(250408) -- CHENGDU, April 8, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Hope Justman (L) and her friend Chen Yang view a stone tablet at the Tianxiong Pass on the ancient road system "Shudao" in Guangyuan City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, March 19, 2025. Hope Justman, an octogenarian American, completed her 25th trip to "Shudao," an ancient road system with a history of more than two millennia in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Spanning over 1,000 km, "Shudao," or the roads of the Shu Kingdom, winds through rugged mountains and turbulent streams, connecting present-day Sichuan Province with the northern Guanzhong Plain, once the heartland of ancient China.

Justman's connection to the ancient road system can be traced back to her college days. As a student majoring in art history, she visited an exhibition in the 1960s, where a painting named Emperor Minghuang's Journey to Sichuan captured her attention, especially the plank road skirting the sheer mountain peaks in the background. At first, she thought the artist had imagined the scene. When she found out that the road actually existed, she knew she had to go to China to find it.

With the help of local guides, Justman finally located "Shudao." Walking on winding plank roads lined with ancient trees made her feel as if she traveled back in time. Justman created a website and wrote a book, sharing her experiences of this ancient road system. In spring, many like-minded foreigners come to Sichuan to hike with her.

In 2024, the Chinese version of Justman's book was published, and more Chinese people started to learn about the American's bond with "Shudao." Justman has also noticed that great efforts have been made to protect the ancient road system, as broken stone-paved roads have been restored, and many facilities and signposts have been added along the hiking route. "I'm glad more and more people have an opportunity to enjoy the scenery of the ancient road system," she said. (Xinhua/Xu Bingjie)