tongtian Gorge (通天峡) is one of the major scenic attractions around Pingshun. The area is known for dramatic gorges, waterfalls, cliffs, and mountain scenery.

It makes a natural second-day destination after exploring Hongtiguan.

Jingdi Cliff-Hanging Road and Shenlong Bay

If you have more time, continue south toward the Jingdi Cliff-Hanging Road (井底挂壁公路) and Shenlong Bay (神龙湾).

For adventurous road-trip travelers, these attractions can be combined into a classic Southern Taihang driving circuit:

Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road → Taihang Sky Road → Jingdi Cliff-Hanging Road → Shenlong Bay → Shiban Rock

The full circuit is roughly 300 kilometers, making three days and two nights a comfortable itinerary.

Local Food and Accommodation

Food around Pingshun is simple, hearty, and well suited to mountain travel.

Pingshun Hui Mian (平顺烩面) features chewy noodles served in a rich broth and makes a satisfying meal after a morning on the road.

Taihang Millet Braised Rice (太行小米焖饭) uses locally grown millet slowly cooked to bring out its natural aroma.

At Hongni Village, local farmhouse restaurants typically serve mountain vegetables, free-range chicken, and other regional dishes.

For accommodation, budget hotels in Pingshun County generally offer a convenient base, while resort hotels near Tongtian Gorge provide a more comfortable option for travelers building a multi-day mountain itinerary.

A Classic Two-Day Hongtiguan Itinerary

Day 1: Cliff-Hanging Road and Hongni Village

Leave Changzhi or Linzhou in the morning and drive toward Hongtiguan.

Enter the Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road and pass through its five tunnels, experiencing the rough gravel surface, narrow passages, and skylights carved into the cliffs.

After emerging from the tunnels, continue onto the Taihang Sky Road and stop at viewpoints overlooking the surrounding peaks.

Have lunch in Hongni Village, then explore the village and visit Hongni Waterfall in the afternoon.

Stay overnight in Pingshun County.

Day 2: Tongtian Gorge

Travel to Tongtian Gorge in the morning.

Spend several hours exploring the canyon, waterfalls, and mountain scenery before having lunch nearby and beginning the return journey.

For visitors who prefer a longer road trip, Day 2 can instead be extended toward Jingdi Cliff-Hanging Road and Shenlong Bay.

Hongtiguan: A Road Carved Through the Mountains

The Hongtiguan Cliff-Hanging Road is more than a mountain road.

It is a physical record of the determination of 800 villagers who spent two years carving a route through the Taihang cliffs with basic tools.

Ten kilometers of road. Five tunnels. Around 200 meters of elevation difference. Sections with gradients exceeding 30 degrees. A rough gravel surface. No tunnel lighting.

Drive slowly into the darkness and listen to the sound of your tires rolling over the stones. Watch the shafts of sunlight enter through the skylights and illuminate the marks left by the original workers.

Then emerge from the tunnel, stop somewhere safe, and look back.

The road appears as a narrow line cut into the enormous cliff face, while the mountains stretch far into the distance.

That is the real appeal of Hongtiguan. Its beauty does not come from polished infrastructure or carefully landscaped viewpoints. It comes from the raw traces of human effort that remain visible on the mountain.

For travelers looking for a more adventurous side of the Taihang Mountains, Hongtiguan offers a journey where the road itself is the attraction—a road that carries the marks of the people who carved it and the landscape that surrounds it.