Frontier charm, Yanmen awaits you!

Known as the "First Pass of China," Yanmen Pass is located on Yanmen Mountain northwest of Daixian County, Xinzhou, Shanxi. It is an important part of the Great Wall, a World Cultural Heritage site. "Among the nine passes under heaven, Yanmen is the foremost." Yanmen Pass is strategically perilous, flanked by two mountains forming a gate-like shape. The fortress city is built according to the terrain, embodying the spirit of "one man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot open it." It connects Datong to the north and Taiyuan to the south, making it a fiercely contested site throughout history. During the Warring States period, General Li Mu decisively defeated 100,000 Xiongnu cavalry here; in the Han dynasty, famous generals Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, and Li Guang fought the Xiongnu multiple times at this pass; in the Tang dynasty, Guo Ziyi passed through Yanmen Pass to quell the An Lushan Rebellion. Additionally, it was a battlefield for the Yang family generals, and later generations built the Yang Zhongwu Temple at Beikou to commemorate their loyalty and bravery. Beyond its military significance, Yanmen Pass was also a vital channel for ethnic integration and cultural exchange. Wang Zhaojun’s journey to the frontier and Cai Wenji’s return to Han both passed through this pass, and caravans on the Silk Road traveled through here as well. Today, Yanmen Pass still preserves many historical structures such as the fortress city, Great Wall, mountain passes, and military forts, forming a vast ancient frontier military defense system. Visiting Yanmen Pass, you can climb the watchtower to overlook the rugged mountains and feel the weight of history; you can also stroll along the ancient pass road, tracing the footsteps of the ancients and imagining the clang of armor and the sound of camel bells from long ago. Everyone is welcome to experience the unique frontier charm in this place known as "One Yanmen Pass, Half of Chinese History."