A Survey and Research on the Ancient Road of Ruhe
Xiaoguan Ancient Road (also called Hui Central Road) is famous in history.Its flows from Xian,passes through Xianyang,Chunhua,Xunyi of Shanxi Province,Zhengning,Ningxian of Gansu Province or through Xinpin and Changwu of Shanxi Province,and Sigoukou (the meeting area of Puhe and Ruhe.Then it flows to east along the bank of Ruhe before the North Grottoes Temple,passes through Penyang of Zhengyuan,Zhengyuan County,Kaibian,into Yangxiang,Gucheng,Qingshizui and Bianwatingguan (ancient Xianguan),flows 45 kilometers to north and into Guyuan of Ningxia.Lastly,it flows to north along Qingshui River,and directly flows into Huanghe,and into Yingchuan and Neimeng.It was the key transport road from Xihan to Song and Ming dynasty,even longer history period,and it had played significant role as the branch of the Silk Road.The part from Penyang of Zhenyuan to Pengyang,Chaona and Qingshizui of Ningxia is about 65 kilometers long,is the Ancient Road of Ruhe.It is the key road that connects North-west farming and nomadic cultivation.It was also an important transport road in connecting the Northwest frontier.