走马岭历史悠久,是千年古村落,位于沁县北部牛寺乡的最北端,被称为“沁县的北大门”,历史上曾经有“冀州门户、潞泽咽喉”的说法。

早在唐宋时期,我国重要的南北通道——太航道开通,成为名震一时的军事通道。走马岭隘口就是太行道上的重要门户,是古太原通往上党地区的咽喉要塞。宋太祖赵匡胤亲征北汉王的时候,这里就是前沿重阵。巧夺天工、崎岖艰险的羊肠小道,成为了历来军队北进太原、南图上党的必经之路,走马岭隘口成为兵家必争之地。从宋朝时设立兵站,到明朝时成为官道,再到清朝设立巡检司、传邮所、古驿站,走马岭这座雄关要塞从历史的深处向我们走来。

清代时期,随着晋商的步伐,走马岭走出了一条新的发展道路。从康熙年间开始,晋商开辟了一条绵延200多年的漫漫商道,从中国福建一直走到了俄国圣彼得堡,这条商道以贩卖茶叶为主,在东西方贸易中扮演至关重要的角色,是继汉唐丝路以后,中华民族历史上的又一壮举,被称为“晋商万里茶路”。走马岭就是这条古茶路上的一个驿站和节点。那时的茶商为了运输方便,就在山径乡路上铺上了石板,筑起了石桥。客商们买饭喝茶、歇脚打尖的“茶坊上”,以及“茶坊上”流传着的皇上垴、看花垴、关公庙、华严庵等的美丽传说,一代代流传下来。

伴随着走马岭悠久厚重的历史文化的,是秀美的自然风光和得天独厚的生态环境。走马岭西临涅河水,南傍九龙山。九龙山是沁县太岳山脉正北部的最后一座高峰,山脚下就是2019年竣工的西汤水库。九龙山山势奇峻蜿蜒,海拔最高处1366米,方圆20余平方公里。森林覆盖率高,水资源丰富。被国家林业和草原局认定为“国家森林乡村”,先后获得“山西省休闲农业和乡村旅游示范村”、省级“美丽宜居示范村”等称号。

漫步走马岭,春游九龙山,杏花飘香;夏游涅河源,清凉宜人;秋登茶马古道,遥听驼铃声声;冬探地道迷宫,追寻历史记忆。

站在九龙山山顶古朴庄重、雄伟壮观的庙宇前,远望北侧西汤水库,风光独特,魅力无穷。这是一处很罕见的三庙合一的庙宇。龙王殿、上帝王菩萨庙、奶奶庙,有着四百多年的历史,风雨沧桑中巍然伫立。

走在茶马古道上,仿佛看到了数百年前的繁荣场面:驼铃声声客商不断,车队驼马队路经此地,上坡时必须喊人推车,遇上阴雨天更加不易,推车的人喊着号子,如同大江里行船的纤夫,声势浩大,犹在耳边。

走在地道迷宫中,看到了明清时藏兵洞的历史,看到了20世纪60年代,响应毛主席“深挖洞、广积粮、不称霸”“备战备荒为人民”的号召,在沁县人武部指导谋划下,走马岭人民对老旧进行加固和改扩建,形成了现今规模的能攻、能防、能战、能守的多功能战备地道。

走在乡村记忆馆,仿佛从历史的老旧用品中看到了上山下乡知识青年的奋斗故事。当时,沁县先后接纳知识青年700 多人。走马岭村就是一部分人曾住过的村子,这里留下了不少知识青年的奋斗足迹。

走在梅杏飘香的广阔田园里,走在涅河之畔的清凉水流中,走在走马岭的巷道中,每一处风景都是一首动人的诗,每一段历史都是一曲悠扬的乐章。让我们在走马岭的每一寸土地上,用心去感受那份深厚的文化积淀和自然的美丽。

走马岭,以独特的魅力与丰富的内涵,期待与您的每一次相遇。

Zoumaling has a long and glorious history. It is an ancient village of thousands of years, located at the northernmost tip of Niusi Township in the north of Qin County. It is known as the "North Gate of Qin County" and was historically regarded as the "Gateway of Jizhou and the Throat of Luze".

