Hiking Ancient Trails and Temples – Experiencing Millennium-Old Charm – The Tanzhe Temple Station of the 5th Beijing International Mountain Hiking Festival, Cup of Zhongkun, Held ...

Among the many hiking routes in Beijing today, this one is truly unique. Entirely connected by ancient roads that are thousands of years old, it traverses mountains, plains, wetlands, and various terrains. While hiking for fitness, enthusiasts can also learn about the development of North China’s folk culture, trace the origins of Buddhism in the capital, and uncover the stories behind “ancient roads, west winds, and lean horses.” This is the 25-kilometer Royal Temple Hiking Route at the Tanzhe Temple Station of this International Mountain Hiking Competition. Walking on the hoof prints and cart ruts weathered by centuries, exploring the magical stories along the way, one feels as if instantly transported through a “time tunnel,” walking alongside ancient merchants. What was originally a simple light mountain hike thus becomes a “scenario-based experiential” journey through ancient cultural charm.

Passing through the starting gate located in Dingjiatan Village, Miaofengshan Town, you arrive at Niujiaoling, where a winding ancient road stretches across the valley – marking the beginning of this mysterious ancient trail adventure. Stepping onto the “Xishan Avenue” section of the Western Beijing Ancient Road, the dense hoof prints underfoot and the crisscrossing cart ruts record its former prosperity. In the late Qing Dynasty, tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the country passed through here each year to worship at the Golden Summit of Miaofeng Mountain. The diverse folk cultures they brought converged here, making Miaofeng Mountain the birthplace of North China’s folk culture. Today, the Miaofeng Mountain Incense Association Museum still allows visitors to feel the bustling scene of those times. Meanwhile, Xishan Avenue was also an important ancient trade route, the necessary path for coal to enter Beijing. As one of the most vital resources at the time, coal transport was crucial to livelihoods, and keeping this road open secured the economic lifeline of the capital. Additionally, because the “Xishan Avenue” is located at a strategic pass in western Beijing and serves as the main artery connecting various branch roads, it is also known as the “First Pass of the Western Beijing Ancient Road,” historically a key military supply route into the capital, with significant strategic importance. Hiking on this ancient road built during the Han and Tang dynasties, touching the historical relics along the way, and reading the various fascinating stories make hikers gain a more vivid and intuitive understanding of China’s folk culture and socio-economic development.

Ascending via Xishan Avenue, you reach the Wangping Ancient Road – the most beautiful and richly varied section of the Western Beijing Ancient Road. Backed by Jiulong Mountain and overlooking the Yongding River, it consists of Xishan Avenue, Yuhe Ancient Road, ancient roads along the Yongding River, and some branch trails, spanning approximately 20 kilometers. In the past, shops lined both sides of the ancient road, with calls of vendors echoing incessantly. Every day, five to six thousand camels and horses carried all kinds of goods over long distances, passing through here in grand caravans. During peak seasons, the line would be so long that it was neck-to-neck and endless, creating a spectacular scene. Today, walking along the ancient road, one unexpectedly encounters relics such as the Guan Yu Temple, the Three Brothers Temple, various steles and stone inscriptions, as well as passes and watchtowers, bringing frequent surprises. But the greatest treasure is arguably the former residence of Ma Zhiyuan, one of the “Four Great Masters of Yuan Drama.” The residence is surrounded by timeless charm, with murmuring streams. A delicate and elegant white marble arch bridge spans the creek, making one feel as if in a paradise. The rustic residential buildings in the courtyard, the standing statues, and the displayed cultural relics inevitably remind one of the classic lines from “Autumn Thoughts”: “Withered vines, old trees, crows at dusk; a small bridge, flowing water, and a cottage.”

Hiking on the ancient road is like stepping through time and space – one step you’re a pilgrim, the next you’re following in the footsteps of merchants. The historical changes and intertwined timelines of thousands of years seem compressed within every step. This feeling becomes even stronger upon arriving at Tanzhe Temple, the birthplace of Buddhist culture in the capital. This royal ancient structure, initially built during the Western Jin Dynasty, features majestic halls, serene courtyards, ancient trees and famous flowers complementing each other, and upturned eaves and corners casting shadows on one another. The temple’s “Imperial Pavilion Flowing Cup,” “Nine Dragons Playing with a Pearl,” “Night Rain of Flying Springs,” and other “Ten Scenes of Tanzhe” are uniquely splendid. It is said that Yao Guangxiao, a eminent monk ordered by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang to build Beijing City, once lived in seclusion here. He drew inspiration for the architecture and layout of the Forbidden City, including the Hall of Supreme Harmony, from Tanzhe Temple. Indeed, many parts of Beijing were modeled after Tanzhe Temple – hence the saying “Tanzhe Temple came before Beijing City.” As Beijing’s earliest Buddhist temple, Tanzhe Temple is not only an architectural marvel but also holds high religious status in the Buddhist community of the capital. Since its establishment in the Western Jin Dynasty, Tanzhe Temple has experienced several periods of flourishing and decline, witnessing the entire process of the inheritance and development of Buddhist culture in the capital. Known as the birthplace of Beijing’s Buddhist culture, it attracts pilgrims from all over the country for Buddhist prayer festivals every year.

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