Experience the natural wonders on foot in the Year of the Dragon | Ridge lines and rock tunnels

Hiking and climbing high for a panoramic view is a must in the joyful Year of the Dragon. For the tail end of the holiday, I went hiking around the area, and this time the route was from Xianyan Cave in Sanmen to Wansong Cave and then through the rock tunnel. The starting point of this hike is Xianyan Village in Puba Port of Sanmen. After passing through the village and following the road upwards, you can see a huge rock standing on a small hill with a dark cave underneath it, which is the Xianyan Cave. It is said that since the Jin Dynasty, Xianyan Cave has been a Taoist cultivation site, and the national hero of the Southern Song Dynasty, Wen Tianxiang, once stopped in Sanmen and used Xianyan Cave as a base to start a rebellion against the Yuan Dynasty. The 'Wenxin Duke of Loyalty Shrine' in Xianyan Cave was built during the Ming Dynasty to commemorate Wen Tianxiang. Continuing upwards from Xianyan Cave, there is a viewing platform, and then there are no more tourists or plank roads, replaced by extremely steep and rugged climbs. This hiking route is now part of the Zhejiang Trail Sanmen section. Although many sections are still heavily obscured by bushes, the path is very clear and direction piles are erected at intervals. In addition, there are quite a few hikers, with various club banners hanging around. From Xianyan Cave to Wansong Cave, the route is almost entirely along the ridge line, crossing over a dozen hills, most of which have high-voltage line towers. The path is clear, but the strange rocks along the way require climbing with hands and feet, so it's hard to pick up speed. Because it is a ridge line, on both sides are the inner harbor bays extended by Puba Port and Jiantiao Port, and further away are the wind power plants of Jiaoshui Mountain and Huangxiang Liang, as well as the vast and turbid East Sea. Eagles and hawks soar in the sky, and villages are scattered at the foot of the mountains. The entire journey offers spectacular views with almost no obstructions, and the weather is also very cooperative. Among the dozen or so peaks along the way, the highest is Shisun Mountain, and after passing it, the general trend is downhill. Wansong Cave is divided into upper and lower caves. It is said that in ancient times, the area was covered with pine forests and had a view of the sea upon opening the door. During the Song Dynasty, it was discovered by a wandering Taoist who lived in the cave to cultivate. There are ancient paths on both sides leading to the villages of Huangjintan and Meijia'ao below. Behind Wansong Cave is a natural rock tunnel, over two meters high and about ten meters wide, with stone tables and benches for travelers to rest. Most of the stone bridge photos seen online are taken here. Continuing forward from Wansong Cave, you reach the rock tunnel. Seeing this huge natural stone bridge, almost everyone's first reaction is to exclaim in amazement. The natural stone bridge of the rock tunnel is about 50 meters high and is very impressive. During the Ming Hongzhi period, a Korean official named Choi Bu, known as the 'Marco Polo of the East,' survived a storm at sea and landed at Niutoumen in Sanmen after drifting for 14 days. Attracted by the spectacle of the rock tunnel, he climbed to the top for a distant view. Later, in his memoir 'Drifting on the Sea,' he described the features of the rock tunnel: 'In the morning, passed through the rock tunnel area. To the west of the area, there is a mountain with a stone wall standing upright, with a large cave like a rainbow gate.' Now at the foot of the mountain, there is a stone tablet inscribed in both Chinese and Korean describing this event. BTW, after Wansong Cave, there is another path that leads directly to Huangjintan Village, but it misses the rock tunnel. The total hiking distance is 7.5KM, taking 5 hours, with a total ascent of 484 meters. However, my watch recorded a total distance of 8.17KM and a total ascent of 720 meters. From a personal experience perspective, the watch record seems a bit more reliable.. Hiking TIPS: Starting point navigation to: Xianyan Cave Ridge, Sanmen County. Since it is a through route, find your own way back to the starting point to retrieve your car after descending. Intensity: Three stars Difficulty: Three and a half stars Scenery: Four stars