A classic mountain hiking trail carrying thousands of years of historical memories and literati footprints, the Xu Xiake Ancient Trail on Qiyun Mountain is renowned for being visited twice by the Ming Dynasty geographer Xu Xiake, who documented it in his "Diary of Travels to Baiyue." Included in the list of key promoted mountain hiking destinations in 2021, its core value lies in the perfect integration of natural Danxia landscapes and cultural-historical relics. Located within Qiyun Mountain Scenic Area at the western end of the Huangshan Mountain range, the 4.5-kilometer (9-li) trail features a vertical elevation gain of 585 meters, connecting the classic landscape pattern of "Thirteen Pavilions along Nine Li," making it an ideal choice for experiencing "climbing mountains to visit ancient sites."

With a profound historical heritage, the ancient trail originated as a path trodden by Taoist priests during the Tang Dynasty, gradually widened with the prosperity of Taoism in the Southern Song Dynasty, and formed a complete system of stone slab paths and pavilions after being renovated with funds from local officials and gentry in the Ming Dynasty. The thirteen ancient pavilions along the way each have distinct characteristics: from Buyun Pavilion ("Stepping on Clouds") at the starting point, to Huanfeng Gongxiu Pavilion ("Peaks Surrounding Beauty"), and Yunshui Pavilion ("Clouds Rising, Water Ending"). Each pavilion serves not only as a rest stop from rain but also as a scenic node carrying cultural connotations. Xu Xiake once stopped at Huanfeng Gongxiu Pavilion to admire the scenery, writing praises of "peaks winding, waters reflecting, trees lush, stones exotic." Haitian Yiwang Pavilion, the last stop before the destination, offers distant views of the Xin'an River winding like a jade belt and close-up views of the unique scenery of Danxia red rocks contrasting with green trees.

For hiking experiences, the entire trail is paved with blue stone slabs, with some sections retaining the warm texture eroded by time. In addition to ancient pavilions, cultural landscapes such as Zhenxian Cave Mansion and Longevity Character Rock are scattered along the way. Relics such as the 9-foot-tall "Longevity" character inscribed by Zhu Xi and Tang Bohu’s "Epitaph of Emperor Xuan of Zixiao Palace" turn the hiking journey into a cultural dialogue across time and space. With a moderate difficulty level, the trail takes approximately 3-4 hours to complete, suitable for the general public. Since 2021, the scenic area has carried out protective renovations on the ancient trail in accordance with the "International Mountain Hiking Tourism Guide," improving the signage system and emergency facilities, and adding cultural explanation signs. It retains the original style of the ancient trail while enhancing hiking safety and experience, becoming a classic hiking route connecting natural landscapes with cultural history.