An introduction to the “Hard Roads to Shu”, their environment, history, and adventures since ancient times

Since ancient times, people have moved between the Guanzhong or “land within the passes ” of Shaanxi where the ancient capital now called Xi’an stands to the plains of Sichuan,or ancient Shu. The Qinling and Daba Mountains form a formidable barrier to communications but by skilfully navigating the terrain and developing innovative technology, called “Plank Roads”, ancient people created effective trade and traffic routes between the north and south. These communication lines are collectively known as the “Shu Roads ” or more poetically as “The Roads to Shu”. They pass through rugged mountains, forests, wild rivers and natural wilderness, and contain conservation areas, ancient historical relics and minority peoples whose isolation has developed unique cultures. The roads provided a bridge between southern trade routes such as the Tea and Horse road to Tibet and northern routes such as the Silk Road. They are well known in the cultural traditions of Chinese people but are not well known in the west. As its history and ecology become better known, an internationally recognised “Shu roads ecological and historical tourism route ” can develop where historical, ecological and adventure tourism will all grow strongly in the future