Between the many hills and mountains in Chun’an, there are countless trails developed by ancient people. They either stretch along or over hills and mountains, or are adjacent to streams.
Ancient trails, dense lush trees, mountain streams, moss, pine trees and chirping birds...
All these used to be prosperous trade and business trails in ancient times. Now they are everyone's favorite outdoor recreation spots.
Today, let’s have a look at these eight ancient trails full of ancient charm.
Chashan Ancient Trail 茶山古道
The ancient Chashan Trail stretches for over 50 kilometers and is blessed with picturesque scenery and profound cultural heritage. The ancient trail is not just beautiful, but also a red culture trail full of tea fragrance. More than 70 years ago, when the Red Army advance troop led by Fang Zhimin went north to fight against the Japanese, they passed through the ancient trail, held an emergency meeting in the "Guomu Hall" of the Fang’s ancestral hall in Chashan Village, which was called "Chashan meeting" in the history of the Communist Party.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town → Qiandaohu Bridge (千岛湖大桥) → Qianfen Line (千汾线) → Fenkou (汾口) → Yanghuang Line (杨璜线) → Zhongzhou Town (中洲镇) → Chashan Ancient Trail
Fenghuangshan Ancient Trail
凤凰山古道
Weiping Fenghuang Mountain is located at 30 degrees north latitude, north of Weiping Town (威坪镇), Chun'an County. It is the highest mountain across six and seven du’s (“du” is an administrative division in ancient Chun’an). Fenghuang Mountain of Qiandao Lake is full of leisurely ancient trails with mottled bluestone steps.
Fenghuang Mountain has unique peaks and a wide vision. It is a holy land for mountaineering tourism and pilgrimage.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town → Qiandaohu Bridge → Qianwei Highway (千威公路) → Weiping Town (威坪镇) → Fenghuangshan Ancient Trail
Dalianling Ancient Trail 大连岭古道
Dalianling Ancient Trail, also known as Xiulong Ancient Trail (休龙古道), is located at the border between Chun’an County of Zhejiang Province and Huixian County of An’hui Province. The mountain trail paved with flagstones on Dalian Peak is part of the “Xiulong Ancient Trail”.
The main peak of Dalianling Ancient Trail is about 1400 meters above sea level. It passes through Xiaotianlong, overlooking Tunxi in the north and Xin'an River Dam in the east. Lianling Peak runs southwards. The local people described Xiulong Ancient Trail as "a 60-li* winding trail with 20 li being uphill, 20 li on the mountaintop and the rest 20 li being downhill", hence, the reputation "the No. 1 Peak of Jiangnan Region (areas south of the Yangtze River)". Lianling Peak is not only rich in cultural stories, folk customs, red culture, and exotic and beautiful attractions, but also is home to an abundant variety of wild animals and plants.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town → Qiandaohu Bridge → Qianfen Line → Shigushan Village, Langchuan Town (浪川乡狮古山村) → Dalianling Ancient Trail
Xinling Ancient Trail 新岭古道
Xinling Ancient Trail starts at Zhanjia Village (占家村) and ends at Xinlingyuan Village (新岭源村), passing through Xinling Peak (新岭) at the southern foot of Jigongjian Mountain (鸡公尖). Xinling Ancient Trail used to be the most convenient trail for Huizhou merchants to get to Sui’an Town from Dalianling.
The ancient trail is hidden deep at the foot of Jigongjian Mountain, which explains why it is still in good condition. The part near Langchuan (the west side of Xinling Peak) is mainly paved with slab stones and the part near Jiangjia Town (the east side of Xinling Peak) is paved with cobblestones of different sizes, which is even convenient to walk on rainy days. Along the ancient trail, there are five pavilions of different styles that span a history of over three hundred years. Also, there is the historical site of an ancient temple at the top of the peak.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town - Qiandaohu Bridge - Qianfen Line - Zhanjia Village, Langchuan Town (浪川乡占家村) - Xining Ancient Trail
Xiling Ancient Trail 歙岭古道
Xiling Ancient Trail stretches for more than 15 kilometers and is all paved with chiseled bluestones. From the foot to the top of the mountain, the ancient trail passes through several climatic zones, with vegetation ranging from evergreen shrub forests to coniferous forests, deciduous forests, mixed forests, to alpine meadows and other landscapes.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town →Qiandaohu Bridge → Qianfen Line → Shenjiafan Village, Jiangjia Town (姜家镇沈畈村) → Xiling Ancient Trail
Taling Ancient Trail 塔岭古道
Taling Ancient Trail is located at the southern foot of Baigui Peak (百桂尖) at the junction of Zhejiang Province and Anhui Province in Weiping (威坪), and is an ancient trail connecting Jiekou Town (街口镇), an ancient commercial and trade town on the banks of Xin’an River and ancient Weiping Town. It starts at the Hengtang Village (横塘村) in Wuduyuan in Weiping and ends at Takeng Village (塔坑村) in the New Jiekou Town.
The Taling Ancient Trail is relatively short among the many ancient trails between Chun'an and Anhui. The Taling Peak it passes is not high, with the gazebo at its top seated at 580 meters above sea level. The ancient trail was built for easy transportation due to its special location. Although the ancient trail is not long, it has a long history. In addition, the ancient Weiping had been the seat of government of Chun'an County for four hundred years. It can be imagined that this ancient trail has been prosperous and traveled by businessmen and tourists for thousands of years.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town → Chunkai Line (淳开线) → Qianwei Line → Hengtang Village, Weiping Town (威坪镇横塘村) → Taling Ancient Trail
Yangling Ancient Trail 洋岭古道
The Yangling Ancient Trail is located between Zitong Town (梓桐镇) and Jieshou Town (界首乡), starting from Songyuan Village (松源村) in Jieshou Town in the south, passing through Yangtian Village (洋田村) to Yangling Peak (洋岭), and ending in Yangfeng Village (洋峰村) in Zitong in the north. Now, a highway called Kangzhuang Highway (康庄公路) has been opened to connect Songyuan Village with Yangtian Village and you can get to Yangtian Village both by car and on foot.
The entire Yangling Ancient Trail is paved with local bluestone blocks, which are wide and neat. From Yangfeng Village in Zitong, a stretch of bluestone slab trail circles all the way up to the top of the peak. The south part of the Yangling Ancient Trail leads to Yangtian Village, and the terrain is relatively gentle. There is a gazebo both at the top of the peak and the mountain pass. They have a history of more than 300 years but are well-preserved and relatively complete. At the top of the peak is a group of ancient trees aged over 600 years old. Standing on the top of the peak, you can overlook the village fields around Zitong Town through the ancient trees. On the hillside not far from the entrance of Yangtian Village, there is a square two-story building called Wenchang Pavilion, which embodies the culture and history of Yangtian Village. This Wenchang Pavilion is a landmark building of Yangtian Village and also a county-level historical protection building.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town - Qiandaohu Bridge - Qianfen Line - Songyuan Village, Jieshou Town (界首乡松源村) - Yangling Ancient Trail
Liaoling Ancient Trail 辽岭古道
Liaoling Ancient Trail is an official trail connecting Chun'an to Shouchang Town (寿昌) and Quzhou City (衢州). It goes upstream and twists and turns upwards along the mountain like a snake.
Transportation: Qiandaohu Town →Shangjiangbu Bridge (上江埠大桥) → Langjia Village, Lishang Town (里商乡郎家村) → Liaoling Ancient Trail