Stairway of Ten Thousand Steps Introduction
Before the completion of the Circum-Tan Highway, to visit the Wenwu Temple for worship, one had to take a boat to the wharf below the temple, and then hike up a very steep staircase, which was quite exhausting. This staircase was once known as the "Stairway to Heaven." Later, when the Circum-Tan Highway was completed, it became much easier for tourists to reach the Wenwu Temple, and gradually, the staircase below the temple was forgotten. The staircase, renovated by the National Scenic Area Administration, features a slope of about 200 meters with 366 steps, symbolizing the 366 days of a leap year. Along the way, platforms for resting are set up at the first of each month, and information related to the 24 solar terms is engraved on both sides of the staircase, allowing visitors to learn about traditional Chinese folk culture while climbing. Thus, this staircase is referred to as the "Wenwu Temple Year Steps" or "Year Steps Trail." Walking on the Year Steps Trail offers a fun experience: each step has the date and the names of famous people, both Chinese and foreign, born on that day. You can check to see which celebrity shares your birthday! As you walk and search, the 366 steps won’t feel so tiring.
