Huihang Ancient Trail – A Crucial Route Between Huizhou and Hangzhou

Mopan Stone, located at the western end of the Huihang Ancient Trail, is steeped in legend. It was originally called “Mengpan Stone.” According to records, during the Southern Song Dynasty, a man named Hu Dan from Dashimen in Jixi dreamt of a pile of stones by the Xiaoyao River along the Huihang Ancient Trail. The next day, he found the stones exactly as in his dream. Perplexed, he continued along the trail, trying to decipher the dream’s meaning. He soon encountered a broken section of the trail and realized that the dream was a divine message urging him to repair the path. He immediately raised funds and oversaw the reconstruction of the dangerous section, restoring the trail. Over time, the stone became known as “Mopan Stone” because it resembles a millstone, and the local dialect of Jixi pronounces “Meng” (dream) and “Mo” (mill) similarly.

Jiangnan First Pass, also known as Yaoyao Rock, is located in the western part of the Huihang Ancient Trail (in the eastern part of Fuling Township). This pass is a significant checkpoint on the trail, with “江南第一关 Jiangnan First Pass” engraved on its western gate and “徽杭锁钥同治二年里人建造邵道棠题 The Key to Huihang, built in the second year of Tongzhi by Shao Daotang” on its eastern side. Situated at an altitude of 424 meters, it serves as the main passage to Qingliang Peak. The pass earned its name “Jiangnan First Pass” in 1861 when Li Shixian, a commander of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, praised its natural defenses. It is said that the pass has 1,400 stone steps, with the words “履险如夷 Tread Danger as Safety” engraved along the entrance, adding to its historical significance.

Lantian’ao (蓝天凹, Blue Sky Hollow), located in the eastern part of the Huihang Ancient Trail, is the highest point of the trail, with an elevation of 1,050 meters. The area is named for the two mountain peaks that form a “凹 concave” shape, with the blue sky and white clouds nestled between them. Lantian’ao is the most open and spacious area along the trail, making it a favorite camping spot for hikers.

Huangmaopei is located in the middle section of the Huihang Ancient Trail and serves as a crucial waypoint. It is a small mountain village that has become a hub for guesthouses, farmhouses, and inns, situated at the halfway mark of the route.

Yonglai Village, located at the eastern end of the Huihang Ancient Trail, lies at the foot of Lantian’ao, near the Zhejiang Ji Field. It marks the trail’s endpoint and is characterized by traditional Huizhou-style architecture, making it a picturesque and culturally rich village.

Qingliang Peak is located at the southwestern end of the Huihang Ancient Trail, with an elevation of 1,784.4 meters. The terrain gradually rises from southeast to northwest, creating a vertical climate spectrum that ranges from the northern subtropics to the warm temperate zone. This area features diverse microtopography and microclimates, which have preserved a wide variety of ecosystems. The region around Qianqingtang is particularly notable as a habitat for wild sika deer, which represent the easternmost and southernmost wild populations on the Chinese mainland. According to statistics, the Qingliang Peak Nature Reserve is home to over 280 species of terrestrial vertebrates, including more than 20 species that are under national protection, with six classified as first-class protected species.

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