Qi'ao Old Post Road, running 22 km from Zhongshan's Nanmenkou in the north to Macao in the south, has been designated as one of eight trial Southern Guangdong Old Post Roads and will be upgraded by the year-end, according to Zhuhai Housing & Urban-Rural Planning & Construction Bureau.

Qi'ao Old Post Road [File photo]

Restoration

Targeting to mold the Xiangshan Old Post Road Cultural Route and promote China's modern and contemporary culture, Xiangzhou District authorities have charted a blueprint for the old path. It will integrate resources along the route, and stage race events. An urban-type Qi'ao Old Path and a hilly Changnanjing Old Path will be rebuilt to highlight historical legacy, culture, leisure exercise, and sightseeing. It will serve as an example of the preservation and utilization of Southern Guangdong Old Post Road throughout the province.

The detailed design, construction scheme, hand-drawn maps, and planning of events will be completed by the end of April. All road signs will be installed by the end of July, and an orienteering and cycling competition will be held by the end of October.

Legacy and fitness

Gongbei Lianhua Path, the last kilometer of Qi'ao Old Post Road, and the nearby Latashi Fortress, former venue of the Gongbei Customs Land Route Drug Squad Headquarters, both extend into bustling downtown areas.

On the other hand, Changnanjing Old Path, sub-line of the post road, used to serve as the main channel for villagers from Shangzha and Guantang in Tangjiawan Area to go to Qianshan and Macao. The remaining 3.5-km historic section with rugged terrain built out of the hill is an important reference for research on the history of transportation between northern Xiangshan Area and Macao in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). The cliff etchings and tombstones of Zhuhai's Bao clansmen abound with historical profundities.

Functions

Having surveyed Zhuhai, an expert panel pointed out that old post roads, featuring waterway, urban scenes, and hill views are strikingly unique among eight trial sections in the province.

The experts also suggested that Changnanjing Old Path be upgraded based upon a preservation appraisal. It should be held as a precious cultural legacy and a high-quality leisure fitness path for residents.

Suggestions were also made that the old path renovation should motivate rural development, improve the dwelling conditions of villagers, and lead them in providing tourist services, thus revitalizing habitats along the way.

As for races and other activities, Zhuhai should integrate the city's abundant resources to create multi-functions for old post roads and create a Qi'ao Old Post Road cultural tourism brand with diversified forms.    

Qi'ao Old Post Road was built in 1860. It enters Zhuhai at Zhongshan’s Guhe Town, and is therefore dubbed Guhe Old Path. The road then extends via Nanxi, Cuiwei, Qianshan, Gongbei, and other areas to Macao.

As a major passageway for Guangdong to govern the Xiangshan Area, supervise coastal defense, and administer Macao in the Qing Dynasty, the Old Post Road was of great significance for East-West communication, experts claimed.