More than 1,000 people took part in the ancient Shudao hiking tour activity in Guangyuan, Southwest China's Sichuan province on April 23.

People at the opening ceremony for the ancient Shudao hiking tour in Guangyuan, Sichuan province [Photo provided to cngy.gov.cn]

After a lively dance performance, the hikers set off along the centuries-old Shudao path under a canopy of towering ancient cypress trees. The gentle rustling of the breeze and the refreshing aroma of cypress filled the air, immersing hikers in the atmosphere of history and nature.

Along the route, several women dressed in traditional attire performed a graceful dance beneath silk banners themed around the 24 solar terms, with many hikers pausing to take photos and videos.

Further along the trail, hikers were met with a vivid re-enactment: Tang Dynasty (618-907) Emperor Xuanzong (685-762), played by an actor in full imperial regalia, made an appearance escorted by warriors, bringing to life scenes from The Emperor's Journey to Shu.

Yet another theatrical presentation unfolded in a grove beside the trail, when, through a traditional Nuo dance, the story of General Jiang Wei heroically rescuing civilians was portrayed, complete with the clash of swords.

Tourists take a photo with performers. [Photo provided to cngy.gov.cn]

"Fantastic! That's real skill!" said Ding Cheng, a visitor from Longnan, Gansu province, captivated by the dramatic scenes.

A hiker surnamed Xu, from Hanzhong, Shaanxi province, said: "Zhaohua's local green agricultural products are delicious, and the cultural and creative products are impressively designed, beautifully combining the Shudao heritage with modern aesthetics."

The hikers, among them mountaineering association members, arts and sports bureau officials, online influencers, entrepreneurs and travel industry representatives, covered a distance of about three kilometers in around two hours.