The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze

　　The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze is situated in the eastern part of Fuling Township, Jixi County, Anhui Province, with an elevation of 424 meters. As a crucial checkpoint on the ancient Huizhou-Hangzhou Trail, it serves as a main passage to Mount Qingliang. At the base of the pass stands Yan Kou Ting (Rock Mouth Pavilion), where the bold Wei-style characters “Jing Tong Jiang Zhe” (Path Connecting Jiangsu and Zhejiang) are inscribed. Crossing the First Bridge of the South, travelers ascend westward via stone steps. The mountain terrain is steep and rugged, dotted with uniquely shaped rocks such as the Millstone Rock, Heavenly Crown Rock, General Rock, and Fair Wind Rock. Towering peaks and massive cliffs stand to the north and south, separated by a ravine through which the Xiaoyao River meanders. On the northern cliff face, a roughly 2-meter-long granite slab is embedded to form a plank walkway, with some stone slabs partially suspended in midair. At the summit, a gaping opening to the sky marks the actual pass. From the foot of the rock to this point, there are over 1,400 steps. First-time climbers often feel their hearts race and their vision blur, carefully inching along the cliffside and daring not to look down. The stream below is strewn with chaotic rocks, piled up like beasts or melons. The stream water swirls and tumbles, murmuring softly or roaring fiercely, sometimes trickling delicately, other times surging into pools. The gate at the pass is formed by four large stone beams laid horizontally across natural rock. The lintel bears inscriptions on the west side reading “The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze,” and on the east side, “Key to Huizhou and Hangzhou – Constructed by Local Villagers in the Second Year of the Tongzhi Era, Inscribed by Shao Daotang,” all in regular script. Though weathered by wind and rain, the characters remain striking and vivid. To the east of the pass is an arched stone pavilion built against the hillside, offering travelers a place to take shelter from rain and rest. Along the edge of the pavilion is a cliff inscription that reads “Treading Danger as if Walking on Level Ground,” reflecting the mindset of those who brave this formidable pass. Once through the pass, the stone path becomes slightly more level but still winds along steep cliffs. Only after passing through this gate can one truly appreciate the allure of the First Pass in the South of the Yangtze. The name of the pass originates from Hu Zongxian, a renowned anti-pirate official and Minister of War during the Ming Dynasty.

　　Legend has it that Hu Zongxian, the Minister of War in the Ming Dynasty, kept a black dog that served as his messenger. Every day, the dog would carry letters Hu wrote to his friends in its mouth, running between Anhui and Zhejiang. The black dog never took the well-trodden paths but instead traveled daily through the dense forests. Curious individuals followed the dog and discovered that its route was the shortest and most easily traversable between Anhui and Zhejiang. Subsequently, Hu Zongxian ordered people to follow the dog and construct a footpath along the route, which became the ancient Huizhou-Hangzhou Trail. Hu Zongxian believed that this section was the most perilous in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang area and thus named it the First Pass in the South of the Yangtze. Standing at the gate of the pass with the mountain wind howling, one feels as though hovering above the void. After entering the pass, the stone path becomes slightly more level but still winds along the steep cliffs. On the eastern side of the pass, near the Tea Pavilion, the rock wall bears inscriptions recording the history of the trail: During the Baoyou era of the Song Dynasty (1253–1257), Hu Dan from Dashimen carved steps into the rocks along the mountain slope, extending over five li, to facilitate travel. In the Dade era of the Yuan Dynasty (1297–1307), the Cheng family from the northern village (now Beicun) observed the deep and dangerous terrain below and erected stone railings alongside the path, making travel safer. During the Chenghua era of the Ming Dynasty (1465–1487), Wang Yimao and others renovated the path. Subsequent dynasties carried out repairs over the years. After the founding of the People’s Republic of China, nearby villagers organized maintenance agreements that continue to this day. Inside the pass lies the “Two Chengs” Temple, built by Hu Guisen of Hujia Village. Legend has it that in the spring of 1932, Cheng Zaoci and Cheng Ruihu from Beicun went to Zhejiang for business. Seeking shelter under a cliff, they were killed when the cliff collapsed. A temple was later built to mourn them and serve as a warning. Later, Shao Zaibing funded the construction of a stone pavilion nearby. The origin of the name “First Pass in the South of the Yangtze”: It is said that Li Shixian, the Prince of Dai of the Taiping Rebellion, led his troops through this pass in 1861, praised its natural impregnability, and named it accordingly; another theory attributes the name to Hu Zongxian of the Ming Dynasty. At the top of the pass, a row of stones bears the inscription “The First Pass in the South of the Yangtze” at the forefront. Only after passing through this gate can one truly discover—or experience—the charm of this place. The passageway of the First Pass in the South of the Yangtze was later modified multiple times through fundraising efforts by local merchants from Jixi, and today it has been developed into a nationally protected cultural heritage site, renowned far and wide as a scenic attraction.