"Yunyou" Shanxi's top ten ancient passes, Xiongguan Ancient Road forges a new brand of Great Wall cultural tourism (Part 1)

Traveling around Shanxi·The establishment of the top ten passes has a long history in our country. Ancient passes appeared in the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties. The earliest purpose was to collect taxes set up by the imperial court on the border. Later, The organic combination of the pass and the Great Wall has become a barrier against external enemies. The history of the construction of the Great Wall in Shanxi started from the Warring States Period to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, covering almost all historical periods of the construction of the Great Wall in China. And because of Shanxi's unique topography, which is characterized by mountains and rivers both inside and outside, the distribution of famous passes in Shanxi has been particularly dense throughout history. Today, the Great Wall and passes have become a unique cultural heritage. Pingxing Pass, Shahukou, Yanmen Pass, Piantou Pass, Ningwuguan, Niangzi Pass, etc. are all representative landmarks of the Great Wall and passes in Shanxi. This issue of "Shanxi Youth Daily" takes you on a "cloud tour" of the ten ancient passes in Shanxi, to experience the most splendid remains of the Great Wall and to listen to the most exciting stories of the Great Wall.

Yanmen Pass is the first pass in the world and half of the history of China

Yanmen Pass is located in the Yanmen Mountains about 20 kilometers north of Dai County, Xinzhou City. It is the Great Wall It is an important pass on the mountain and is famous for its "danger". It is known as "the first pass in China". There is a saying that "there are nine fortresses in the world, and Yanmen is the leader". It is an important part of the Great Wall, a world cultural heritage, and the boundary between the nomadic area in northern Saibei and the farming area in the Central Plains.

The siege of Yanmen Pass was built along the mountains, with a circumference of more than 5 kilometers. The southern end of the city wall is connected to the east and west wings of Guancheng respectively. To the north, it extends along the ridge to the valley bottom to encircle it. There is a city gate at the encirclement. There are 3 large stone walls and 25 small stone walls built outside the siege, which serve as barriers.

Yanmen Pass Scenic Area is a tourist area of ??border fortress culture, Great Wall culture, and pass culture with the historical relics and ruins of Yanmen Pass military defense system as the main landscape resources. It is a desolate, solemn, majestic, and majestic border customs tourism resource. It shows the function and rise and fall of this famous historical pass, and also tells the vicissitudes of history and events over more than 3,000 years. Yanmen Pass is connected to Xinguangwukou, which is located between two mountains. There are remains of the Great Wall on the east and west sides.

Currently, Yanmenguan Scenic Area is actively carrying out a special 5A review operation and conducting all-round benchmarking and self-examination. In addition to daily scheduled disinfection, all tourists enter the scenic spot through double code verification, body temperature detection, real-name registration and other processes. A few days ago, the Shanxi Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism's research team conducted a survey in the Yanmenguan Scenic Area and requested that the regional characteristics should be further highlighted, the cultural connotation should be deeply explored, the resources of the scenic area should be fully revitalized, and the story of Yanmen should be told well; the construction of the Taixin Integrated Economic Zone should be grasped It is a good opportunity to expand tourism projects, enrich the tourism industry, do a good job in the construction and protection of the Great Wall National Cultural Park, and rely on Yanmen Pass to drive the cultural tourism industry in the county and neighboring counties and cities to become active and popular.

Pingxingguan has been a garrison place for a long time in history

Pingxingguan is located in Baiyatai Township, Lingqiu County, Datong City, Shanxi Province. It was built during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall passed through Pingxing Ridge and built Guan Tower on Guan Ridge. The Pingxing Guancheng Tiger is located at the southern foot of the Pingxing Mountains. It was called Pingxingzhai in ancient times because the surrounding terrain is like a bottle. Later the name was changed. Historically, it has been a garrison place for a long time, with a surrounding area of ??more than 900 feet, and one gate each in the north, south and east. "The first battle at Pingxingguan was famous all over the world." What is sung in the "Military Song of the Eighth Route Army" is the victory at Pingxingguan. This fierce battle took place on the watershed between Lingqiu County in Datong City and Fanzhi County in Xinzhou City, at Pingxing Pass, an important pass of the Inner Great Wall in the Ming Dynasty.

Pingxingguan has Hengshan Mountain to the north and Wutai Mountain to the south, both with an altitude of more than 1,500 meters. There is a not very wide lowland between the two mountains. Pingxing Ridge, where Pingxing Pass is located, is the raised part of this lowland. Therefore, the situation is very dangerous and it has played a defensive role in countless wars. The Pingxingguan Battle Site contains revolutionary sites such as the 115th Division Command Post (Guandi Temple), the Pingxingguan Battle Command Site, and revolutionary memorial buildings. In 1969, the Pingxingguan Battle Memorial Hall was established here. Currently, Pingxingguan Scenic Area is temporarily closed for maintenance.

Since 2006, Lingqiu County has held 13 consecutive Pingxingguan Cultural Tourism Festivals to build the Lingqiu tourism brand.

The cultural festival takes the "Red Pingxingguan" brand as the leader, and is based on the county's traditional temple fairs and material exchange activities. It carries out a variety of activities such as red literature and art in scenic spots, tourism promotion meetings, live performances, folk intangible cultural performances, etc., to comprehensively showcase Lingqiu County The profound cultural heritage, historical heritage, natural landscape and other tourism resources integrate Pingxingguan red tourism with traditional cultural exchanges.

