Wang Anshi said in his "Record of Visiting Baoshan Mountain": "The wonders and wonders of the world often lie in the dangers and wonders of the distant world." Yes, those beautiful landscapes and simple rural sentiments are mostly hidden deep in the mountains and cannot be reached by walking. The ancient tea tribute road, the ancient post road with a thousand years of history, visiting the ancient and exploring the past, and appreciating the present are the landscapes we are looking for.

Highlights of this article:

The historical legends and folk stories of the Gongcha Ancient Road

★ Track map and data of the entire journey through the Gongcha Ancient Road

The scenery of the Gongcha Ancient Road

★ Modern porters walking on ancient roads

★ The 23 bays on the north and south sides of Goumu Ridge are different

★ Precautions for Crossing the Gongcha Ancient Road

The Gongcha Ancient Road is named after the stories of the Tang Dynasty. It is said that during the reign of Empress Wu Zetian, her son Li Dan was demoted and later married a woman from Xiangxi. After Empress Wu Zetian stepped down, Li Dan ascended to the throne and conferred the title of Empress. When the Empress returned home to visit her relatives, she brought local green tea, which was highly favored by the emperor and the officials in the capital. This green tea was designated as tribute tea and was commonly known as "Empress Tea", thus opening up the official path of tribute tea. Later Emperor Qianlong also greatly appreciated the tribute tea here. In ancient times, only emperors could enjoy the tea here. The origin of this tribute tea was the Hangjiaoling Mountains at the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang today. The mountain road that transports tribute tea became the official road for tribute tea, which is what we call the ancient tribute tea road today. In the "Record of Hanging Foot Ridge", it is also recorded that the tea sage Lu Yu once tasted tea here, transported imperial purple bamboo shoot tea, set up a Jinghui Pavilion here during the Tang Dynasty, Sun Quan shot tigers here, and Guo Moruo conducted research here, Gongcha Ancient Road, polished by time and grace.

1、 The complete traversal trajectory map and detailed traversal data of the Gongcha Ancient Road

A few years ago, when we were crossing the 23rd Bay of Shaowu Village in Yixing, standing on the boundary between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, we knew that further ahead was Changxing, Zhejiang. The famous Gongcha Ancient Road, hidden in the deep mountains and dense forests, began to detour through the mountains for more than ten kilometers. This ancient road has been well preserved since the tea sage Lu Yu over a thousand years ago, and the scenery along the way is picturesque, with birds singing and flowers fragrant. I remember from that moment on, I calculated to find a time to cross the Gongcha Ancient Road along Lu Yu's ancient post road.

1. Gongcha Ancient Road Crossing Index

Route index: ★★★ (Five stars are the highest)

Hiking intensity: ★★

Weather index: ★★★★

Landscape index: ★★★

2. Route map of Gongcha Ancient Road crossing

The round-trip travel trajectory map recorded by my handheld GPS during my time crossing the Gongcha Ancient Road

Two points of explanation: The left image shows the crossing trajectory from Shaojiatou in Yixing, Jiangsu to Xiatong Village in Changxing, Zhejiang, and the right image shows the trajectory from Xiatong Village in Changxing, Zhejiang to Shaojiatou in Yixing, Jiangsu, completing the circular crossing of the Gongcha Ancient Road; The entire itinerary is divided into two days. On the first day, I crossed the Gongcha Ancient Road and stayed overnight in Changxing. On the second morning, I had time to go to Guzhu in Shuikou Township to catch a lively rural gathering. After breakfast, start crossing the Gongcha Ancient Road in the opposite direction from Xiatong Village, following the principle of "not turning back". The return route is different from the destination, and the focus is on the next day. According to historical records, the Gongcha Ancient Road was an ancient post road used in the Tang Dynasty to transport Zisun Gongcha, starting from Jinshan Village in Shuikou and ending at Beichuan Village in Jiapu. This section of the ancient post road is located on one of the mountain roads we crossed from Shuikou Township in Changxing to Shaojiatou in Yixing.

