Shimen Plank Road
石门栈道风景区（褒斜道）
A rebuilt plank road at the southern end of the ancient Baoxie Road, plus Shimen Reservoir, offering a taste of the old Shu roads and the story of “openly repairing the plank roads, secretly crossing at Chencang.”
Shimen Plank Road lies at the mouth of the Bao River gorge, about 16 km north of Hantai District. It marks the southern end of the ancient Shu road known as the Baoxie Road, which linked Guanzhong with Hanzhong. In the Eastern Han dynasty, the “Shimen” tunnel was carved here, the earliest artificial road tunnel in the world, and numerous cliff inscriptions were left inside and outside it. These are known as the “Thirteen Shimen Inscriptions,” which were moved to the Hanzhong Museum in the 1970s when Shimen Reservoir was built. Today the scenic area has rebuilt several kilometres of plank road that clings to the cliffs of the Bao River gorge, so you can walk the dramatic route. Along the way are attractions such as a reconstruction of the Han-Wei Shimen and Bao Si's hometown. You can also take a boat tour on Shimen Reservoir. Admission and boat fares follow the official prices. It's about 30 minutes by taxi from the city centre. The planks run close to the water, so they are slippery in rain. Take care.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00 (check the site's announcements)
Nearby sights
- Gu Han Terrace (Hanzhong Museum)
- Tianhan Wetland Park
- Dongguan Old Street
- Baijiang Altar
- Xinghan Shengjing & Tianhan Tower
- Mount Han (Nanzheng)
- Shangyuanguan Ancient Town
- Mount Dingjun