Tourists walk on the revamped ancient road and admire the beautiful natural scenery in Ninghai county, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The revamping of a damaged ancient road once travelled by Xu Xiake, a famous traveler and geographer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), has revitalized rural areas of Ninghai, a county in Ningbo, Zheijang province.

The Ninghai section of the Xiake road, created in Tang Dynasty (618-917AD), used to be a vital route connecting Ninghai and its neighboring county Tiantai.

However, as the modern transportation network became increasingly developed, the old road was no longer what it used to be and it was gradually forgotten by locals. Some parts were covered by weeds and clays whilst some were destroyed by landslides and floods.

Two decades ago, Zhou Mingli, an elderly villager in Ninghai, felt disappointed about the improper protection of the road, stressing, "The road paved with cobblestones and the attractions along it are great treasures of our county." He decided to renovate the road by himself and eventually, nearly one thousand volunteers assisted him in restoring the ancient road to its former glory.

These actions drew attention from the government. In 2007, the local tourism administration invested 3 million yuan ($470,802) into the restoration of the damaged road, as well as the connection of the road and other mountain paths.

Thus, villages that had been hidden in the mountains, along with rarely before seen tourist attractions, were unveiled to the public thanks to the revamped road. Today, more than 40 villages and dozens of tourist spots along the road form a big tourist area in Ninghai, giving a much welcome boost to local tourism.