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The Lychee Ancient Road

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The Lychee Ancient Road During the Tang Dynasty’s Tianbao era (742–756), Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had a Favored Consort’s Garden built in Fuzhou (modern-day Fuling, Chongqing) to satisfy his beloved concubine Yang Guifei’s craving for fresh lychees. He also renovated over 1,000 kilometers of courier routes from Fuzhou to Xi’an for transporting the fruit. Lychee couriers sealed freshly picked lychees, leaves and all, inside freshly cut nanmu bamboo tubes using traditional preservation methods. Every twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers), the couriers were changed, and every sixty li (approximately 30 kilometers), the horses were switched. They traveled day and night to swiftly deliver the lychees to the capital, leaving behind the thousand-year legacy of the Lychee Ancient Road. The Ming Dynasty text *Guangji of Shu* provides a detailed account of the route: Fuling, Chongqing (Favored Consort’s Garden) – Dianjiang – Liangping – Dazhu, Sichuan – Daxian – Maduguan, Xuangan – Yan Kou Township, Pingchang – Wanyuan – Tongjiang – back into Wanyuan – Zhenba County, Shaanxi – Zixiang County’s Ziwu Town, entering the Ziwu Road, and finally reaching Xi’an. Maduguan was one of the most important stations along the Lychee Ancient Road. In April 2015, Maduguan applied to the Sichuan World Heritage Office to include its section of the Lychee Ancient Road in the Shu Roads’ bid for UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage status. In the same year, national and Sichuan provincial experts visited Maduguan three times for archaeological research and guidance on the road’s restoration. They noted: “Maduguan’s restoration of a 4-kilometer section of the Lychee Ancient Road and a 6-kilometer stretch of road from the county-establishment period is unparalleled in western China. It should take the lead in using the Lychee Ancient Road heritage to develop distinctive cultural tourism, creating a model destination in the west for self-driving and hiking, and a hometown of folk songs. It must strive to be a leader in world heritage conservation and play a pivotal role in applying for World Natural and Cultural Heritage status for the Sichuan section of the Lychee Ancient Road!”

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During the Tang Dynasty’s Tianbao era (742–756), Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had a Favored Consort’s Garden built in Fuzhou (modern-day Fuling, Chongqing) to satisfy his beloved concubine Yang Guifei’s craving for fresh lychees. He also renovated over 1,000 kilometers of courier routes from Fuzhou to Xi’an for transporting the fruit. Lychee couriers sealed freshly picked lychees, leaves and all, inside freshly cut nanmu bamboo tubes using traditional preservation methods. Twenty li (approximately 10 kilometers) saw a courier change, and every sixty li (approximately 30 kilometers) meant a horse switch, ensuring round-the-clock travel to urgently deliver them to the capital. This effort has left today’s generations with the millennia-old heritage of the Lychee Ancient Road. The Ming Dynasty’s *Guangji of Shu* provides a detailed record of the route: starting from Fuling, Chongqing (Favored Consort’s Garden) — Dianjiang — Liangping — Dazhu, Sichuan — Daxian — Maduguan, Xuangan — Yan Kou Township, Pingchang — Wanyuan — Tongjiang — back into Wanyuan — Zhenba County, Shaanxi — Zixiang County’s Ziwu Town, then entering the Ziwu Road, leading to Xi’an. Maduguan was one of the most crucial stations along the Lychee Ancient Road. In April 2015, Maduguan applied to the Sichuan World Heritage Office to have its section of the Lychee Ancient Road included in the Shu Roads’ nomination for UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage status. In the same year, national and Sichuan provincial experts conducted three on-site visits for archaeological work and guidance in restoring the ancient road. They stated: “Maduguan’s restoration of a 4-kilometer section of the Lychee Ancient Road, plus 6 kilometers of roads dating to the county-establishment era, is truly unique in the western region. It should take the lead in leveraging the Lychee Ancient Road heritage to develop themed cultural tourism, build a western hub for self-driving and hiking, and a cradle of folk music. It must aim to become an exemplary site in world heritage protection and play a leading role in nominating the Sichuan section of the Lychee Ancient Road for UNESCO World Natural and Cultural Heritage status.”