Hongni Village, Changzhi: A Thousand-Year-Old Stone Village with Waterfalls, Enjoy for Only 500 RMB Per Person

Hidden in Pingshun, Changzhi, is a "cliffside fairyland" forgotten by time—Hongni Village. It sits atop a sheer cliff deep in the southern Taihang Mountains and is an ancient village dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties. Named for the rare spectacle of "rainbow arches across the sun" often seen after rain, every stone here bears the resilience of the Taihang mountain people, and every street hides the cultural codes of southeastern Shanxi. With an average summer temperature of 22°C, it truly cements itself as the ultimate summer retreat in the Taihang Mountains! 🌿 Things to Do in Hongni Village: 3 Must-Visit Spots to Unlock Two Ways to Experience This Thousand-Year-Old Village 1. Core Area of the Ancient Village: Walk on 600-Year-Old Stone Slabs and Enter the "Stone Castle" All the houses in Hongni Village are made of stone—stone slabs as roofs, stone blocks for walls, and even the courtyard steps are paved with Taihang bluestone. It is a living fossil of southeastern Shanxi’s "stone architecture." During the Ming and Qing dynasties, this was a commercial post on the Shanxi-Hebei ancient trade route. Today, well-preserved ancient ancestral halls and old oil mills can still be seen, and even old horse-tethering posts remain on the walls. The best time to stroll the village is at 6 a.m.! Sunlight filters through the gaps in the Taihang Mountains onto the stone slabs, smoke curls up from villagers’ kitchens, and elders sit at their doorsteps chatting in dialect. There’s no commercial hustle, only the healing feeling of "slow times past." Wearing a plain long dress and snapping photos casually will give you vintage-style shots with a natural retro filter. 2. Hongni Waterfall: A 30-Meter Cliff Waterfall with a 90% Chance of Rainbows in Summer Known as the "Number One Waterfall of Taihang," Hongni Waterfall is hidden in the canyon below the village. Water plunges from the cliff top into a deep emerald pool, with mist drifting up to 10 meters away. The water is spring water from the Taihang Mountains, refreshingly cool in summer. When the midday sun is strong, standing on the trail opposite the waterfall almost always reveals the magical scene of a "rainbow reflected in the pool" (bring a light jacket as the mist can feel chilly). There are about 200 stone steps down to the waterfall base. Though not steep, the stone slabs get very slippery when wet, so wear non-slip sports shoes! If you have children, it’s safer and still offers a full view of the waterfall to watch from the trail platform. 3. Cliffside Viewing Platform: Overlook the "Village Hanging on the Cliff" Navigate to the "Hongni Village Viewing Platform" (on the way to the Nanhai Guanyin Bodhisattva Temple). From here, you can take in the entire ancient village and waterfall in one frame—on the left, layers of stone houses cling to the cliff; on the right, the waterfall cascades into the green valley below; and in the distance, the dark Taihang mountain range stretches endlessly. A horizontal phone shot here needs no editing to become a perfect wallpaper. 📍 Practical Tips: Avoid Pitfalls + Save Money, Easy for Beginners - Transportation: Self-driving is recommended (navigate to "Changzhi Pingshun Hongni Village"). The last 10 kilometers are mountain roads with many curves but good conditions, so drive slowly. Public transport involves taking a bus from Changzhi to Pingshun, then transferring to a local minibus, which takes longer. Self-driving is preferred. - Parking: Navigate to "Nanhai Guanyin Bodhisattva Temple." There is a free parking lot at the temple entrance. After parking, it’s a 5-minute walk to the ancient village entrance without detours. - Accommodation: Choose stone guesthouses in the village, costing about 150-200 RMB per person per night. Open your window to mountain views, and some guesthouses offer farmhouse meals (highly recommend trying Taihang stir-fried free-range chicken and cold mixed wild vegetables—fresh and flavorful). - Best Time to Visit: June to August for summer cooling and waterfall viewing; September to October to see the village’s autumn drying season (villagers dry corn and chili peppers on rooftops, creating a colorful and soothing scene); winter is quiet, perfect for viewing the northern scenery of "ice waterfalls + stone village" after snowfall.