The Kuocang Ancient Road

The Kuocang Ancient Road

The Kuocang Ancient Road

Starting and ending (via) points: The currently preserved intact section starts at the intersection at Fan Village in Taohualing, Jinyun County, passing through Aitou Village and Taohuadong, crossing the Lishui–Jinyun county border, then through Sanwangling Village, Gaoqing Village, and Quejinguan Village in Liandu District, and ends at the foot of Yuling.

Total length: 20 kilometers

Overview and main features: The Kuocang Ancient Road boasts a long history, initially developed during the Eastern Han to the Southern Dynasties period, dating back over 1,500 years. It was designated as an official courier route during the Tang Dynasty, and by the Ming and Qing dynasties, it had become a major government road connecting Wenzhou and Lishui to Jinhua. The ancient road is quite long; historically, it stretched 43 kilometers from Jinyun County’s seat to Lishui City. The currently preserved section runs 20 kilometers from the intersection at Fan Village in Taohualing, Jinyun County, to Yuling Village in Yanquan Subdistrict, Liandu District. The path of the preserved section has remained unchanged for a thousand years, with the road surface intact and entirely paved with stone blocks. The ancient road is rich in cultural heritage—stories such as Magistrate He Refunding the Gold and the Filial Son Guarding the Tomb embody integrity and filial piety, while the loyal love story of Gao Ji and Wu Sanchun is still celebrated today. The area also boasts a wealth of well-preserved historical relics.

Source: Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Bureau

Further reading:

· Top Ten Classic Ancient Roads in Zhejiang