Mysterious ancient road hidden deep in Mengtun River

In recent years, a river valley has suddenly become popular. Tour buses from Chengdu and self-driving fleets with license plates from various places have been pouring into this valley, rushing towards the end of the valley. Let those who enter the ditch feel at ease. However, there is a group of ancient blockhouses 18 kilometers from the mouth of the ditch to the river valley, which many people don't know about. It can be said that the upstream is a comfortable place for the natural ecology of the area, and the love between children at Simenguan downstream will make you feel relaxed and forget to leave. This river valley is called Mengtun River.

There is an ancient ruins along the river valley called Simenguan Castle. It is located on the Qianren cliff on the left bank of the river valley. A long time ago, it was the way in and out for Tibetans on the upper and lower Mengtun Rivers, and it was also the teahouse. The horse must pass through the ancient road. In ancient times, civil servants dismounted from sedan chairs, military officers dismounted from horses, and others were not allowed to make loud noises. Because a big shot came out of this ancient road in the capital, he was the powerful General Jianwei.

We got to know Mr. Yu, a Tibetan who has lived here for generations, and his Shiche Canglou. At the Simen Pass pass on the ancient road, when I asked him about the story of Simen Pass, he talked endlessly. With a living textbook, he told me: Simen Pass closed the gate and guarded the tea horses from Heishui from Xuecheng and Li County to Chengdu. ancient road. There is a trend of "one man is in charge of the barrier, and ten thousand heavens cannot open it". In 1935, when the Fourth Front Army of the Red Army arrived at this pass, it was blocked by local Tibetan troops and could not conquer it. In desperation, they sent cavalry to take a detour from another Nawa village to conquer it, which showed how dangerous the four gate pass was.

The general Jianwei who walked into the capital from here was called Zaktar. He was from Mengsha Village in Li County. He was appointed as Lan Ling's bodyguard in the middle period of Qianlong's reign. In the eighth year of Jiaqing's reign, he led his army to pacify Sichuan and Sichuan. In the three provinces of Shaanxi and Hunan, he was promoted to the first-class bodyguard due to his meritorious service, and walked in front of the emperor. He was the deputy commander of the Mongolian army at the Zhenghong Banner, the counselor of the Mongolian Khovd, and was awarded the positions of deputy commander of the Han army at the Zhenglan Banner and minister of the Military Academy. His cemetery is built here.

Due to the boom in tourism in Mengtun River in recent years, Uncle Yu’s family is also living a very happy life. His children are all working outside. His daughter-in-law Zhang Wenxiang is an authentic daughter of Simenguan. She is on the ancient road. Sekikou Jingshou's family runs the "Castle Hotel". It seems that she is not only a typical Jiarong beauty, but also a cheerful and enthusiastic Han girl. It is under her care and operation that the Castle Hotel resounded throughout the Mengtun Valley.

The Mengtun Valley is divided into two administrative regions, Upper Meng and Lower Meng, with a total length of about 30 kilometers. It belongs to the Jiarong Tibetan gathering area. In the valley, there are the famous Tang Dynasty Chiobian Tower and the peculiar and steep Simenguan Ancient Road. , Gaoqiaogou ancient battlefield, Tibetan Buddhist temples, etc. There are 24 ditches in the river valley to show the natural beauty. Jiarong Tibetans retain strong traditional ethnic characteristics in terms of dwellings, clothing, religious culture, and folk customs. (Pictures of ancient fortresses provided by Xiang Xinjie)