Climb Tianchi Lake in western Zhejiang and cross the ancient border! Wuyue Ancient Trail Hiking Guide
The Wuyue Ancient Trail, one of the ten most iconic hiking routes, served as the main route between Wuyue (Lin'an, Hangzhou) and Southern Tang (Ningguo, Xuancheng) during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Ascending the stone steps along the Wuyue Ancient Trail, you'll be greeted by streams and waterfalls, winding paths and winding paths, creating a sense of harmony between heaven, earth, and humanity, a journey like walking in a painting.
Where is the Wuyue Ancient Road?
It is located at the junction of Lin'an, Zhejiang and Ningguo, Anhui, with the highest point being Tianchi Lake in western Zhejiang.
The West Zhejiang Tianchi is located on the top of the West Zhejiang Mountain at an altitude of nearly 1,200 meters. It has an area of 800 acres. The lake water is clear and blue, and the water and sky are one color. The surrounding mountains are gently undulating, and the view is wide.
30-second interpretation of the Wuyue Ancient Road
Wuyue Kingdom, a country that has left a strong mark in the history of Hangzhou. Wuyue Kingdom, due to its location in the rich land of fish and rice in the south of the Yangtze River, has always been a place with a developed economy, wealthy people and prosperity. During the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period, on the border line between Wuyue Kingdom and Nantang Kingdom (now Ningguo, Anhui), which is now the Tianmu Mountains, a city wall stretching for hundreds of miles was built along the mountain and checkpoints were set up. Several roads connecting the two countries were also built on the relatively low and easy-to-walk hillsides. They were all built with the hard work of the people. Today, people call it the Wuyue Ancient Road. It is paved with bluestone slabs and is spectacular. The vicissitudes of time and the continuous wars have left a lasting impression. After nearly a thousand years of continuous wandering and displacement, and due to the rapid development of economic construction and high-speed transportation, many ancient roads no longer exist. Even the few that remain are mostly buried in the depths of the mountains and wilderness, with no trace left. The Wuyue Ancient Road, which is still basically intact today, is about 12 kilometers long. The entrance to Lin'an, Zhejiang is Zhelin Village, and the entrance to Ningguo, Anhui is Datang Village, Wanjiaxiang. When ancient people built such ancient roads, it was very important that they must be built by the water. The Wuyue Ancient Road is also like this. The entire ancient road is basically accompanied by streams all the way, with green trees and splashing springs along the way. It is a route suitable for hiking all year round. Today, Qianqingguan on the ancient road still retains its original appearance. The two huge stones are still there, and the city wall on the side has collapsed, leaving only a low pile of stones. The ancient pass has gone through thousands of years and silently tells the story of this place.
Another feature of the Wu Yue Ancient Road is undoubtedly the Tianchi Lake at the highest point of the ancient road. The place name is Qianqingtang. It was originally a naturally formed basin, which was formed by the injection of rainwater from the mountain. The water area is more than 900 acres, with rippling water and vastness. It is one of the highest and largest alpine lakes in the Jiangnan region. It is no exaggeration to call it the Jiangnan Tianchi Lake. It is also a section of the Tianmu Mountains and a high mountain water lake on the ridgeline. Next to the Tianchi Lake is a high point on the ridgeline-Leli Peak. If you climb up Leli Peak, you can overlook the panoramic view of the entire western Zhejiang Tianchi. There is also a small island in the center of the Tianchi Lake and a peninsula extending into the water lake. The water level of the Tianchi Lake varies with the weather. Most of the time, it is calm and the water is still. If it is a beautiful moment after the rain, the blue sky and white clouds in the sky are reflected in the water waves, which is an excellent scenery!
Tips:
Climate: warm and humid, with an average annual temperature of over 20°C
Attractions: Wuyue Ancient Road, Qianqing Pass, Tianchi Lake in Western Zhejiang, 21 Bridges, etc.
Recommended activities: hiking, playing in the water, camping by the Tianchi Lake, stargazing at night, etc.
Recommended play time: 1-2 days
The ancient trail is a cross-country journey, so self-driving tours can only take a circular route and not the entire route. If you go by yourself, since the villages on both sides are in the mountains, transportation is inconvenient. Joining the China-TravelNote team can save you a lot of inconvenience. The China-TravelNote team leader will take everyone to have fun and show off their styles, leaving the joy on the journey and giving every tourist an unforgettable travel experience full of emotions. There are batches departing from Hangzhou Station all year round. Since Hangzhou is relatively convenient, most of the itineraries are single-day trips.
There is a group of waterfalls near the entrance of the ancient road in Ningguo, Anhui. Since the distance between Shanghai Station and Suzhou Station is relatively far, it takes a two-day itinerary to explore the waterfalls. It is a two-day itinerary that combines work and rest and is quite rewarding.
The top of Leli Peak overlooks Tianchi Lake in western Zhejiang, and the infinite scenery is at the top.
The Tianchi Lake above the clouds is vast and misty.
The shimmering waters of Tianchi Lake on a sunny day are fascinating.
When is the best time to go to the Wuyue Ancient Trail?
