Nestled amid the stretching mountains of Tiantai, Siming, and Kuaiji, and under the reputation of "Zhangjiajie in the East of Zhejiang" and "Little Guilin in Jiangnan", it is the birthplace of Chinese landscape poems and landscape paintings. It is also the essential stop of Buddhist journeys and the source of tea ceremonies. The dense forests with few traces of people have made it a paradise for outdoor hiking among backpackers. It is Xinchang, Shaoxing.
Hanfei Ancient Road
The 20-mile Hanfei River flows eastward along the mountains, reflecting thousands of rocks on both sides of the river and forming a tranquil canyon. Massive volcanic activity 10 million years ago piled up basaltic rocks up to 100 meters thick and left a silicified wood forest with Cretaceous marks. On the ancient road, the refreshing mountain breeze blows all the time, bringing coziness rarely found in urban life.
The basalt Danxia landform is mainly in Chuanyan Nineteen Peaks Scenic Area. The nineteen peaks are connected to each other, spanning 2.5 kilometers. The trees on the mountain are verdant, and the streams below are crystal clear.
In Qianzhang Valley, the 3200-meter-long Flying Dragon Plank Walk, which consists of Ancient Wooden Plank Road, Sky Glass Walk and Feitilong Heavenly Bridge, starts from Shediao Thatched Cottage and ends at Longxian Waterfall. It twists and turns in more than 20 mountain cols, like a dragon flying in clouds at an attitude of 200 meters and is extremely thrilling and beautiful.
Xiegong Ancient Road on Tianlao Mountain
As one of the most yearning mountains of the ancients, Tianmu Mountain indeed deserves its reputation. Its highest peak is called Tianmucen, which is more than 900 meters above sea level and has fascinated countless tourists.
Known as the "Gateway to Tianmu", Banzhu Ancient Village is located at the foot of Banzhu Mountain, the main peak of Tianmu Mountain, and was an important stop along the ancient road among Tianmu, Tiantai and Linhai in ancient times. The small village still remains its original charm as it has not been developed yet.
The ancient road paved with cobblestone passes through the village, where the peaks gather. This is the starting point of Xiegong Road and a crucial part of Tianmu Mountain. The road extends for 35 kilometers. Along the way, there are a lot of historical relics, sending out the refreshing scent of ink, and it has delighted countless literati and scholars.
Yanbang Ancient Road
In the hilly region of eastern Zhejiang, an ancient road, which has been well preserved for thousands of years, winds between remote mountains and deep valleys. It was originally a trail used by ancient salt traffickers. With more people walking, it has become an important way for people in mountains to get in and out of the mountain. Later, money and labors were collected to pave this dirt road with stones and pavilions were built for people to take a rest.
Along the way, large and small streams crisscross. Walk along the stream and it takes eighteen times to go across the stream back and forth, due to the influence of the mountains, hence the so-called "nine bends and eighteen crossings."
Xiake Ancient Road
In the fifth year of Chongzhen reign in Ming Dynasty (1632), Xu Xiake set off from the west gate of Ninghai, passed Tiantai, and entered Xinchang. He walked through the valley all the way down to Banzhu Village, which was like a paradise. The ancient road today is mostly paved with cobblestones and has a total length of 120 kilometers, of which Xinchang section is 90 kilometers. It is basically the same route depicted in "Xu Xiake's Travels."
As the essential part of Tang Poetry Road, both sides of the ancient road are lined with many scenic spots and historical sites, and every plant and every tree here seem to have their unique charm. There is lush vegetation along the way and the forest cover percentage is above 90%, and the most distinctive attraction is Tianmu Mountain Provincial Forest Park.
There are high mountains and dense forests, numerous streams, waterfalls and springs, abundant wild animal and plant resources, and diverse geology and landforms in the park. Climb up to the main peak of Beidoujian, which is 900m above sea level, and watch the sunrise when it is sunny, and the sea of clouds when it rains. You can also have a great panoramic view of the county town of XInchang, Siming Mountain, Kuaiji Mountain, Tiantai Mountain and other mountain ranges.
Ticket Price (for reference only):
Chuanyan Nineteen Peaks: B60 yuan
Giant Buddha Temple: RMB80 yuan
Tianzhu Wonderland: RMB60 yuan