The Western Route of the Huizhou Ancient Road

The Western Route of the Huizhou Ancient Road

The Western Route of the Huizhou Ancient Road is a cultural relic protection unit of Anhui Province.

The Western Route of the Huizhou Ancient Road is located in Gegong Town, Yanghu Town, Yaodu Town, and other townships in Dongzhi County, Anhui Province, as well as at Xianyu Mountain in Ruokeng Township, Qimen County, Huangshan City (from the foot of the mountain in Zhongzu Group, Hongqi Village to the boundary between Jugen Pass and Dongzhi).

(1) The ancient road of Dongzhi, built during the Tang Dynasty, was a vital north-south thoroughfare during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The path is paved with bluestone slabs along its entire length—each slab measures 1–1.2 meters in length, 0.4–0.6 meters in width, and 0.3 meters in thickness. There are crosswalks over the ancient road, stone pavilions, stone benches, and ancient wells along the route. Due to the characteristics of limestone being prone to weathering, the bluestone slabs, stone arch bridges, and carvings along the road show varying degrees of erosion.

(2) The Jugen Ridge Ancient Road is entirely paved with bluestone slabs, stretching approximately 11 kilometers in total. As early as the year 873 AD, it had already become a key transportation and military route. The Qimen section of the ancient road is about 3.5 kilometers long, with bluestone slabs measuring around 1.4 meters in length and 0.4 meters in width. The road preserves a large number of ancient buildings, tombs, and battlefield sites dating back to the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The Western Route of the Huizhou Ancient Road is rich in cultural significance. As a renowned trade route for Huizhou merchants since the Ming and Qing dynasties, it provided an important transport channel for the trade of Huizhou’s tea, stationery, and other goods with the outside world. The ancient road holds high archaeological value for studying the origins of ancient transportation and also offers tangible material for research on Huizhou studies in China. The natural and cultural environment of the ancient Huizhou road provides strong support for future tourism development, which will bring considerable economic and social benefits.

(1) The ancient road of Dongzhi.

Protected area: Both sides of the surviving sections of the bluestone-paved ancient road, extending 2 meters outward. For ancient wells, forest-prohibition steles, post stations, inscriptions, and stone arch bridges on the ancient road, the protected zone extends 5 meters outward from the cultural relics themselves.

Construction control zone: A 2-meter buffer extending outward from the boundaries of the protected area.

(2) The Jugen Ridge Ancient Road.

Protected area: From the foot of the mountain in Zhongzu Group, Liuzhong Group, Ruokeng Township, Qimen County, to the border with Shitai County.

Construction control zone: The entire mountain where the Jugen Ridge Ancient Road is located.