Ancient Shu Road Pilgrimage: 7-Day Walking Through Chinese History

Tianxiong Pass to Dazhao Relay Station

• Morning: Continue the exploration in  Zhaohua Ancient Town. Transfer to Tianxiong Pass for pilgrimage ceremony

• Afternoon: Bamboo forest walk to Dazhao ancient postal station

• Evening: Traditional guesthouse stay with local family dinner

Walking Note:

12km mostly downhill through shaded forest paths

Local Experience:

Participate in evening tea ceremony with host family

Mountain Trails & Strategic Pass

• Morning: Ancient stone path walk through rural farmland and terraced fields, following original sections of the Shu Roads paved with 2,000-year-old stone slabs.

• Afternoon: Jianmen Pass arrival – Explore the legendary "Sword Gate Fortress", renowned for its impregnable cliffs and strategic military importance. The pass was called "impossible to pass" by ancient poets.

• Evening: Local tofu banquet featuring 200+ distinct tofu-based preparations

Culinary Experience:

Learn tofu making from local masters. The water used to make the tofu comes from deep mountain springs in the Jianmen region, known for its clear, sweet taste and rich mineral content. The production of tofu use traditional stone-grinding techniques that have been practiced for over a thousand years.

Ancient Cypress Forest & Cultural Heritage

• Morning: Cuiyun Corridor walk under 12,000 ancient cypress trees. The trees were originally planted during the Qin Dynasty (221–207 BC) to provide shade for travelers and soldiers along the ancient roadway. Some of them have stood for over 2,300 years, bearing witness to the rise and fall of dynasties.

• Afternoon: Traditional paper making workshop using ancient techniques. Create your own paper and learn Chinese calligraphy.

• Evening: Poetry recitation at ancient pavilion overlooking valleys

Tea Plantations & Stone Bridge Crossings

• Morning: Tea plantation visit with picking and processing experience. This region produces famous Jianmen snow bamboo tea.

• Afternoon: Stone arch bridge crossings and rural village interactions

• Evening: Farmstay experience with home-cooked Sichuan cuisine

Local Life:

Help farmers with seasonal activities depending on time of year

Plank Roads & Market Town Exploration

• Morning: Forest path walking to Qingliang Bridge (清凉桥), a 400-year-old stone arch bridge spanning a crystal-clear mountain stream.

• Afternoon: Pu’an Ancient Town exploration, featuring well-preserved architecture from the Ming (1368–1644) and Qing (1644–1912) dynasties. The town preserves original flagstone streets and courtyard homes with intricate wooden carvings and traditional tiled roofs.

• Evening: Farewell dinner with local musical performance

Cultural Performance:

Traditional Sichuan opera face-changing show (Bian Lian), where performers magically change masks in milliseconds.