Tao Yuan Ridge Ancient Trail

Tao Yuan Ridge Ancient Trail

Tao Yuan Ridge Ancient Trail is a national AA-level tourist attraction.

Tao Yuan Ridge Ancient Trail, also known as "Tao Yan Ridge Ancient Trail," is located at the border between Wangtan Town and Pingshui Town in Shaoxing County. The trail features over 1,400 stone steps, stretching both uphill and downhill, and is more than two meters wide. The mountain is rugged with huge rocks and towering ancient trees, while the trail itself is elegant and secluded. At the top of the ridge, there is a year-round spring that never dries up. During the Qi and Liang dynasties of the Southern Dynasties period, the Taoist philosopher and medical scientist Tao Hongjing once lived in seclusion here. In the Song Dynasty, Lu You’s grandfather, Left Minister Lu Dian, also lived in seclusion here, building a tower to write books, and Lu You himself visited the area many times. Wang Xiuzhu, an official from the Song Dynasty’s Directorate of Construction, once built a shrine for Lu You on this ridge. Tao Yuan Ridge was once the only route connecting ancient Shaoxing to Wangtan and Shengxian County. Although it has since faded from historical prominence, it remains well-preserved and has become a long-forgotten ancient path of great antiquity.

To the south of the ancient trail lies a ten-mile-long valley, where high mountains and deep valleys stretch continuously, peaks are connected in a range, the canyon is vast, waterfalls cascade down, and vegetation thrives. A canyon approximately ten miles in length winds its way through the landscape. Hikers walking up to the canyon can look up to see oddly shaped pines hanging from the cliffs and majestic waterfalls cascading down — a truly spectacular sight. Looking down into the valley, the stream water is crystal clear with cheerful little fish swimming about. The wonders crafted by nature are truly breathtaking at every turn.