3. The altitude and environmental temperature variation curve of the Gongcha Ancient Road

The variation curve of altitude (green) and environmental temperature (gray) from Shaojiatou on the Gongcha Ancient Road to Xiatong Village in Changxing, Zhejiang

Altitude (green) and temperature (gray) variation curves from Xiatong Village in Changxing, Gongcha Ancient Road to Shaodongtou in Yixing, Jiangsu

Note: The above curves and parameters are recorded by GARMIN wearable devices

4. Coordinate points and directional indicator map of the Gongcha Ancient Road round-trip loop, as well as related parameters

This set of pictures is a complete track map of the Gongcha Ancient Road recorded by fellow hikers, along with the crossing parameters, for your reference.

2、 The History and Folklore of Gongcha Ancient Road

The Gongcha Ancient Road, as the name suggests, is an ancient road built for tribute tea, and this tribute tea is the "Purple Shoot Tea" of Guzhu Mountain Tea. Speaking of the Gongcha Ancient Road, let's first tell a story about Lu Yu and Purple Shoot Tea.

Yixing, located north of Changxing in Zhejiang Province across the Goumuling Mountains (which belonged to Changzhou during the Tang and Song dynasties), is known for its abundant Yangxian tea, which was already a tribute tea during the reign of Emperor Suzong of Tang (756-761 AD). The governor of Changzhou, Li Qigui, invited the tea loving Lu Yu to taste the tea. Lu Yu then recommended the Guzhu Mountain tea located just across the mountain and named it "Purple Shoot Tea".

As Gu Zhu is located on the Yangshan slope of the Woodpecking Ridge, and often absorbs the warm and humid airflow of the Taihu Lake Lake, the quality of purple bamboo shoot tea is far better than that of Yangxian tea. During the reign of Emperor Dezong of Tang Dynasty, it has become the world famous tea after "Mengding tea".

Since Yan Zhenqing was appointed as the governor of Huzhou, Huzhou and Changzhou had to provide tribute tea from both regions to the Tang court, and this was the primary task of the governors of Huzhou and Changzhou. Not only did they come to the mountains every spring to personally supervise the production, but they also had to ensure that they arrived in Chang'an before the Qingming Festival, which was called "urgent journey tea". Therefore, it was necessary to build an ancient post road that used fast horses to deliver tribute tea in order to ensure the mission. This ancient post road for transporting tribute tea is the Gongcha Ancient Road.

Since Zisun tea was listed as tribute tea, the governors of Huzhou and Changzhou have built Jinghui Pavilion in Xuanjiaoling, divided the mountains to make tea plantations, and produced tribute tea, which lasted for more than 800 years. According to historical records, every year after the beginning of spring, the local officials of the two provinces meet here to discuss tea making matters. Social celebrities enjoy tea and compete, while tea farmers are busy picking and processing... At that time, the grand event at the Jinghui Pavilion was grand, with over 20 tables for tea tasting discussions and a lively stage of singing and dancing performances.

In this poem by the great Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi titled "Night Hearts of Jia Changzhou and Cuihuzhou Tea Mountain Jinghuiting Banquet", it is precisely the "Hangjiaoling" located at the border of the two provinces. When the Tang Dynasty supervised the production of tribute tea, the governors of Huchang and other places jointly held a tea banquet in the Jinghuiting.

Jinghui Pavilion Banquet

(Bai Juyi)

At the tea mountain night, I hear the distant scenery, and the pearl and emerald bells ring around me.

Divided into two states in the middle of the market, a spring cooperation is established in front of the lights.

Qing'e hands over the dance to compete for excellence, while the purple bamboo shoots taste each new one.

Sighing at the flowers, under the north window, Pu Huang wine sleeps the sick.

