Yongmo Stone Slab Road

Yongmo Stone Slab Road

The Yongmo Stone Slab Road is located behind the former residence of Zheng Guanying in Yongmo Village, Sanxiang Town, Zhongshan City, Guangdong Province. This stone slab road was built during the Qing Dynasty and funded by Zheng Guanying’s father, Zheng Qihua. Currently, about 800 meters in length and 3 meters in width remain. The stone slabs gently follow the terrain, connecting various streets and households. Looking down at the path beneath your feet, the road seems to have sunk slightly under the weight of so many bygone stories, and the once-hard stones, eroded over time by wind and rain, have gradually lost their original smoothness. The mottled slabs are etched with ancient tales, laid out in rows, columns, or a mix of both, winding their way along the path.

It’s worth mentioning the vertically laid stone slabs. After laying four or five horizontal slabs, the clever road builders placed vertical slabs on both sides to “sandwich” the horizontal ones in between. This greatly enhanced the load-bearing capacity of the road. In addition, the granite used at the time was carefully selected, which is why the stone slab road has remained intact despite over a hundred years of weathering.

The Yongmo Village, connected by the stone slab road, is very quiet. Dogs lounge lazily, and a few elderly people by the roadside glance at the “intrusive” reporter with mild surprise but little concern. Occasionally, one or two villagers pass by on bicycles, equally quiet, not causing the slightest commotion.

Scattered along the stone slab road are old houses, many of which have been rebuilt into modern concrete structures. These old houses, all over a hundred years old, have witnessed the development of Yongmo but have ultimately been unable to withstand the relentless passage of time. Even though their outer walls have been whitewashed, the overall state of disrepair is evident. However, the fate of the stone slab road hasn’t been quite as “harsh.” It’s been said that stone slab roads are the most vivid embodiment of street culture—like a lean, wise elder, deep and thoughtful. This description fits the Yongmo Stone Slab Road perfectly. Walking through its long, quiet paths, you can almost feel the weight of history beneath your feet. Over a hundred years of time have silently left their mark on the road—familiar yet foreign, accidental yet inevitable.

Walking along the deep, quiet stone slab road, the rhythmic sound of shoes meeting stone might be a dialogue of the soul. Suddenly, a fine drizzle thickens. Taking shelter under an eave and looking up, the stone slabs glisten, feeling slick and moist, exuding an ancient texture in the heavy rain. The slabs lie tightly against one another, nestled close, as if bound by some bloodline into an ancient ballad. Moss in the cracks of the stones, unwilling to stay idle, creeps upward, adorned with glistening raindrops, telling its own story of rustic life and tradition.

Nostalgia and exploration on this poetic Yongmo Stone Slab Road—whether seeking culture or simply wandering—is like reading a serene and graceful essay, admiring a well-balanced ink painting, or stepping into a classic scene of urban and rural architectural art.

Yongmo Village: The Yongmo Village Committee (Yōngmò Cūnmín Wěiyuánhuì) is located 3.8 kilometers northeast of the Sanxiang Town government. It governs two natural villages, with its main office in Yongmo Village, hence the name. Around 1949, it belonged to Donggui Township; in 1953, it split off and was called Yongmo Township. In 1958, it was divided into three brigades: Yong 1 to Yong 3; in 1963, they merged and were renamed Yongmo Brigade. In 1983, it became a township again. In December 1986, it was renamed to its current title. It has 4,694 mu of arable land, mainly producing rice, followed by peanuts and vegetables. There are knitting factories, as well as primary schools and health stations. The town-run Bo’ai Middle… More details about Yongmo Village++