Traveling along the Gu-Huan Route in Jin'an district, Fuzhou city, Fujian province, feels like entering a lush green forest. At rest stops, visitors can pause to enjoy a panoramic view of Fuzhou and admire the dazzling city lights at night.
Aerial view of the Gu-Huan Route in Jin'an district, Fuzhou and the lush landscapes and vibrant scenery along this scenic path. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]
The Gu-Huan Route begins in Gushan town, and ends in Huanxi town, spanning 20 kilometers. It serves as a crucial road connecting downtown Fuzhou to the Kuliang National Tourism Resort.
The route leads to Yixia village, nestled in Jin'an district. In the summer of 1885, American missionary Simeon F. Woodin — known as Wu Siming (吴思明) by his Chinese name — came here to escape the heat, marking the beginning of the foreign attraction to Kuliang. At its peak, Kuliang boasted 366 notable buildings, many of which served as vacation villas for foreigners.
Guo Shaoyi, now 55 years old, grew up hearing stories of exchanges between locals and foreigners and has witnessed the transformation of the Gu-Huan Route firsthand.
In his childhood, traveling from the city at the foot of the mountain to his home at the top required climbing the ancient trail of Gushan Mountain. Goods were transported similarly, with villagers carrying bamboo baskets on shoulder poles filled with fresh chayote, sweet potatoes and radishes, which they sold in the city. With the money earned, they bought daily necessities to carry back up the mountain. The journey was harsh — wet and cold in winter, scorching hot in summer.
Since 1991, the dirt road from Gushan Mountain to Kuliang has undergone several renovations, with a total investment of over 110 million yuan ($15.69 million). Ecological construction and safety protections have also been implemented to improve traffic safety and enhance the landscape along the road.
Cyclists riding through the forest along the Gu-Huan Route, in Jin'an district, Fuzhou. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]
On June 24, the "Bond with Kuliang: 2024 China-U.S. Youth Festival" was held in Fuzhou. The Gu-Huan Route not only allows locals and tourists to enjoy a scenic drive to the Kuliang National Tourism Resort but also enables foreigners to experience profound cultural exchanges between China and the world, making it a road of international friendship.
For Kuliang residents, the Gu-Huan Route is a "road to revitalization". Jin'an district has carefully developed various tourism routes featuring summer retreats, natural landscapes and rural scenery, helping villagers increase their incomes. In the summer of 2023, average daily weekend foot traffic in the core area of Kuliang exceeded 50,000 people. By 2024, Yixia village's collective income is expected to reach 2 million yuan.
Aerial view of the Gu-Huan Route in Jin'an district, Fuzhou and the lush landscapes and vibrant scenery along this scenic path. [Photo provided to bondwithkuliang.org.cn]
Standing beneath the thousand-year-old cedar trees in Kuliang, Guo Shaoyi hopes that more friends from around the world will visit via the beautiful Gu-Huan Route to explore historical sites such as the Kuliang Club, the Kuliang Post Office and the Gardner Memorial Hall.
Visitors can also stroll along the Kuliang Old Street and wander through the Millennium Cryptomeria King Park, continuing the enchanting "Bond with Kuliang”.
