Nathanael Dwight Pelton, also known by his Chinese name Su Ping, is an American who has lived in China for 19 years. A teacher at Suzhou Foreign 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 Chinese culture, and enjoy the most authentic cuisine—hot pot.

The ancient Shu Road is one of the earliest large-scale transportation relics preserved by humanity and has long been a destination Su Ping yearned to explore on foot. What kind 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 water beneath 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.

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