Subsequently, the Jinghui Pavilion underwent several ups and downs, but there are still over 1000 acres of tea fields under the Hangjiao Ridge in Shangru Village. As the watershed between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, the "Xuanjiao Ridge" has gradually become indifferent to tea affairs, but it has a tendency of "one person guarding the pass, ten thousand people unable to open" and has been a military stronghold since ancient times. In the early years of the Republic of China, it became a major battleground for warlords in Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and became one of the battlefields of the Qilu War. At that time, Jiangsu warlord Qi Xieyuan and Zhejiang warlord Lu Yongxiang were fighting at Xuanjiaoling. In December 1924, Guo Moruo came here specifically to investigate the war situation and stayed overnight in Shangru Village, renaming the then "Shangxu Village" to "Shangru Village". Hangjiaoling has a long cultural heritage and rich cultural relics, leaving behind the footprints of many literati, generals, heroes, and famous figures. Various legends in and around the mountain have been passed down from generation to generation by nearby villagers.

According to local villagers, during the early days of the founding of the People's Republic of China, during the Chinese New Year and holidays, both sides of Jiangsu and Zhejiang took turns hosting activities and inviting theatrical troupes to perform. At that time, Hangjiaoling became a cultural gathering place. Near the legendary Hangjiaoling, there are also attractions such as the ancient mystery Wushilang, the cable laying stone of the Great Yu's flood control relics, the mythological legend Immortal Stone, and the rare cultural fusion of foreign religions (Buddhism) and folk beliefs reflected in the magical combination of the Yuanjue Zen Temple and the Guandi Temple.

3、 Day 1: From Shaojiatou in Yixing to Xiatong Village in Changxing

First of all, let me explain that there are a total of six people crossing the Gongcha Ancient Road this time. We plan to travel back and forth for two days. On the first day, we will drive from Wuxi to Shaojiatou, Yixing, and then walk through the Gongcha Ancient Road. We will pass through Xuanjiaoling and Goumuling to reach Xiatong Village in Changxing. That night, we will check into an inn on Guzhu Street in Shuikou Township, Changxing. The next day, after breakfast, I started crossing from Xiatong Village and drove back to Shaojiatou via Gelingwuqian and Goumuling 23rd Bay. After lunch at Shaojiatou Farmhouse, I drove back to Wuxi. In my personal opinion, a two-day journey through the Gongcha Ancient Road is ideal, with no turning back and excellent cultural scenery. There are also local specialty foods, making it a great choice for leisure oriented travel activities.

This is Shaojiatou, Yixing, Jiangsu Province. A few years ago, we visited here and remember it was called Shaowu Village. There is a folk saying in Shaowu Village that goes "if you go to Shaowu, you will get tea if you go the wrong way." As long as someone passes by the door, you don't need to speak, the people in the mountains will take the initiative to greet you, come to rest, have a cup of tea, and leave, indicating that the villagers in Shaowu are warm and hospitable, kind and simple. That time in Shaowu, we crossed the slightly famous 23rd Bay and bought a lot of black tea stir fried by the villagers in the village. By the way, when we arrived at Shaowu, we should remember two things: first, the clear spring water in Shaowu, and second, the wild mountain tea in Shaowu, both of which are good things from the original ecology. This time, I revisited my hometown and started crossing the famous Gongcha Ancient Road from Shaowu. I felt very excited and friendly.

At the starting point of 23rd Bay, I took a group photo for my friends. There was also a little dog named "You You" in the team, who was not big and petite. Before setting off, I was a bit hesitant. He climbed mountains, crossed mountains, and waded across rivers. Can this little guy persevere?

I saw a banner by the riverbank at the foot of the mountain. In recent years, the people of Shaojiatou have a high awareness of protecting the ecological environment. The villagers all understand the principle that "green waters and green mountains are like mountains of gold and silver.".

At the beginning of the Gongcha Ancient Road, there are small paths in the bamboo forest, with lush green bamboo and murmuring streams. Moreover, the mottled stone path tells the story of tea farmers transporting purple bamboo tribute tea from here throughout history.

Breathing fresh air, the relatively flat mountain road is much more comfortable than walking on flat ground, but before long, steep slopes began to appear, and the path between the trees became increasingly rugged.

The dense bamboo forest blocked the sunlight, and it was almost impossible to distinguish a decent path under the feet. Moss covered stones scattered in the canyon.

In the vast mountains, climbing up the winding mountain path, the laughter disappeared, and everyone's attention was at their feet, burying their heads and climbing upwards.

