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Guide to Hiking China's Old Road to Shu

                       Time: 6¾ hours          Distance: 10 miles
                       Difficulty: First half hard, second half easy                        
                       Start: Old Fengzhou: Fèngzhōu Gŭchéng

This hike is along a mostly dirt trail through a very rugged and beautiful
stretch of the Qingling Mountains, the only section of the old road
through this area that was not destroyed by the highway built in 1941.
The hike begins on a dirt road which heads southeast into the mountains,
passing some villages and then becoming a dirt trail bordering a pretty
stream.  The old road at one time cut off  this dirt trail and headed over
the mountain, but it is very rarely used these days, and is difficult to
find. Once on it, you will see lots of the original flagstone now lying in
total disarray along the slope of the mountain. There is a steep climb
through the woods to the Fengling Pass (6,300 feet). Once over the
pass, the trail  runs along the side of the mountain with spectacular
views of snow-covered peaks all around (in mid-March when I was there)
and then heads downhill along wooded slopes. The last stretch of the hike
is on an asphalt road built to accommodate a mining operation. In places
you can see the old road carved into the cliff just above you (below
right), but it is not continuous enough to walk for any distance. It is easy
to get lost on this hike and the dirt trail is seldom traveled, so you must
use the local guide here.

Hike 15 Fengzhou to Sanchayi
 

Hike 17 Jiangkou to Qiligoukou


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                                         ©Hope Lindsey Justman