Path Seekers问道中国③｜古蜀道：通途通途畅达将来,his,Road,Shu

Nathanael Dwight Pelton, also known by his Chinese name Su Ping, is an American who has lived in Chinafor 19 years. A teacher at SuzhouForeign Language School, he believes that "knowledge is found not only in books but also in the vast world, and one of the best ways to learn is through firsthand experience". Each year, he takes his students on trips to different countries to immerse themselves in local cultures.

Also a hiking enthusiast, he joined the Path Seekers to explore the ancient Shu Road in the transition from spring to summer. Before setting off, he told his family that this trip was an opportunity to venture onto the most authentic ancient trail, learn about the most authentic Chineseculture, and enjoy the most authentic cuisine—hot pot.

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The ancient Shu Road is one of the earliest large-scale transportationrelics preserved by humanity and has long been a destination Su Ping yearned to explore on foot. Whatkind of transportation network was the ancient Shu Road? Why did the people of ancient China choose to cross the formidable Qinba Mountains to construct it? Unlike the Roman roads built on plains, the Shu Road winds through the steep, rugged terrain of the Qinba Mountains. How did they overcome countless obstacles to carve cliffs, build plank roads, construct bridges, and pave stone paths?

With these questions in mind, Su Ping took a train from Jiangsu to Sichuan. Upon arriving, the question marks gradually turned into periods and exclamation points as he witnessed the sights and engaged in in-depth exchanges during his hike.

During the hike, Xinyue, a native of Sichuan, explained that the ancient Shu Road was once lamented as difficult as climbing to the sky. For thousands of years, the people of Sichuan reshaped the landscape with their wisdom and perseverance. The ancient Shu Road became a thing of the past after the opening of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Road in 1936. Since 1949, Sichuan has developed a comprehensive, modern transport network that integrates highways, railways, waterways, and air routes.

Passing through countless tunnels, Su Ping experienced firsthand the perilous nature of the Shu Road. At the Jian’ge section, he found himself surrounded by some of the largest and best-preserved ancient cypress trees in the world, realizing the efforts to connect with the outside world while living in harmony with nature.

As a photography enthusiast, Su Ping used his professional camera to capture the magnificent scenery along the ancient path. His lens documented the lush, ancient cypress trees of Cuiyun Corridor, the Baoji-Chengdu Railway threading through steep mountains, the historic Mingyue (Bright Moon) Gorge that has witnessed six ancient and modern transportation routes, and the steady flow of waterbeneath stone bridges from the Ming and Qing dynasties, still as robust as ever.

Today, it takes only a few hours to travel from Guangyuan to Chengdu. With international flight routes and freight trains, the regional Ba-Shu culture, represented by Shu brocade, continues to flourish and shines even brighter on the global stage. “The Shu Road is now incredibly accessible!” Su Ping remarked. This impression reflects not only his personal experience but also China’s development achievements, recognized around the world.

正(zheng)在中国生存了19年(nian)的美国人苏平（Nathanael Dwight Pelton），现正(zheng)在是苏州外国语黉舍的老师。因(yin)为相信“知识没有但正(zheng)在书本更正(zheng)在广阔的世界中，亲身去体验是极其重要(yao)的学(xue)习方式。”每年(nian)他都会带着学(xue)生们去没有同国家，深入外地交流。

今年(nian)春夏之交，酷(ku)爱徒步的他，跟随(sui)“Path Seekers 问道中国”徒步小组，走进古蜀道。“走最(zui)地道的旧(jiu)道，相识最(zui)地道的中国文明”，临行前他对家人说(shuo)，“当然，另(ling)有最(zui)地道的美食——火锅！”

古蜀道是留存至古人类最(zui)早(zao)的大型交通遗(yi)址之一，也是苏平心仪已(yi)久的徒步目标地。古蜀道是怎样(yang)的交通网络？中国古人为何要(yao)跨越秦巴山脉修建(jian)蜀道？没有同于古罗马人正(zheng)在平原(yuan)上(shang)修建(jian)的罗马大道，蜀道分(fen)布正(zheng)在秦巴山脉的一马平川中，昔时要(yao)降服重重妨碍凿崖修栈(zhan)、架桥铺石，是怎样(yang)实现的？带着这(zhe)些疑问，苏平搭乘火车(che)从(cong)江(jiang)苏抵达四川，进川后，这(zhe)些问号随(sui)着徒步中的见(jian)闻与深入交流，逐步变为句号与惊叹号。

一起行走，四川外地人郭谢歆(xin)悦告诉他，自(zi)古“蜀道难(nan)，难(nan)于上(shang)彼(bi)苍”，千(qian)百年(nian)来，四川先民(min)用伶俐与坚韧重塑时空。1936年(nian)川陕公路守旧(jiu)今后，古蜀道成为历史。1949年(nian)以来，四川又沿着古蜀道线路设计(ji)建(jian)设了古代公路、铁路、水运(yun)和(he)航空等“新蜀道”。

当火车(che)经由一个个隧道，苏平意想到，曾的蜀道真的“难(nan)于上(shang)彼(bi)苍”。徒步正(zheng)在剑(jian)阁蜀道，置身迄(qi)今范围最(zui)大、留存最(zui)齐备的古代人工栽植驿道古柏群(qun)，又能体会到先民(min)正(zheng)在想尽办法与外界联通的同时，坚持顺应自(zi)然、保护自(zi)然。

酷(ku)爱摄影的苏平，一起用专业相机记录珍贵刹时。正(zheng)在他的镜头里，有翠云廊(lang)千(qian)年(nian)苍柏枝繁叶茂、有穿过(guo)陡峭山洞(dong)的宝成铁路、有见(jian)证古今六道于此通行的明月峡，另(ling)有潺潺流水淌过(guo)坚实如(ru)初的明清石板桥。

通途通途，畅达将来。如(ru)今，从(cong)广元到成都非常方便，几个小时就可(ke)以达到天(tian)府之国感受“巴适”的都市生存。一条条国际航路守旧(jiu)，一趟趟国际班列飞驰，以蜀锦为代表(biao)的巴蜀文明正(zheng)在世界舞(wu)台更加闪亮。“如(ru)今蜀道很通畅！”这(zhe)是苏平的感受，也是全世界众目睽睽的中国经验。

总制(zhi)片(pian)Chief Producers / 杨力群(qun)Yang Liqun 双传学(xue)Shuang Chuanxue

总策划Chief Planners / 顾雷鸣Gu Leiming 刘伟Liu Wei

总监制(zhi)Line Producer / 傅晴(qing)Fu Qing

总统筹Chief Coordinator / 沈(shen)峥嵘Shen Zhengrong

统筹Coordinators / 包(bao)闻军Bao Wenjun 王乃(nai)毅Wang Naiyi

制(zhi)作Creators / 刘浏Liu Liu 陈澄Chen Cheng 朱(zhu)娜Zhu Na 钱盈盈Qian Yingying 陈雨薇Chen Yuwei 王瑞枫(feng)Wang Ruifeng

美编Art Editor / 张迪Zhang Di

Path Seekers问道中国③｜古蜀道：通途通途 畅达将来,his,Road,Shu

Path Seekers问道中国③｜古蜀道：通途通途畅达将来,his,Road,Shu