In the dense forests of the mountains, you can occasionally see directional signs made by other hikers. Although there are not as many colorful signs as on the Junzhang Ancient Road, the signs on the Gongcha Ancient Road can tell you at critical moments whether to step on the left or right leg on the "underpants road" ahead.

For over half an hour, we kept climbing upwards until we finally arrived at a flatter rock. I took a breath and looked up to see that the "Little Youyou" was actually in front of me, wagging its little tail and crawling upwards with no intention of stopping. The little one impressed me.

Walking on the mountain path, the beautiful scenery of early summer often makes you stop and enjoy it quietly. Along the way, I encountered beautiful seasonal flowers and plants, as well as more unknown wild flowers, especially those cute little elves. They absorbed the nutrients of nature, were free and full of vitality.

I saw many plants like this on the roadside, with tangled vine tendrils covered in soybean like fruits. After checking the information, I found that this plant is called "wisteria" and can absorb dust in the air, but the seeds are toxic, so be careful.

On the roadside, we also saw the familiar "kiwifruit". The kiwifruit here is wild, and we didn't have the heart to pick it. It looks so beautiful.

As we approached the mountaintop, we encountered a group of hikers coming from Changxing. It looked like they were sweating profusely, exhausted, and dry tongued. Someone shouted, "Look, Yangmei Tree, there are also Yangmei trees." A team member broke a Yangmei tree, picked one, and put it in their mouth. "Wild Yangmei is sour and sweet, not big, full of water, and very delicious."

The beautiful woman was still careful. She leaned her face close to the Yangmei tree, only smelling the fragrance of wild Yangmei. In the end, she didn't eat a single one. Hehe, her intoxicated appearance was quite cute.

We only stayed at the mountaintop for a moment, rested for a while, and then began to descend. The path was lined with bamboo forests and shrubs on both sides, with thick decaying leaves at our feet. The road conditions became bad, and our speed of travel slowed down.

Although it was early summer, the temperature in the afternoon was still quite high, coupled with physical exertion, everyone was already sweating profusely. Nevertheless, everyone still talked and laughed, encouraged each other, and continued to move forward.

I saw a huge white tank in the bamboo forest in the mountains, probably a bucket for storing fire water. By the way, during mountaineering, do not smoke, do not ignite, forest safety is everyone's responsibility.

We have entered the boundaries of Changxing, and the hikers walking ahead have seen the tea forest on the hillside. Although there is no large area of tea forest on the sunny hillside, clusters of tea trees can still be seen everywhere, which can be said to be the true legend of Tang and Song tribute tea. Throughout the ages, literati and literati have left behind a series of poems here. Yuan Gao once wrote a long poem called "Tea Mountain Poetry", which goes, "Selecting and accepting tea leaves day and night, pounding the sound in the morning. The workers are withered, looking down on the heart and soul," full of pity and love for tea farmers.

I will take a photo of my friends in the tea forest. Over 1300 years ago, tea farmers planted tribute tea called "Purple Shoot Tea" here and quickly transported it along this ancient tribute tea road. It is said that the tribute amount of Purple Shoot Tea reached 10000 kilograms per year back then, and the tea farmers were really amazing!

In the afternoon, when we were all feeling tired, suddenly our eyes lit up and we saw signs on the ancient road. There were also many tourists gathered on both sides of the path, so we slowed down and carefully studied these ancient relics on the roadside.

This is a stone tablet erected by the roadside, with the inscription "Records of the Bawang Pond". It is said that Xiang Yu, the Bawang of Chu, launched an uprising against the rebellious Qin dynasty in Huzhou. During the Northern Expedition, he passed by Gu Zhu and, while drinking water in a mountain stream and water pool at the bottom of the hanging mortar, left a huge footprint on the giant stone beside the stream, hence the name "Bawang Pond".

The surrounding environment of Bawangtan is tranquil and picturesque, with Tang and Song Dynasty cliff carvings on top, making it a great place to cool off, cool down, and explore the world. Many people from Changxing, as well as the elderly and children, either cross the Gongcha Ancient Road or go to Bawangtan for leisure, which is actually quite good.

