Huirao Ancient Road

Huirao Ancient Road

The Huirao Ancient Road is a cultural heritage site protected by Jiangxi Province.

The Huirao Ancient Road was built during the Tang Dynasty, paved entirely with bluestone slabs about four feet long. It served as a vital route for merchants traveling from areas north of the Yangtze River to Huizhou, Raozhou, and other regions, hence it was called the "Ancient Huizhou Road" or "Huirao Road," which belonged to the ancient "national roads."

The Huirao Ancient Road Trek is a section of this historic path, stretching approximately 15 kilometers in total. Due to years of disrepair, it has not yet been fully developed. Along the way, you’ll find towering cliffs, dense forests, and stunning natural scenery, making it ideal for beginner-level outdoor trekking experiences.

Recommended hiking route: Wangcun Village in Xiuning County — Tongziling — Liankeng — Shiwukeng — Tangku — Tuochuan in Wuyuan — Likeng — Baishikeng — Hongguan — Lingjiao (approximately 13 hours)

A weathered ancient road winds through deep mountains and forests, traversing rural fields. This is the timeless artery connecting the cultures of Huizhou and Rao — the Huirao Ancient Road. Historically, it was also known as the "Huizhou Grand Road." Built in the Tang Dynasty, it started from She County in southern Anhui, passed through Xiuning to Wuyuan, and finally meandered to Yaoxi, spanning over a hundred kilometers. The road surface was entirely paved with uncarved bluestone slabs about four feet long.

In ancient times when transportation was limited, this Huirao Ancient Road functioned much like today’s “national highway.” It held a status comparable to the Huizhou-Hangzhou Ancient Road and served as a crucial trade route for Huizhou merchants entering Jiangxi. In recent years, however, it has gradually faded into the forests and the annals of history. Yet the road’s charm remains intact — every peak tells a story, every body of water holds a hue, and legends abound at every turn.

According to the *Wuyuan County Annals*: “All waters in Wuyuan flow into Poyang Lake, except for those here, which flow eastward into Xiuzhou and then to Zhejiang, hence the name Zheyuan (Zhejiang Source).” As early as the Spring and Autumn Period, Zheyuan marked the boundary between the states of Wu and Chu. The Huirao Ancient Post Road passed through this area, earning it the title “The Unique Lock of Wu and Chu, the First Village of the Huirao Ancient Road.”

When visiting Zheyuan, be sure to climb Zhe Ridge, explore the millennia-old post road, and uncover the secrets of the majestic Zhe Ridge Pass.

It’s worth noting that the Zhe Ridge section of the Huirao Ancient Road is the best-preserved stretch of the entire ancient post road.

Zhe Ridge extends from the undulating Wulong Mountains, with peaks connecting for dozens of miles. Northern Song Dynasty official Quan Bangyan once described it in poetry as “looming over the lands of Wu, coiling all the way to the tail of Chu.” Just tens of meters from the border of Xiuning County in Anhui, an ancient post road exuding a rustic and mysterious aura quietly emerges from the damp forest. The moss-covered path is desolate, and walking along it feels like stepping through a portal between past and present.

Beside the post road west of the “Wu-Chu Watershed” boundary marker lies a historical relic called the “Duipo Tomb,” associated with a touching legend. It is said that in ancient Wuyuan, there was an elderly woman surnamed Fang who had no children. Determined to accumulate virtue, she made her home atop the towering Zhe Ridge, gathering firewood and brewing tea daily for travelers to quench their thirst. After her passing, people buried her on the ridge, and in gratitude, passersby collected stones to build a tomb in her honor. Over time, the mound grew into a cairn, hence the name “Duipo Tomb” (Granny’s Mound).

The “Number One Camphor Tree of the South” — the ancient camphor tree of Hongguan stands guard at the village entrance, bearing witness to the world’s changes

Descending from Zhe Ridge, the stone steps curve in an S-shape, flanked by lush trees. Along the mountain path, there are rest stops at old post stations at regular intervals.

Halfway down the mountain, you’ll enter another section of the Huirao Ancient Road — Xinqian Ridge. This is an ancient post road linking Zhe Ridge and Lingjiao Village, stretching approximately 3.5 kilometers in length.

Xinqian Ridge is named in contrast to the older Zhe Ridge. After about 40 minutes of hiking, you’ll arrive at Lingjiao Village. This is an ancient village with traditional Huizhou-style architecture. At the entrance stands a centuries-old camphor tree over 500 years old. Though hollowed out and incomplete, only its north-south shell remains. Legend says a lightning fire destroyed the tree years ago, but in spring the following year, it miraculously sprouted new branches and leaves.

Zheyuan is home to many ancient camphor trees. In Hongguan Village, which connects to Lingjiao Village, there’s an even more renowned one — the Hongguan Ancient Camphor Tree.

Since the Southern Song Dynasty, Hongguan Village has been the largest settlement after the Huirao Ancient Road entered Jiangxi, earning the title “The First Pass of the Huirao Ancient Road.” This tranquil mountain village features fields within the settlement, mountains behind the village, and ancient trees providing dense shade on the slopes. In front of the village lies water, cradling the farmland... The entire settlement is nestled within a landscape of verdant peaks, elegant ridges, clear streams, and emerald rivers.

At the village entrance proudly stands a millennia-old camphor tree with a crown like a giant umbrella, providing shade as far as the eye can see. It stands 26 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of 3.4 meters and a canopy covering 3 acres. An ancient poem praises it: “Its branches sway above the clouds, its roots plunge deep into the abyss.” Known as the “Number One Camphor Tree of the South,” the Hongguan Ancient Camphor Tree. In Hongguan Village, another famed feature alongside the ancient camphor tree is a section of the Huirao Ancient Post Road.

The ancient post road is entirely paved with bluestone slabs, forming a scenic highlight in the village. Along the road lies the “Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate” vista. During the Qing Dynasty’s Qianlong era, Huiguan’s master ink maker Zhan Fanghuan drew inspiration from this scene to create “Dragon Gate Ink.” The front was inscribed with the golden characters “Dragon Gate,” while the back featured the image of a carp leaping over the gate. Thanks to the fine quality of the ink and its auspicious symbolism, Dragon Gate Ink once enjoyed booming sales across the country. On many of the stone steps along the ancient post road in the village, you can still see wheel ruts carved into the stone — tangible evidence of the road’s bustling past.

Location

Within Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province

Further reading:

· Sixth Batch of Jiangxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Protection Units