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Explore the region
About Meiguan Ancient Road
Dayu sits at the head of the Zhang River on the northern slope of Yuling, the first of the Five Ridges, where Jiangxi, Guangdong and Hunan converge. A pass was set here as early as the Qin, and the ridge took the name Dayuling from the Han general Yu Sheng, who walled and garrisoned it; the county itself was established in 590 and was known for centuries as Nan'an. The road over the crest was built in 716, in the fourth year of the Tang Kaiyuan reign, and is paved with cobbles. Dayu County describes it as one of the more completely preserved ancient post roads in the country and a national key cultural heritage protection unit; about five li of it lie inside the scenic area, together with the Meiguan gate tower, also a national-level relic.
The ridge is named for its plum trees, and because the climate differs on the two sides of the crest the blossom on the southern branches falls before the northern branches open. The road also carries a twentieth-century history: Chen Yi sheltered here during the three-year guerrilla campaign fought by Red Army units left in the south, and a stele on the site carries the poems he wrote as Three Stanzas at Meiling. The surrounding area is a national forest park and a provincial key scenic and historic area.
What to look for
- The cobbled surface of the Tang post road, about five li of which runs through the scenic area.
- The Meiguan gate tower on the crest, listed alongside the road as a national-level cultural relic.
- The plum trees on either side of the pass, whose blossom on the southern and northern slopes does not open at the same time.
- Chen Yi's hiding place and the stele carrying the poems Three Stanzas at Meiling.
- The forest of plum-poem steles, the Wangmei Pavilion, the shrine to General Yu and the Yunfeng Temple along the route.
Location & getting there
Getting to Meiguan Ancient Road
Follow the currently permitted path and arrange the return before setting out. Do not infer trail continuity or difficulty from the route name alone.
- Search for 梅关古道 with 赣州市 and 大余县.
Find Meiguan Ancient Road
梅关古道 · 大余县
No reliable map pin yet: search by the Chinese name.
Sources & visit information
The linked sources support the identity and background described in this introduction. Opening hours, admission, activity availability and exact arrival arrangements have not been comprehensively checked. Confirm current visitor information with the venue; the original catalogue locality and editorial review flag are retained.