The Songmao Ancient Trail

The Songmao Ancient Trail

The Songmao Ancient Trail starts from the west of Dujiangyan City and extends to Songpan, spanning a total length of 320 kilometers. It was an ancient transportation artery that facilitated the exchange of goods between the Chengdu Plain and the northwestern Sichuan Plateau.

The Songmao Ancient Trail was anciently known as the "Ranlong Mountain Road." When Li Bing constructed the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, he received substantial support from the Qian Di people, prompting the opening of a mountain path through Longxi and Niangziling that led directly to Ranlong. After many generations of effort, this route eventually became the “Songmao Ancient Trail.” The ancient trail crossed mountains and rivers, featuring breathtaking scenery along the way, with endless caravans of merchants and traders. In the late Qing Dynasty, Dong Xiangqin, a local scholar, was invited to serve as an aide to the Xia ZhenTai in Songpan. He wrote the long narrative poem "Ballad of the Song Tour," chronicling his observations and experiences along the trail, which can be regarded as a vivid depiction of the cultural charm of the ancient Songmao Trail. The trail played a significant historical role.

After 1950, with the completion of the Chengdu–Aba Highway, the ancient trail gradually fulfilled its historical mission. The remaining section from the west of Dujiangyan City to the Two Kings Temple still evokes memories of the distant past when camel bells rang and merchant caravans passed in an endless stream. Visitors walking along this trail to explore the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Two Kings Temple will find endless enjoyment in the historic relics and magnificent scenery along both sides.

One thousand nan ben gong pen du wen li: bu you xia xing li cun tian.

Jingxiu’s Hydraulic Virtue Memorial Archway

Located to the east of the Two Kings Temple, it was built in the 33rd year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty (1907 AD). Jingxiu, courtesy name Xiuzhi, was a native of the Ulanqab League in Inner Mongolia. During the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty, while serving as the Water Conservancy Administrator of Chengdu, he “observed that the common people were unable to bear heavy burdens, reported in detail to the higher authorities, and had the Zhuyuan Dam abolished.” Bamboo materials were subsequently purchased by the government, with construction and material costs shared equally between the district office and county. The people, in gratitude, built the “Virtue Memorial Archway” in his honor.

The Yu the Great Temple

The Yu the Great Temple is situated between the Two Kings Temple and Yulei Pass. Legend says that Yu the Great once “diverted the Min River from the Min Mountains and channeled it eastward as the Tuo River.” During the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (circa 1

8

2

1 to

1850), the Yu the Great Temple was constructed about 1

00 meters down the mountainside west of Yulei Pass. It later became residential housing. It has now been restored as a memorial site for ancient water management pioneers.

Ming Dynasty Water Control Stele

The Ming Dynasty Water Control Stele (fragmentary), located in the rock crevice east of the Yu the Great Temple. The upper part is inscribed with "Record of Water Control," while the lower part prominently features the six large characters “Deep Dredge the Beach, Low Build the Weir.”

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It was replicated and re-erected in the Lingguan Hall of the Two Kings Temple in March 18 [year assumed].