Stairway of Years Introduction
Before the construction of the Huan Tan Highway, to visit the Wenwu Temple for worship, one had to take a boat to the dock below the temple and then climb a steep flight of stairs, which was quite strenuous. This staircase was once known as the "Heavenly Ladder." After the completion of the Huan Tan Highway, visitors found it much easier to reach the Wenwu Temple, leading to the gradual forgetfulness of the staircase below the temple. After renovations by the National Scenic Area Administration, the staircase now features a 200-meter-long slope with 366 steps, symbolizing the 366 days of a leap year. Along the way, there are resting platforms set up at the first of each month, and some information related to the 24 solar terms is inscribed on either side of the staircase. This allows visitors to learn about traditional Chinese folk culture while ascending, hence the staircase is called the "Wenwu Temple Year Ladder" or "Year Ladder Trail." Walking on the Year Ladder Trail also offers an interesting experience: each step is engraved with a date and the names of famous individuals born on that day. You can look for your birthday and see which celebrity shares the same date! As you search while walking, the 366 steps become much less strenuous.
