Off-the-beaten-path destination: The Ninth Pass Under Heaven, the Little Jiangnan of the North.

📍Nangzi Pass, located in Yangquan, Shanxi, is known as the Ninth Pass Under Heaven. 🚗It takes about 3 hours to drive from Beijing or Taiyuan, and about 2 hours by high-speed rail. One day is enough to visit the place. 🤣The scenery is beautiful, there are many things to do, and there are few people. You can also pass by the abandoned Nangzi Pass Power Plant, which is the setting of Liu Cixin's novel. Driving past the tall water tower and through the tunnel is a magical experience. 👉There are two travel routes to choose from, and I recommend the first one. 1️⃣Pingyang Lake—Waterfall—Pass City ✅Enter the scenic area from Pingyang Lake and walk along the boardwalk to the glass walkway. ✅You need to buy a separate ticket for the glass walkway for CNY 30. The swaying glass bridge is very exciting. ✅The waterfall scenic area is very photogenic, and the waterfall is spectacular. ✅After seeing the waterfall, head to Nangzi Pass City. The city is well-preserved, and you can try local snacks such as pressed cakes and fried pepper leaves. ✅You can climb the wild Great Wall in the city. The stairs are steep, but you can also follow the signs to take a detour to the same place. You can overlook the entire Nangzi Pass from the top. 2️⃣Pass City—Waterfall—Pingyang Lake ✅This is the reverse order of 1️⃣, which is more physically demanding. ✅It is recommended to enter from Pass City and not climb the wild Great Wall. Follow the signs to take a detour to climb the Great Wall. ✅After coming down from the Great Wall, walk along the boardwalk to the waterfall scenic area. Then, it is recommended to take the glass walkway and then take a boat to Pingyang Lake. 🙋‍♂️Some tips ➡️Be sure to wear sneakers, as it is a long walk. ➡️It is recommended to buy a joint ticket for 3 attractions, which is cheaper online. It is recommended to consider the glass walkway as an optional item. ➡️Navigate to Shuishang Renjia for dining. It is a village with many restaurants. Recommended dishes include oat noodles, fried pepper leaves, and fish (the local specialty). While waiting for your meal, you can buy a fishing net and catch fish and shrimp in the small river next to the restaurant, which is very relaxing.