The Lechang Section of the Xijing Ancient Road

The Lechang Section of the Xijing Ancient Road

The Lechang Section of the Xijing Ancient Road is a cultural heritage site protected at the provincial level in Guangdong Province.

The Lechang Section of the Xijing Ancient Road is located in Pingshi Town, Meihua Town, and Yunyan Town of Lechang City, Shaoguan.

The Xijing Ancient Road, also known as the Yile Ancient Road or Xijing Road, was first built in the sixth year of the Jianyuan era during the Western Han Dynasty (135 BC). It was the essential passage connecting various parts of Lingnan to the capital during Emperor Wu of Han’s time. Owing to its long history, it earned the nickname “highway” of the ancient capital leading to the Lingnan region.

The Shaoguan section of the Xijing Ancient Road is mainly located within Ruyuan Yao Autonomous County and Lechang City. It stretches from the ancient road at Zhoujie in Ruyuan in the south to the ancient road at Zhetang in Meihua Town, Lechang, in the north. The Xijing Ancient Road traverses mountains by carving paths and crosses rivers by building bridges. Along the way, villages are densely distributed, and historic bridges, pavilions, ancient houses, and residences can still be clearly seen today. In 2018, the Provincial Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development listed the Xijing Ancient Road (Lechang Essence Section) as one of the 18 key heritage routes among the Ancient Post Roads of Southern Guangdong, focusing on its development.

The starting point of the Essence Section of the Xijing Ancient Road (Lechang Section) is Meihua Bus Station. Visitors enter Dongbei Village via County Road 357 from Meihua Post, then access the Zhetagang Ancient Road from the east side of the Dongbei Village ancestral hall. The Zhetagang Ancient Road starts in Dongbei Village, runs from north to south through Taolikeng Village, and ends in Caoxieling Village. From there, visitors can proceed via County Road 357 to Liao Family Street Village and Yunyan Post (a secondary post station), eventually reaching Yunyan Town Bus Station.

The Essence Section of the Xijing Ancient Road (Lechang Section) has a total length of 10.3 kilometers, including 3.54 kilometers of the original post road and 6.76 kilometers of connecting routes. Among the original section, 0.94 kilometers are mountainous ancient roads, and 2.6 kilometers are plains-type ancient roads. The connecting routes include 1.64 kilometers of newly built walking paths and 5.12 kilometers of marked paths along existing county and township roads. The villages, landscapes, and characteristic remains along the route bear witness to the historical and cultural essence of the Xijing Ancient Road.

The Essence Section of the Xijing Ancient Road (Lechang Section) is home to six major villages: Xinwu Village, Dongbei Village, Taolikeng Village, Caoxieling Village, Liao Family Street Village, and Yunyan Village.

These six villages all have a long history and were built against the mountains and along the “road.” They preserve a large number of ancient structures such as ancestral halls, village archways, and ancient wells. The villages are filled with numerous trees, offering a serene and rustic atmosphere. Currently, most villages focus on developing primary and tertiary industries, cultivating crops such as rice and corn, presenting a picturesque agricultural landscape. The ancient mountain paths, lush bamboo forests, weathered bluestone slabs, and elderly farmers working the land... together form a vivid picture of life in the villages along the ancient road. The elders and children under the banyan trees—perhaps their ancestors came from Central China via the Xijing Ancient Road, and perhaps their descendants will walk the Xijing Ancient Road to every corner of the world.

Pavilions that combine rest, wayfinding, charity, and education

On the Xijing Ancient Road (Lechang Section), there are many pavilions, among which the Siyuan Pavilion and the Zanxixi Pavilion are relatively well-known. Their names reflect the main functions of the pavilions: resting, wayfinding, charity, and education.

The Siyuan Pavilion is located on the mountain pass of Jingshuiao in Caoxieling Village, the Village Committee of Yunyan Town, Lechang City, Shaoguan, Guangdong Province. Built in the twelfth year of the Jiaqing era of the Qing Dynasty (1807 AD), it runs from north to south and is constructed of wood and stone. It is about 6.70 meters wide and 7.85 meters deep, covering an area of approximately 53 square meters. It features a lifted-beam structure with seven spans, and both the north and south gate lintels are inscribed with the raised characters “Siyuan Pavilion.” The Siyuan Pavilion connects to the Yunyan Buyao Pavilion to the south and Ruyuan Hongyun Township, and to Meihua Zhetagang and Hunan to the north. This pavilion is the largest and most prominently structured ancient pavilion still existing in Lechang City, holding significant value for the study of Qing Dynasty pavilion architecture in the region.

The Zanxixi Pavilion is located near Chushuiyan Village, under the Chushuiyan Village Committee of Yunyan Town, Lechang City. Constructed in the eighteenth year of the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty (1753 AD), it also runs from north to south. The Zanxixi Pavilion was demolished during the construction of Township Road Y793 but was rebuilt in 2004 on the original site using original materials and following the original design. The current pavilion is 5.15 meters wide, 8 meters deep, and covers an area of 42 square meters. It is made of concrete. The Zanxixi Pavilion connects to Xiakai Feng Pavilion to the south and Ruyuan Hongyun Township, and to the Yunyan Town Government, Siyuan Pavilion, Meihua, and Hunan to the north.

Yunyan Town: Located in the western part of Lechang City, Yunyan Town borders Hongyun Town of Ruyuan County to the east, Shaping Town of our city to the south, Xiushui Town to the west, and Meihua Town to the north. The total land area of the town is 66 square kilometers. It administers nine village committees—Shichong, Changtang, Kaifang, Chushuiyan, Zuling, Yunyan, Xuanjiadong, Baican, and Simaoping—encompassing 53 natural villages. At the end of 2003, the total population was 14,923 people from 2,883 households, including 14,251 people from 2,705 agricultural households. The labor force numbered 6,178.

Yunyan Town is situated in the limestone region of northern Guangdong and features karst... More details on Yunyan Town++