In China, an 80-year-old retiree spent 11 years building a staircase to a sacred mountain (5 photos)

A retiree from China's Hebei Province built nearly 10,000 stone steps for a tourist attraction at his own expense.





Before retirement, Zhao Zichen worked in the Fuping County Tax Bureau in Baoding City. In 2014, he became fascinated with Mount Shenxian (also known as Damaoshan), which borders three counties. Since then, Zhao has visited the mountain many times, exploring it and collecting historical materials.

The 81-year-old retiree discovered that the mountain not only offers impressive views but also holds a rich cultural heritage. It is a fusion of millennia-old Beiyue culture traditions, imperial sacrificial rites, and the history of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. However, steep, difficult-to-navigate trails limited access to the monuments and limited tourist interest.



"This mountain is a pillar of Hebei Province's history and culture. It must not be forgotten," says Zhao.

Since 2015, he has been working on a project to restore the mountain trails. He has spent his pension and even borrowed money from relatives and friends. Lacking a construction crew, Zhao hired locals to carry stones and materials. Online, Zhao earned the nickname "Yu Gong"—the foolish old man who moved mountains (愚公移山 Yú Gōng yíshān) from the old proverb.

Every day at 5:30 AM, Zhao set out from the county town to the foot of the mountain. He took buses and then walked, arriving at the construction site after 9 AM. Then, in the evening, he caught the last bus back. In this way, he walked dozens of kilometers each day.





The retiree invested over a million yuan ($144,000) in the project. When he couldn't pay the money upfront, local residents came to help build the trails as payment for future payments.

"The process was certainly difficult, but I thought that if I could do something in my life, I had to do it."

Over 11 years, the man, together with local residents, built nearly 10,000 stone steps in remote mountain valleys. They linked more than 30 different natural landmarks. Most of these unusual natural features are located on sheer cliffs, each with deep cultural significance. Zhao named each rock.

Besides construction, Zhao established two exhibition halls: one in the county seat and the other on the mountain itself, to organize and display the collected historical materials. According to the retiree, his main desire is to restore the mountain to its former glory.

"It has a tangible cultural heritage and should become a landmark of Hebei," he says.



A massive flood in July 2025 dealt Zhao Zichen a severe blow. Almost all the steps and much of the road were washed away, and a huge investment was lost. However, according to the 81-year-old man, the floodwaters further cleaned the ravines, revealing their pristine beauty. In October 2025, shortly after the floodwaters receded, he hired people to carry out repairs. Zhao has already begun planning a preliminary opening of the tourist attraction the following spring.

News of Zhao's project went viral on social media in mainland China. Internet users supported him:

"By turning this area into a tourist attraction, the municipality should give part of the proceeds to this man to pay off his debts."

"What is the meaning of a life that lasts only a few decades? To leave such a mark so that future generations will know you were here."