Regular hikers: this is the slightly shorter version of the trail.

On this version of our Longevity Village to the Ming Tombs hike we will avoid a recently re-opened mine and quarry site by looping to the west instead of going around the east side, combining sections of our Mines and Pines and Tomb Raiders hikes.

We start off at Longevity Village, the midpoint of our popular Silver Pagodas hike. We’ll be heading in the opposite direction to the pagodas, aiming to cross a notch in a ridge on the southern side of the village.

The first part of the hike is on mostly flat ground, first on the road that leads through Longevity Village, and then on a dirt trail that heads up into the hills, passing through all the terraced chestnut fields that are a major source of income for the villagers.

As we get closer to the point where we cross over the ridge, the trail starts to zig-zag as it climbs up the hillside, eventually rising to the saddle between two peaks—a good place for a rest!

From the saddle, we follow a largely disused trail down into the valley on the other side.

Near the bottom of the valley, we pass through a nice narrow ravine before arriving at the village on the other side of the hill. Just before the village we walk along a narrow lane between brick buildings that are some sort of small factory. Depending on the mood of the workers, and the state of the gate, we might need to skirt around the buildings instead of strolling through.

A sealed road leads down into the village where we begin a hike called Tomb Raiders, and, after a sharp turn at the village square and exercise machine yard, we’re back into the hills, following another valley trail up on to a ridge.

It’s a slightly tougher climb this time, getting rather steep near the top. There are quite a few false peaks on the way up, but these provide a good opportunity for a rest! If you don’t think it’s tough enough, there’s an option to take a short detour to the highest hill in the area, where there’s a rusted trig and great 360° views of the area, including many of the Ming Tombs.

From there, it’s down all the way, following a gravel trail that was blazed when power lines were put in. The path winds through scraggly pines, and takes us past a small dam on the way out to the finish point for the hike – a stele just outside one of the Ming Tombs that unfortunately isn't open to the general public.

What to bring on this hike

• Lunch and snacks to eat
• Warm clothes, gloves, and a hat
• Good hiking boots
• (Click here to read our full What to Bring on a Hike list)

Reasons you might not enjoy this hike

• Parts of the hike go through areas that are not commonly walked, and the trail can get bushy and scratchy, especially in summer.
• We walk by and around a few of the closed Ming Tombs, but can't go in. This hike is more about exercise than tomb-visiting.