The Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line Is Wildly Popular, but the Wuyue Ancient Path Is Neglected — a 35-Kilometer Stone Road as Beautiful as a Painting!

The Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line is a mountain highway in southern Anhui, starting from Ningguo City in the east and ending at Jing County, with a total length of approximately 120 kilometers. Known for its beautiful mountain scenery and winding roads, it is hailed as the 'Sichuan-Tibet Line' of southern Anhui and has become a must-drive section of Route 318. Therefore, the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line has become extremely popular in recent years, but before it gained popularity, there was the Wuyue Ancient Path. Does anyone still remember this ancient path that was once popular but is now neglected?

The Wuyue Ancient Path starts from Ningguo City in Anhui Province and reaches Lin'an District of Hangzhou City in Zhejiang Province via a 35-kilometer mountain hiking trail. It was the boundary between the ancient Southern Tang and Wuyue kingdoms, as well as a thoroughfare for civilian exchanges and trade between the two regions. The Wuyue Ancient Path spans Zhejiang and Anhui provinces, with the Anhui section located in Wanjia Township, Ningguo City.

This 35-kilometer mountain stone hiking trail was first built over 1,000 years ago during the Wuyue Kingdom, exuding the rustic charm of slash-and-burn farming in the Jiangnan region. Walking along the ancient path, one feels the weight of time and deeply experiences the historical essence of this thousand-year-old road.

Previously, the Wuyue Ancient Path was quite popular in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai region, with many people visiting to check in. Later, due to the rise of self-driving tours along the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line, this ancient path gradually faded from memory, and in recent years, few people have mentioned this thousand-year-old road. However, from the perspectives of natural scenery and historical culture, the Wuyue Ancient Path is still well worth experiencing.

The highest peak on the Ningguo section of the Wuyue Ancient Path is Lailijian, with an official altitude of 1,363 meters, making it the second highest peak in Ningguo City. Walking along the Ningguo section of the Wuyue Ancient Path, one can still see stones used for building city walls in ancient times. In 913 AD, a large-scale battle took place nearby between the Wuyue Kingdom and Yang Xingmi of Huainan. For detailed history of the war, one can refer to the local county annals; I will not elaborate here.

Sometimes gentle, sometimes steep, sometimes vast and open, sometimes hidden in dense forests — the various forms of this ancient stone plank trail make it the most historically evocative ancient path in Zhejiang and Anhui provinces. How delightful it is to learn about the history and culture of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period by walking the Wuyue Ancient Path!

The pristine scenery and excellent air quality are the greatest highlights and characteristics of the Wuyue Ancient Path. Coming here, one can not only seek antiquity but also enjoy the beauty and relaxation of nature. Therefore, the Wuyue Ancient Path is truly worth a walk.

Ningguo City in Anhui Province and Lin'an District in Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province both belong to the Tianmu Mountain area, with nearly identical environments. Although they are in different provinces, their products and resources are almost the same. The vegetation on both sides of the Wuyue Ancient Path is exactly the same as that in Zhejiang Province. Thus, the difference between Wuyue and Southern Tang was only in governance; their geography and climate are entirely alike.

Strolling along the Wuyue Ancient Path, one can see many pristine landscapes. The kind of environment typically found in primeval forests can be seen everywhere in this area. It seems that this ancient path is indeed a treasure-level historical sightseeing area.

What is most abundant along the Wuyue Ancient Path? Waterfalls. Walking on this thousand-year-old road, it seems that at every turn you can see waterfalls of various sizes. If you like waterfalls, it's recommended to bring a tripod for slow-shutter photography; the results will be absolutely beautiful.

Looking at the ancient path ruins built with timeworn stones, it is safe to say that the exchanges between Wuyue and Southern Tang were very close. The Wuyue Ancient Path is as famous as the Hanghui Ancient Path and was also a major commercial thoroughfare. With the rise and development of Huizhou merchants, more and more ancient paths spread across Zhejiang and Anhui provinces and even surrounding provinces and cities, with the Hanghui Ancient Path and Wuyue Ancient Path being the most representative.

Wanjia Township, where the Wuyue Ancient Path in Ningguo City is located, is one of the main production areas for hickory nuts, chestnuts, and bamboo shoots. These products are the wealth of the local farmers. In late autumn, the mountainous area around the Wuyue Ancient Path is filled with various cash crops, with hickory nut trees forming the most beautiful scenery, symbolizing the harvest of the local people!

The elegant environment and excellent ecology of the mountainous area boast rich vegetation. On the Wuyue Ancient Path, one can see many rare animals and plants. For example, the yew tree, known as the 'giant panda of the plant world,' is a representative species. In addition, there are dawn redwoods and other coniferous trees. Thus, the Wuyue Ancient Path is not only a historical trail but also a treasure trove for studying ecology and nature, well worth a visit. Don't think that just because the Southern Anhui Sichuan-Tibet Line is popular, the Wuyue Ancient Path should be neglected. What do you think?