Due to its unique natural conditions, the Wu Yue Ancient Road has different scenery throughout the year. Wu Yue is green in spring, especially in late April and early May. There are a large number of wild cherry blossoms on the roadside near Tianchi on the Ningguo side. When the cherry blossoms are in full bloom, the flowers are hidden in the green vegetation, which is an unforgettable scenery. It is not particularly hot here in summer, especially the section from Lin'an Zhelin Village to Tianchi, which basically goes through the canyon. The road is shaded by green trees and accompanied by cool streams, which is very refreshing. In autumn, reeds are flying beside the Wu Yue Tianchi. If the temperature is low enough in winter, the entire Tianchi will become an ice world, which is a beautiful scenery that outdoor enthusiasts dream of.
Tips:
If you want to hike the entire journey, you can enter from the Anhui entrance and exit from the Lin'an entrance, or enter from the Lin'an entrance and exit from the Anhui entrance. The entire hiking distance is about 12 kilometers. The drop is simply uphill and downhill, with a drop of about 700 meters each. If you want to climb to the top of Leli Peak, the drop is about 900 meters. The highest point, West Zhejiang Tianchi, is about 1,100 meters above sea level, and Leli Peak is more than 1,300 meters above sea level. The entire ancient trail is paved with bluestone slabs, which are clear and easy to walk on, with not large slopes, and there are basically streams along the way.
What equipment do I need to bring?
The Wu Yue Ancient Trail is a relatively high-intensity outdoor hiking route among the entry-level ones. It is called entry-level because the route is a simple up-and-down type, and the ancient trail is clear and easy to walk. It is called high-intensity because the difference in elevation is relatively large. It usually takes 6-7 hours to complete the entire route. It can be visited all year round. Wear clothes and shoes suitable for outdoor walking, preferably quick-drying clothes and pants, outdoor hiking shoes, and it is better to bring hiking poles to save energy. Bring knee pads to protect your knees when going downhill. Drinking water needs to be selected according to the weather and your own situation. Generally, at least two bottles are needed. Except for the section starting from Ningguo, there will be people setting up stalls selling snacks on the roadside on weekends. There are no small shops along the way, so you need to bring your own dry food. Those who like photography can bring a tripod. The scenery of Tianchi is very suitable for photography.
What is the traffic situation like?
The entrance to the ancient trail in Anhui is Datta Township, Ningguo, and the entrance to Lin'an is Zhelin Village, Qingliangfeng Town. If you choose to cross, it is not suitable for self-driving. You need to go to Ningguo City, Anhui Province first, and then take a bus to Wanjia Township to transfer to a local car to Datta Township. You can go all the way to the entrance of the ancient trail, where there is a clear starting point mark. From here, you can start hiking the ancient trail. It takes about 3 hours to reach Tianchi Lake, and then go down the ancient trail on the other side. You will pass 21 small bridges along the way, spanning the stream. After crossing the last bridge, you will walk a section of mechanized farming road to Zhelin Village. Here you can contact a car to the Western Zhejiang Grand Canyon, and then take a car to Lin'an. If you drive by yourself, you can choose to drive to Datta Township or Zhelin Village. Both can be navigated and are suitable for cars.
The entrance to the Wuyue Ancient Road in Datang Township, Anhui Province, where you can start your hiking trip on the ancient road.
Qianqing Pass, an ancient pass, is also a good place to take group photos.
The ancient roads are all paved with bluestone slabs, having stood the test of thousands of years.
On the Lin'an side of the ancient road, 21 bridges were built later. The stream is clear and the ancient road is long.
In the spring, on the Wuyue Ancient Trail, patches of wild cherry blossoms will bloom on the hillside near Tianchi Lake, adding a unique charm to the beauty of Tianchi Lake.
Reeds sway on the Wu Yue Ancient Road in autumn.
Tianchi Lake has become an ice lake in winter.
Hiking along the Wuyue Ancient Trail in summer, you will feel very cool with the gurgling streams along the way.
Travel Tips
Tips:
1. You can choose not to hike and drive directly from the Lin'an side to the edge of Tianchi. Tianchi is very suitable for camping. There is no light pollution here, and it is very easy to take pictures of the bright starry sky. Pay attention to mosquito prevention when camping at night. It is very cold at night. Even in midsummer, the temperature on the top of the mountain is so high that you need to bring a sleeping bag.
2. Bring more clothes and shoes. There is a stream flowing beside the ancient trail, and you will inevitably go to the stream to play. It is normal to get your shoes or clothes wet. It will be reassuring to have spare ones.
3. It is easy to sweat outdoors, so you need to bring drinking water. Ordinary mineral water is generally sufficient, and carbonated drinks are not suitable. Try to choose high-calorie foods such as beef jerky, raisins, and chocolate as dry food, which are easier to replenish energy.
Following the Wu Yue team of China-TravelNote, what we gained was not only the journey, but also the rare friendships.
China-TravelNote's tour leaders are all experts who are good at having fun and will take everyone to capture more memorable moments.
How to take photos is a science, and the China-TravelNote tour leader is well aware of this.
[Statement] We are committed to protecting the content of every original creator, but because some pictures and texts come from various channels such as the Internet, we cannot trace the author. If there is any infringement, please contact us to delete it.