As early as the Tang and Song dynasties, the Taihang Road, an important north-south passage in China, was established and became a famous military passage at that time. The Zoumaling Pass was a key gateway on the Taihang Road and a strategic stronghold from ancient Taiyuan to the Shangdang area. When Emperor Taizu of Song, Zhao Kuangyin, led his troops to conquer the Northern Han King in person, this place was the frontline position. The ingeniously constructed, rough and dangerous sheep intestine trail became the necessary route for troops to march north to Taiyuan and south to Shangdang. Thus, the Zoumaling Pass became a contested place for military strategists. From the establishment of military stations in the Song Dynasty to the formation of an official road in the Ming Dynasty, and then to the establishment of inspection departments, postal stations, and ancient post stations in the Qing Dynasty, the magnificent and strategic Zoumaling has marched towards us from the depth of history.

During the Qing Dynasty, following the footsteps of Shanxi merchants, Zoumaling embarked on a new development path. Beginning in the Kangxi period, Shanxi merchants opened up a long commercial road that lasted for over 200 years, stretching all the way from Fujian, China, to St. Petersburg, Russia. This commercial road mainly dealt in tea and played a vital role in the trade between the East and the West. It was another remarkable feat in the history of the Chinese nation after the Silk Road of the Han and Tang dynasties and was called the "Ten-Thousand-Mile Tea Road of Shanxi Merchants". Zoumaling was a post station and node on this ancient tea road. At that time, for the convenience of transportation, tea merchants paved the mountain paths and rural roads with stone slabs and constructed stone bridges. The "Tea House", where merchants bought food, drank tea, and took breaks, and the beautiful legends such as the Emperor's Knoll, the Flower-Watching Knoll, the Guanyin Temple, and the Huayan Nunnery that circulated in the "Tea House" have been passed down from generation to generation.

Accompanying the long and profound historical culture of Zoumaling are the beautiful natural scenery and unique ecological environment. Zoumaling is adjacent to the Nie River on the west and Jiulong Mountain on the south. Jiulong Mountain is the final peak in the northern part of the Taiyue Mountains in Qin County. At the foot of the mountain lies the Xitang Reservoir, which was completed in 2019. Jiulong Mountain has a strange and tortuous terrain, with the highest altitude reaching 1,366 meters and an area exceeding 20 square kilometers. It enjoys high forest coverage and abundant water resources. It has been recognized as a "National Forest Village" by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and has successively received titles such as "Demonstration Village for Leisure Agriculture and Rural Tourism in Shanxi Province" and a provincial-level "Beautiful and Livable Demonstration Village".

Strolling in Zoumaling, you can enjoy the fragrant apricot blossoms on Jiulong Mountain in spring; feel the coolness at the source of the Nie River in summer; ascend the ancient Tea-Horse Road and listen to the distant camel bells in autumn; explore the underground maze and trace historical memories in winter.

Standing in front of the simple, solemn, and magnificent temples on the top of Jiulong Mountain and looking far to the Xitang Reservoir on the north side, the scenery is unique and charming. This is an extremely rare temple that combines three temples. The Dragon King Hall, the God and Bodhisattva Temple, and the Grandma Temple have a history of more than 400 years and stand firm despite the elements.

Walking on the Tea-Horse Road, it seems as if you could see the prosperous scene hundreds of years ago: the continuous sounds of camel bells and the constant flow of merchants. When caravans and camel teams passed through here, people had to be called to push the carts when going uphill. It was even more difficult on rainy days. The people pushing the carts shouted chants, just like the trackers on a big river. The momentum was huge and still seems to echo in the ears.

Walking in the underground maze, you can witness the history of the hidden soldier caves in the Ming and Qing dynasties. In the 1960s, in response to Chairman Mao's call to "Dig deep tunnels, store abundant grains, and never seek hegemony" and "Prepare for war and prepare for famine for the people", under the guidance and planning of the Qin County Armed Forces Department, the people of Zoumaling strengthened, expanded, and renovated the old ones, forming the current-scale multi-functional combat-ready underground passage that can attack, defend, fight, and hold.

Walking in the Rural Memory Hall, it seems as if you could sense the struggle stories of educated youth going to the countryside from the old items of history. At that time, Qin County accepted more than 700 educated youth. Zoumaling Village was where some of them lived, leaving behind many remarkable footprints of the educated youth.

Walking in the vast fields filled with fragrant plum and apricot blossoms, in the cool water flow by the Nie River, and in the alleys of Zoumaling, every scenery is a touching poem, and every period of history is a melodious movement. Let us feel the profound cultural accumulation and natural beauty on every inch of the land of Zoumaling with our hearts.

Zoumaling, with its unique charm and rich connotation, awaits your encounter with eagerness.