Malin Forest Ancient Trail

Malin Forest Ancient Trail

Malin Forest Ancient Trail

Starting and ending (via) points: Begins in Luche Village, Tonglu, passes through Maozhou Natural Village and Xiawuzhou in Jiande, and ends in Malin Village, Pujiang.

Total length: 28 km

Overview and main features: The Malin Ancient Trail is situated on Malin Mountain, which lies at the boundary between eastern Jiande and western Pujiang in the mountainous region of western Zhejiang. Malin Mountain, also known as Wild Horse Ridge, has an elevation of over 900 meters. The starting point of the trail is at 341 meters above sea level, and it reaches its highest point at 688 meters atop Malin Mountain. The trail winds up along the mountainside, small streams, and terraced fields, weaving through forests. Along the way, you’ll find ancient bridges, ancestral temples, historic residences of notable figures, ancient ruins, and traditional villages — especially the Xishan Bridge, built during the Song Dynasty, which is a nationally protected cultural relic. The core natural landscape of the Malin Ancient Trail is mainly found on Malin Mountain, characterized by both volcanic rock and Danxia landforms. The mountain is filled with peculiar peaks and strange rocks. Among them, the towering Goddess Peak (first recorded in the Wanli Prefecture Annals of Yanzhou, commonly known as “Incense Burner Peak”) stands majestically at the summit of Malin Mountain. Formed over 100 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, it showcases nature’s extraordinary craftsmanship and poetic beauty to all who pass by. There are also uniquely shaped yet lifelike rock formations such as “Shoulder-Pole Stone,” “Filial Son Stone,” and “Ship Cabin Stone.” Along the trail, you can see the “Ruins of Sanzao Bridge,” the “Lufeng Bridge” (commonly known as the Kuzhuling Bridge), the “Horse-Falling Pass,” the “Xishan Bridge,” the “Wanggong Xingshi Ancestral Hall,” the “Lishe Altar” ruins, the “Twin Parents Bridge,” the ancient natural village of Zizhou, the “Weng Ancestral Hall,” the “Qiu Family Old Residence,” the “Jiangwu Bridge,” the “Yao Liang Former Residence,” and the ancient stone bridge “Yongxing Bridge” — a historic junction of ancient Yanzhou (Meicheng) and Wuzhou (Pujiang). There's also the resting spot “Octagonal Pavilion,” the “General’s Cave,” and the ruins of the “King’s Temple.” Along the trail, you’ll find thousand-year-old camphor trees, the gigantic Masson pine known as the “King of Zhejiang Pines” on the Longshan Mountain along the trail, and other rare ancient trees. The section of the trail on Malin Mountain is lined with blooming wildflowers and fragrant orchids. This part of the trail is also home to the nationally protected animal, the black muntjac, adding a touch of mystery and charm to the journey.

Source: Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Bureau

Further reading:

· Top Ten Classic Ancient Trails in Zhejiang