Continuing a few kilometers from the cliff carvings by the mountain and Xiang Yu's Bawangtan, we arrived at Xuanjiu Village in Shuikou Township, Changxing. The rugged mountain road came to an end, and the rest of the road was traversed between villages, making it much easier for hikers.

Our first night of stay in Changxing was in Shuikou Township, which is the only provincial-level rural tourism industry distribution area in Zhejiang Province in China. The "Changxing Shuikou Tea Culture Scenic Area" is also a national 4A scenic area, and there is also a grand morning market in Guzhu. I will provide a detailed introduction to these contents in another article.

We had a summer farmhouse dinner that evening in Shuikou Township, Changxing.

There are many popular farmhouses in Shuikou Village, and we made a reservation online in advance. Among several farmhouses, we finally chose a inn called "Summer Farmhouse", which is clean, hygienic, and affordable. The price of summer farmhouse is divided into two prices: regular and weekend. The total price for regular accommodation, dinner of the same evening, and breakfast of the next day is 100 yuan/person/day. On weekends, it is 120 yuan/person/day, which is especially suitable for hikers to travel through the Gongcha Ancient Road for two days and one night.

4、 The second day: Crossing the Gongcha Ancient Road, from Xiatong Village in Changxing, passing through 23rd Bay to Shaojiatou Village in Yixing

Last night, after having dinner at a summer farmhouse, I enjoyed the night view of Shuikou Township and rested early when I returned. The next day, I woke up early and went to the nearby Guzhu morning market to catch a rural market. I was very impressed, and friends who have time suggested that I make a special trip to catch a market. There will definitely be unexpected gains. After bidding farewell to Gu Zhu in the morning market, we returned to the summer farmhouse, had a delicious breakfast, packed our bags, and embarked on a journey through the Gongcha Ancient Road.

The starting path has a good road condition, with dense bamboo forests on both sides and early morning air. The air is fresh and moist, with birds singing and flowers fragrant, and the footsteps are light and agile.

As mentioned earlier, the entire journey of our Gongcha Ancient Road is divided into two days. The first day is from Yixing to Changxing, and the second day is from Changxing to Yixing, where we truly start crossing the Gongcha Ancient Road. According to historical records, the Gongcha Ancient Road was an ancient post road used in the Tang Dynasty to transport Zisun Gongcha, starting from Jinshan Village in Shuikou and ending at Beichuan Village in Jiapu. This section of the ancient post road is located on one of the mountain roads we crossed from Shuikou Township in Changxing to Shaojiatou in Yixing.

A large area of bamboo has been cut down in front of me, and I feel like a road is being built here. Is it specifically repaired for the Gongcha Ancient Road?

On the roadside, I saw handwritten signs indicating that the riverbank ahead has collapsed and heavy vehicles are prohibited from passing. This uncertainty should not be a problem for hikers, but it is important to remind them that early summer has entered the rainy season on the Gongcha Ancient Road, and the climate in mountainous areas is variable. During the rainy season, the roads are muddy and slippery, and hiking in deep mountains should be especially careful.

We entered the dirt road at the foot of the mountain, and before we walked much, we encountered a muddy road. There were kind-hearted people laying a lot of bamboo and thick cables on the side of the road.

After passing the uncomfortable muddy path, the road ahead suddenly became open. The straight path, straight bamboo, and the footsteps of the hiker began to flow light and smooth again, even "Xiao Youyou" began to cheer.

The fresh mountain air, lush green bamboo, and the path in front of us are like a gallery stretching forward. The hikers are a bit complacent. I thought to myself, don't be too happy too early. The 23rd Bay behind us is enough for you to drink a pot.

Before entering the 23rd Bay, we saw a provincial boundary stone monument standing on the roadside. The monument was erected in 2015, and now it has been five years. It is said that the ownership of the provincial boundary on Goumu Ridge has been disputed for many years, and many stories have happened. However, for us hikers, what we need is the feeling of crossing two provinces in one step.

