Hangzhou Summer Hiking Recommendation - The Ancient Huizhou-Hangzhou Trail

This ancient trail, which was established during the Tang Dynasty, served as a trade route for merchants from Huizhou and Zhejiang. From Hu Zongxian, Hu Xueyan to Hu Shi, countless notables have left their footprints on these bluestone steps in pursuit of education and business. Tracing back to the millennium-old path of the Tang Dynasty, it combines culture, history, and scenery. The route is moderately difficult and safe, making it a classic must-walk for hikers. With streams and waterfalls, it's also a great summer hiking destination! I've organized the guide for the reverse route this time. Take a look! 📍Navigation: For the reverse route, head to 'Zhechuan Village' (Lin'an, Hangzhou), and for the regular route, go to 'Yonglai Village' (Jixi, Xuancheng). 🅿️Parking: There is a parking lot at the ticket office, but spaces are limited. On weekends and holidays, there are more visitors, so it's recommended to park in the empty spaces in the village. 🪪Ticket: 62 yuan 🚶🏻‍♂️Suitable for: Children over 5 years old, hiking beginners 🏞️Route: Enter from Lin'an, exit from Jixi, the whole journey is 14 kilometers, with a total ascent of 400 meters, fewer uphills, and more downhills (the route is not very intense, friendly for outdoor novices) Journey Experience: 【Yonglai Village - Lantian Ao】: The most climbing and tiring part. The scenery along the way is average. 【Lantian Ao - Xiaxuetang】: Lantian Ao is a high point where you can overlook the entire mountain view, and many people take photos here. After that, it's mostly downhill. Before reaching Xiaxuetang, there is a section with loose stones, so be careful. 【Xiaxuetang - Shichating】: From Xiaxuetang, there is a spacious and flat road, then you need to climb again. At a certain height, you will see different scenery, with streams, reservoirs, and small waterfalls. 【Shichating - Jiangnan's First Pass】: Arriving at the Xiaoyao Valley scenic area, you can see steep steps like a ladder to heaven and a man-made plank road winding around the mountain waist like a dragon in the valley. This part is the most beautiful and a little surprise for the reverse route. 【Jiangnan's First Pass - Exit】: It takes about 20 minutes to walk to the exit. Before reaching Jiangnan's First Pass, there are two paths, left and right. It is recommended to take the left path towards the plank road across the valley, where you can get closer to the waterfall and take better photos. VTips: 1. At the entrance, there are bamboo walking sticks for sale, priced from 2 to 20 yuan, which are quite necessary for beginners. 2. The crossing route is suitable for group tours, as it's not easy to get a car or return. 3. When we arrived at Zhechuan Village, we encountered an old lady who was aggressively selling bamboo poles and raincoats... If you don't buy, she won't let the car go, which is shown in the last picture. 4. It rained on the day we went... it was a bit slippery, so anti-slip shoes are very necessary. Several girls fell. 5. The peak season for the Huizhou-Hangzhou Ancient Trail is in April and May, when the mountains are full of azaleas and rhododendrons. The Huizhou-Hangzhou Ancient Trail is quite beautiful, and overall, I had a great time. The most beautiful scenery can only be appreciated with your own eyes. The reverse route also feels very cool and is very suitable for summer hiking. Highly recommended!