The Tiaofan Ancient Trail

The Tiaofan Ancient Trail

The Tiaofan Ancient Trail is a cultural relic protection unit of Zhejiang Province.

The Tiaofan Ancient Trail is located in Cangnan County and dates back from the Ming Dynasty to the People’s Republic of China.

The main starting point of the Tiaofan Ancient Trail is Fu De Bay, which features numerous cultural and historical sites. Located halfway up the mountain, Fu De Bay was once a settlement where alunite miners lived and worked. The homes built along the mountainside form a small street, featuring stone-and-brick structures that are typical of old mining area architecture. Nearby, there are also remnants such as old-style calcining stoves and former mining areas.

At the foot of Fu De Bay Mountain lies the Old Street of Fan Shan, formerly known as the “Inner Street.” Centered around Ting Zi Jiao, the area once hosted numerous shops and a steady flow of travelers. Today, the Republican-era architecture remains intact. In Nan Song and Pu Ping, both areas revere the Goddess Ma Xian; at the foot of Pu Ping’s Ke Ling, there is a Ma Xian Temple originally built in the Ming Dynasty. Inside the temple is preserved a stone stele inscribed with a ban from the Kangxi era. A towering camphor tree stands in front of the gate, adjacent to the main road, serving as an important resting place for alunite porters.

Xi Guang Village has a long history—the former residence of the clever historical figure Li Shi Lin from Nan Song during the Qing Dynasty is located here. Li Shi Lin advocated for the establishment of Wu Nan Academy, contributing to the creation of a major academy in the Pingyang area during the Qing era.

Nan Song Old Street retains many residences and cultural relics. At Bei Shan Xia, there are several large-scale and exquisitely built residences belonging to the Li, Zhou, and Ouyang families. These structures are representative of Qing Dynasty mountain architecture in southern Zhejiang. In the center of Nan Song Old Street stands an old theater stage. Though located in the middle of the street, its pillars and roof ridge remain well-preserved to this day. Beside the street, a small stream is crossed by a bridge called “Qing Xu Bridge,” a stone arch covered bridge and one of only two remaining covered bridges in Cangnan. At the end of Bei Shan Street grows a massive camphor tree over 900 years old, still lush and thriving—it is known as the “Tree King of Cangnan.”

Chang Chan Ban … Palace (Ban Gong) is an important resting spot along the Tiaofan Ancient Trail. The Ban Gong combines the functions of a shrine and a roadside shelter, making it ideal for resting. San Tiao Xi is the confluence of three mountain streams and also the meeting point of two Tiaofan trails. Due to its geographic convenience, a small mountain village formed here, complete with roadside shelters and stepping stones across the stream.

The most treacherous section, known as “Mouse Road,” features an arched bridge spanning a mountain stream. Made of rough-hewn stones, the bridge’s arch is semicircular—hence its name “Dong Qiao” (Hole Bridge). Built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, the bridge showcases exquisite craftsmanship and fine structure. Despite being over 200 years old, it remains sturdy and is among the first batch of cultural relic units in Cangnan County.

Near the Old Street of Zhao Xi lies the Jiu Bao Palace, where alunite kiln owners once set up alunite collection offices. Porters would bring their loads here to be weighed, delivered, and paid. The Jiu Bao Palace was built during the Xining reign of the Northern Song Dynasty and renovated in the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty. It enshrines Yan Gong Ye and features a courtyard-style complex consisting of a front porch, theater stage, main hall, and wing rooms, holding certain historical value.

Zhao Xi Old Street was built along the stream and took shape during the Jiaqing reign of the Qing Dynasty. It remains relatively well-preserved. Ancient banyan trees sway by the stream, and the water is crystal clear. The old street flourished especially during the alunite transport period, when shops and businesses lined the street in great numbers, competing in signs and wares. The street also retains several well-preserved European-style buildings, symbols of its past economic prosperity.

On January 13, 2017, the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province announced it as part of the seventh batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Seventh Batch of Zhejiang Provincial Cultural Relic Protection Units