After the inter provincial boundary survey in 2000, the Twenty Three Bay on the Changxing side was transferred to Jiangsu Province. The current boundary between the two provinces is no longer the watershed of the Goumuling Mountains, but extends to the halfway point of 3-4 kilometers on the Changxing side. In the future, as time goes on, I'm afraid fewer and fewer people will know that there are also "Twenty Three Bays" in Changxing.

After passing the stone tablet at the border of Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, you will enter the famous 23 bays of Goumuling. The reason why this place is called "23 bays" is because from here, you need to take 23 turns to reach the top of the mountain.

The Woodpecking Ridge, where 23rd Bay is located, is located 10 kilometers northwest of Shuikou Township, with an altitude of about 400 meters. It was originally a boundary mountain between Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces, with Yixing on the north slope and Changxing on the south slope. It is now completely part of Yixing City, Jiangsu Province.

To be honest, before, I only knew that there was 23 bays on the shady slope of Goumuling, leading to Shaojiatou Village at the foot of the mountain. This time, I realized through the journey of the Gongcha Ancient Road that there was also 23 bays on the sunny side of Goumuling. It is a section of the Gongcha Ancient Road that is more primitive and authentic. Walking in the 23rd Bay of Woodpecking Ridge, crowds of climbers from two slopes approached each other, greeting each other happily and warmly. It was very friendly. A woodpecking ridge and two twenty-three bays, it must be said that this is a legend on the Gongcha Ancient Road.

Entering 23rd Bay, all are primitive forest paths. Compared to the shady slopes we once crossed in Shaojiatou 23rd Bay, there are no artificially paved stone steps here. You still need to be careful of the stones and tree roots under your feet when walking.

Just after turning a few corners, I met a pair of elderly porters. The old man was in his 60s, with gray hair and appeared very thin. The old lady was also about the same age, and they each picked two large baskets of yangmei, struggling to move forward.

When the old couple was resting, I asked them what they were doing with these waxberries? They said, "Yangmei is all grown in our own homes and we can't finish it ourselves. I heard that there are many tourists from the Shao family below the 23rd Bay, so I picked these yangmei to sell there and earn some pocket money." To be honest, hiking in the 23rd Bay made us feel tired without any heavy burden. Even the elderly and elderly could bear dozens of pounds of yangmei on their shoulders, and the hard work was imaginable.

We haven't seen the difficult scene of tea farmers transporting purple bamboo shoots tea on the Gongcha Ancient Road back then. Today, seeing the modern porters on the Gongcha Ancient Road brings us back to the time and space travel of the Gongcha Ancient Road 1300 years ago.

Finally, we have reached the summit of Goumu Ridge. Previously, we had crossed the 23rd Bay countless times from Shaojiatou in Yixing to reach here, but this time we climbed the summit after trekking that side of the 23rd Bay in Changxing. It was a different experience and I feel very excited. After circling around the "Jinghui Pavilion" on the mountaintop, I arrived at the temple on the mountaintop where I happened to meet a little sister who had climbed the mountain from Shaojiatou. Although she was panting heavily and had sweat on her face, the joy of overcoming difficulties was written on her face. She told me to take a break and continue crossing Changxing, also on the ancient tribute tea road, wishing her a smooth journey.

From the mountaintop of Goumuling, we descended again along the mountain path of "23rd Bay" on the shady side of the Yixing slope of Goumuling that we had walked a few years ago. This 23rd Bay has the same name as the "23rd Bay" on the sunny side of Goumuling that we just crossed earlier. Compared to the two 23rd Bays, it is obvious that this 23rd Bay is much taller. From the 23rd Bay at the mountaintop to the 1st Bay at the foot of the mountain, each bay has roadside signs, and the steps are well reinforced and repaired. The side of the cliff has also been hardened, making it very suitable for light hiking and leisure.

The locals say that after climbing the Twenty Three Bays, one will have no illness and no disasters for a lifetime. On the mountaintop, I heard a friend who often climbs the mountain say that a person who has been suffering from asthma for a long time has miraculously cured it by persisting in climbing the Twenty Three Bays all year round.

While speaking, I met a barefoot immortal who was climbing the 23rd Bay at an even speed. Does the stone slab in the 23rd Bay also have a foot massage effect?