Shahukou is the birthplace and main passage of Shanxi merchants.

Killing the Tiger Pass is located in Youyu County, the "Fortress Oasis" in Shuozhou City, Shanxi Province, close to the junction of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia provinces. The ancient Great Wall passes here are dotted with green onions. Especially in recent years, with the increase in tourists, the Xikou Ancient Road in Youyu Shahukou has also become lively. The Youwei City of the Seventy-Two Castles in Datong Town in the Ming Dynasty refers to the current Youwei Town, where the famous tiger-killing mouth is located. "Records of Ming Shenzong" records that "Shahukou in Datong was the first important place in Yunzhong." During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Shahukou also became the birthplace and main channel of Shanxi merchants. The birthplace of the once prosperous "Dashengkui" business name is here.

In addition, the west exit in "Go to the west exit" is the mouth of the tiger. Killing the Tiger's Pass is the epitome of Shanxi's history in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and is evidence of the rise and fall of China's modern finance and trade. Visitors come here to climb the ancient Great Wall and have a panoramic view of the frontier fortress scenery. In addition, visitors can also go to the Youyu Great Wall History Museum to learn about this military fortress and important border trade town, and experience the diverse culture here.

It is understood that Youyu County insists on taking ecology as its characteristics, culture as its connotation, and tourism as its carrier. It has developed a number of scenic spots such as Shahukou Scenic Area, Nanshan Forest Park, and Youwei Ancient City, and hosted The equestrian competition of the Second Youth League innovated and promoted the two brands of "Xikou Style Ecological Cultural Tourism Investment Promotion Series" and "Xikou Style Ice and Snow Carnival", and held various cultural events such as the International Horse Racing Open, Ecological International Marathon, and National Road Cycling League. Sports activities have gradually formed an eco-cultural tourism industry system with distinctive characteristics, and continue to promote the "Four Seasons Journey" eco-cultural tourism brand in the spring with a trip to explore spring, a summer trip to escape the summer, an autumn harvest trip, and a winter ice and snow trip. Injected new impetus.

Piantou Pass is the first of the three passes outside the Great Wall in the Ming Dynasty

Piantou Pass is located on the edge of the Yellow River in Pianguan County, Xinzhou City. Together with Ningwuguan and Yanmenguan, they are collectively known as the Three Passes of China. They were the first of the three passes outside the Great Wall in the Ming Dynasty. Within Pianguan County, the intersection of the Inner and Outer Great Walls is at Baiyangling Fort. It was built in the second year of Hongzhi in the Ming Dynasty. The only hollow watchtower in the fort is known as the "Nine Kilns and Eighteen Caves" and has a unique appearance. . Pianguan County in Xinzhou City is known as the "Ping Fan of Jin and the first town of Sanguan".

This is the place where the inner and outer Great Walls meet. The special geographical location makes it possible to set up passes everywhere in Pianguan and fortify them step by step. There are thousands of piers and abutments and more than 40 castles. The density of the Great Wall ruins is Ranking the highest among all counties in the country. When you come to Pianguan County, which can be called the Great Wall Museum, you must definitely go to Shuiquanbao, one of the "collections". Shuiquanbao was built in the ninth year of Xuande in the Ming Dynasty. It is located in the northeast of Pianguan County and is only separated from Beibao Township in Qingshuihe County, Inner Mongolia by a "wall". Its geographical location is very important. According to legend, General Yang of the Northern Song Dynasty once led his troops to station here.

In 2020, the "Piantuguan" courtyard, a traditional courtyard house in northern Shanxi, was settled in the center of Xinzhou Ancient City. This is a themed courtyard built by Pianguan County that integrates cultural display, intangible heritage inheritance, catering and accommodation. Effectively improve tourists’ sense of gain.

Today, the "Great Wall No. 1" tourist highway is open and operating in Pianguan County, connecting the Huashi Ancient Castle, Caoduoshan Ancient Castle, Shuiquan Castle, Laoying Ancient Castle and other scenic spots in the territory. Bicycle trails, self-driving camps, tent camps, observation decks and walking trails have also been built to allow tourists to experience the Great Wall culture at Piantou Pass up close.

Ningwuguan is the only water pass in the Ming Dynasty Great Wall section

Ningwuguan is located in Ningwu County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. Ningwuguan, together with Piantou Pass and Yanmen, formed a line of the Inner Great Wall, a huge barrier spanning 500 miles in northern Shanxi. Because it is located in the middle of Sanguan Road, it is known as "it screens Datong in the north, controls Taiyuan in the south, supports Pianguan in the west, and supports Yanmen in the east". It is worth mentioning that Ningwuguan was built in the Huihe River Valley and is the only water pass in the Ming Great Wall section of China.

Ningwuguan is the pass with the most frequent wars in the past dynasties among the three passes. It plays an important role in resisting the plunder of nomadic peoples by the farming people. In the war records of Ningwuguan for thousands of years, the last major battle occurred during the Chongzhen period in the late Ming Dynasty. At that time, Li Zicheng fought for seven days and nights and defeated Zhou Yuji, the general of the Three Passes guarding Yanmen Pass, at a heavy cost, clearing the way for the capture of Beijing. Today, on the east bank of the Hui River in Ningwu, there is still the tomb of Zhou Yuji, built of bricks and stones.