The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze

The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze

The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze is located in the eastern part of Fuling Township, Jixi County, Anhui Province, at an elevation of 424 meters. It is a key pass along the ancient Huizhou-Hangzhou Trail and the main route to Mount Qingliang. At the base of the pass, by Yan Kou Pavilion, the bold Wei-style calligraphy “Path to Jiangsu and Zhejiang” is inscribed. Crossing the First Bridge of the South, one ascends westward via stone steps. The mountain terrain is steep and rugged, featuring oddly shaped rocks such as Millstone Rock, Crown Rock, General Rock, and Smooth Sail Rock, the most remarkable among them. Towering peaks and massive cliffs stand on either side, separated by a valley where the Xiaoyao River winds through. A granite slab about two meters long is embedded into the northern rock wall, forming a plank path, with some stone slabs hanging halfway in midair. At the top, an opening to the sky marks the actual pass. From the foot of the rock to this point, there are over 1,400 steps. First-time climbers often feel their hearts race and their vision blur, cautiously inching along the cliff wall, daring not to look down. The stream below is strewn with chaotic rocks, piled up like beasts or melons. The stream water swirls and cascades, murmuring softly or roaring fiercely, sometimes trickling gently, other times surging into pools. The gate of the pass is formed by four large stone slabs laid horizontally across natural rock. On the lintel, the west side reads “The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze,” while the east side is inscribed with “The Lock of Huizhou and Hangzhou – Constructed by Local Villagers in the Second Year of the Tongzhi Era, Inscribed by Shao Daotang,” in regular script. Though weathered by wind and rain, the characters remain strikingly vivid. To the east of the pass stands an arched stone pavilion built against the mountain, offering travelers a place to take shelter from rain and rest. Along the edge of the stone pavilion, the cliff inscription “Crossing Danger as if Trivial” is carved, expressing the mindset of those who brave this mighty pass. After entering the pass, the stone path becomes slightly more level but still winds along the steep cliffs. Only after passing through this gate can you truly appreciate the charm of the First Pass in the South of the Yangtze. The name originates from Hu Zongxian, a famous anti-pirate official and Minister of War during the Ming Dynasty.

Legend has it that Hu Zongxian, the Ming Dynasty Minister of War, kept a black dog that served as his messenger. Every day, the dog would carry letters Hu had written to his friends, running back and forth between Anhui and Zhejiang. The dog never took the well-trodden paths, but instead traveled daily through the jungle. Curious people followed the dog and discovered that it was taking the shortest and most accessible route between the two provinces. So, Hu Zongxian ordered people to follow the dog and build a path along its route — thus creating the ancient Huizhou-Hangzhou Trail. Hu Zongxian believed this spot was the most treacherous in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region, hence naming it the First Pass in the South of the Yangtze. Standing before the gate of the pass, with the mountain wind howling, one feels as though they are suspended in midair. After entering the pass, the stone path becomes a bit more level but still winds around the steep cliffs. On the rock wall near the Shicha Pavilion east of the pass, an inscription records the history of the ancient trail: During the Baoyou era of the Song Dynasty (1253–1257), Hu Dan from Dashimen carved stone steps along the mountain slope for over five li to facilitate travel. In the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty (1297–1307), the Cheng family from the northern countryside (now Beicun) saw the deep and dangerous ravine below, so they cut stone railings and installed them along the sides to make passage safer. During the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1465–1487), Wang Yimao and others renovated the path. Subsequent dynasties carried out repairs over the years. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, nearby villagers organized agreements to maintain the path, a practice that continues to this day. Inside the pass lies the “Two Chengs” Temple, built by Hu Guisen of Hujia Village. Legend says that in the spring of 1932, Cheng Zaqi and Cheng Ruihu from Beicun went to Zhejiang for business, took shelter under a cliff, and were killed when the cliff collapsed. A temple was then built to mourn them and serve as a warning. Later, Shao Zaibing funded the construction of a stone pavilion nearby. The origin of the name “First Pass in the South of the Yangtze”: It is said that Li Shixian, the Prince of Dai of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, led his troops through here in 1861, praised it as a natural stronghold, and named it. Another theory attributes the name to Hu Zongxian of the Ming Dynasty. Above the pass, the first row of stones bears the five characters “The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze.” Only after passing through this gate can you truly discover—or rather, experience—the allure of the First Pass in the South of the Yangtze. The passage of the First Pass was later renovated multiple times by donations from Jixi merchants over the dynasties, and today it has become a nationally protected cultural heritage site, renowned far and wide as a scenic attraction.