Returning to this familiar place, the starting point of Shaojiatou 23rd Bay, our Gongcha Ancient Road loop crossing has come to a successful end. As the saying goes, the mountain is not high, and if there is an immortal, it will be spiritual. In the Twenty Three Bay, with flowing mountains and rivers, clear water and bamboo forests, fresh air, birds singing and flowers fragrant, the fairyland like environment brings us the best SPA from body to spirit.

Perhaps more and more people are climbing at the 23rd Bay, and a clearing has been created at the foot of the mountain. A row of wooden houses have been built, making it a tourist service area. In addition to public facilities such as bathrooms, there are also many stalls operated by local villagers, including mountain goods, local specialties, vegetables, fruits, and souvenirs.

Isn't this the pair of porters we encountered at the 23rd Bay of Goumuling? The brave old man crossed two provinces from Changxing and carried a burden to Shaojiatou 23rd Bay to sell yangmei. We saw the two old men again, and it was fate to meet them. As we spoke, the old man also recognized us. Looking at the sweat and wet clothes on the old man's forehead, we were all moved and everyone paid to buy some yangmei.

After going down the mountain, we passed through the village and went to the farmhouse where we parked yesterday. Passing by a house, we greeted the old man, who looked really tough. A few years ago, I found out when I first arrived in Shaojiatou. This is a Changshou village, perhaps because the water and air in Shaojiatou are good. The elderly in the village are still chopping bamboo, picking bamboo, planting tea, and doing agricultural work on the mountain at the age of 70 or 80. They are very healthy.

Yesterday, when we were traveling from Wuxi to Shaojiatou in Yixing, we parked our car in front of a restaurant called "23rd Bay Farmhouse Tuzao Cuisine Restaurant" at the foot of the mountain. We agreed with the owner that we would have lunch at his house when we returned to Shaojiatou. On the way back, we contacted the restaurant owner by phone in advance and asked him to prepare in advance. So when we entered, the hot food was served on the table, and everyone celebrated the successful crossing of the Gongcha Ancient Road while wolfing it down.

5、 Little knowledge needed to know when crossing the Gongcha Ancient Road

Carrying items through time travel

1. In order to record the road conditions and scenery along the way, a camera is necessary. Considering the convenience of hiking, I did not bring a DSLR camera this time. I only brought a SONY RX10M4 all-in-one machine, 2 64G SD cards, and 5 external batteries.

2. The phone comes with one China Unicom and one mobile phone each (ensuring signal in the mountains) and a 10000mAh mobile power supply as backup power for the camera, phone charging, and map lookup.

3. 3 bottles of 500ml mineral water per person, cooked eggs, beef jerky, chocolate, fruits, and energy bars.

5. Several small packaging tissues and wet tissues. The medicine has prepared wound sprays, essential balm, band aids, sterile styptic cotton swabs, sunscreen, etc.

6. Clothing includes quick drying underwear, quick drying jackets, quick drying pants, gloves, and sun hats. It is also important to choose a pair of hiking shoes that fit well. Disposable rainproof simple raincoat and sunglasses.

7. Small headlights and hiking sticks are still necessary, and sometimes they can become very important.

8. All the above items are placed in a 40 liter mountaineering bag.

Travel precautions

1. It is not allowed to bring sparks up the mountain, smoking is prohibited, and barbecue is prohibited.

2. Do not leave non degradable waste in the mountains and do not carve it on trees.

3. Once injured or lost, call for help on your phone. Do not panic, it will consume your physical energy. In most areas of the mountains, communication and mobile phone signals are still good.

4. It is best to travel with multiple people and children must be supervised.

5. It is recommended to start the journey as early as possible and strive to complete the entire route before or after noon.

6. Friends with conditions suggest downloading the trajectory map to their mobile phone to prevent getting lost.

If a person spends more than two hours a week in nature, his physiological indicators will be significantly better, especially the blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, blood lipids and other data related to cardiovascular system health are much better than others, even the incidence rate of asthma is lower.

Let's go to the mountains, scatter wild, wash your lungs, and go berserk!