Jianmen Pass Scenic Area is located in Jiange County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. It is a national forest park and a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The overall planned area of the scenic area is 84 square kilometers, with the core area covering 6 square kilometers. It belongs to the subtropical humid climate zone and boasts unique peak-cluster Danxia landform wonders. It is renowned worldwide with such reputations as "Jianmen is the most dangerous under heaven", "the First Pass under Heaven" and "the Gateway to Shu".
History and Culture
The Jianmen Shu Road has a history of over 3070 years. During the Xia, Shang and Zhou dynasties, Jianmen Pass was respectively under the jurisdiction of the ancient Liangzhou and Yongzhou. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, it belonged to the ancient Shu State. After the Qin State unified the country, it was incorporated into the territory of the Qin State. In the 22nd year of Jian'an in the Eastern Han Dynasty, Liu Bei entered Sichuan, and Jianmen Pass became an important stronghold of the Shu Han. Zhuge Liang built plank roads here to defend against enemies, and Jiang Wei also won a battle with fewer troops here. In the following years, more than 100 wars of various sizes took place at Jianmen Pass. Zhong Hui of the Three Kingdoms period, Wang Jing of the Later Zhou Dynasty, and Wang Quanbin of the Northern Song Dynasty all confronted the Shu army at Jianmen. Many celebrities have left their footprints and poems here, including Li Bai, Du Fu, Lu You, etc., who have left famous masterpieces here.
Main Attractions
Jianmen Pass Tower
It is located at the southernmost end of the scenic area, built at the fractured part of Dajian Mountain. The archaeologically styled pass tower was first reconstructed in early 1992, and after the earthquake in April 2010, it was rebuilt again and expanded to twice its pre-earthquake size. The tower stands 19.34 meters high and 13.6 meters wide, rising 150 meters above the ground, fully demonstrating the majestic momentum of "One man guarding the pass can hold off ten thousand enemies". During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang set up a pass tower here, and at the end of the Shu Han Dynasty, Jiang Wei once defended this place against the Wei army.
Shisun Peak (Stone Bamboo Shoot Peak)
It is located in the middle of the cliff of Jianmen Pass, with a height of 79 meters. It rises from the ground like a bamboo shoot, and there is a cluster of shrubs on the top, like an angry soldier guarding the magnificent Jianmen Pass. It is said that Han Xiangzi turned his bamboo flute into a spear here to kill a tiger, and the tip of the bamboo turned into a stone shoot to subdue fierce beasts.
Glass Viewing Platform
It mainly includes the "Suspended Glass Viewing Platform" and the "Glass Pedestrian Viewing Plank Road". The "Suspended Glass Viewing Platform" is located at the highest point of the scenic area, with an elevation of 1163 meters. The platform is about 2 meters high from the square ground, covering an area of about 450 square meters. The "Glass Pedestrian Viewing Plank Road" spans the Yixiantian (One-Line Sky), adopting an all-steel structure bridge. The bridge deck is 3 meters wide, with a net span of about 20 meters, and the glass area of the bridge deck is about 80 square meters.
Yuannao Path
Yuannao Path is similar to railway-style climbing. The total length of the route is 446 meters, taking a "zigzag" shape, with a vertical height of about 120 meters and a road width of 30 cm. It is steep and exciting, without guardrails. The whole journey is monitored and has music. It takes about an hour to walk the full length, and the maximum capacity is about 250 people. The natural scenery of Yuannao Path is miraculously beautiful, with different experiences in different weathers, and every day's climbing will bring different feelings.
Tiantixia (Heavenly Ladder Gorge)
Tiantixia was originally named "Houguanmen" (Back Gate) and "Yinniuxia" (Silver Ox Gorge). Li Bai said in "The Hard Road to Shu" that "the earth collapsed and the mountains crushed the heroes to death, then the heavenly ladders and stone plank roads were linked together." So since ancient times, the plank road has been called the heavenly ladder. Here, plank road ladders and high-altitude zip lines connecting the two cliffs have been built, so it is renamed "Tiantixia" by people.
Liangshan Temple
It is located on the "Sheshenya" (Sacrifice Cliff) between Taohua Peak and Xiaoyao Peak of the 72 peaks of Jianmen, at an altitude of 1180 meters. Liangshan Temple was first built in the Tang Dynasty. In the 1980s, the architectural complex of Liangshan Temple was surveyed and listed as a county-level cultural relic protection unit, and then it was managed by the local government of Jiange. It was opened as an official religious site in the late 1990s.
Yixiantian (One-Line Sky)
Baoji Rock, also known as Yixiantian, because the two cliffs stand opposite each other, only allowing one person to pass sideways, and it is even harder for fat people to pass. The gap left between the two rocks looks like a precious sword, with the hilt facing the ground and the blade pointing directly to the blue sky. If taking photos, under backlight, the sword body can be seen shining.
Tour Route
Recommended route: North entrance to South exit: North Gate - No.1 cable car up (one way) - walk to the entrance of Yuannao Path / Niaodao (Bird Path) - after completing the challenge, climb to the top glass viewing platform - Liangshan Temple - No.2 cable car down (one way) - take the scenic area shuttle bus to Shisun Peak - Juebi Corridor - slideway - Pass Tower - exit from South Gate. This route is suitable for tourists who want to challenge Yuannao Path / Niaodao and visit all the classic attractions. The whole tour takes about 6 hours, and the specific time depends on the stay time at each attraction.
Travel Suggestions
- Bring sun protection items. The scenic area has a long distance, strong sunlight, and great physical exertion.
- You can bring an appropriate amount of food. There is water for sale in the scenic area, but food can be prepared according to personal taste and needs.
- Pay attention to the route map on the back of the scenic area ticket and plan the tour route reasonably.
- If you have enough time, you can choose the route of entering and exiting from the South Gate or walking both Yuannao Path and Niaodao to visit the scenic area more thoroughly.
Matters Needing Attention
- The scenic area is large and the journey is long. Make full preparations and careful plans before walking.
- The whole tour is relatively tiring. You should make psychological and travel preparations in advance and not rush.
- Pay attention to personal and property safety, and take good care of the elderly and children accompanying you.
- Yuannao Path is restricted to people aged 7 - 59. You need to fill in your ID card. Children need to be over 1.2m. At the entrance, you need to have your blood pressure measured, sign a disclaimer, and wear equipment.
Transportation
- Chengdu - Guangyuan - Jianmen Pass: There are buses from Chengdu Zhaojue Temple Bus Station to Guangyuan, and buses from Guangyuan Nanhe Bus Station to Jianmen Pass Scenic Area.
- Chengdu - Jiange New County Town - Jianmen Pass: There are buses from Chengdu Zhaojue Temple Bus Station to Jiange New County Town (Xiasi), and minibuses from Jiange New County Town to Jianmen Pass.
- High - speed rail: After arriving at Jianmen Pass High - speed Railway Station, take the connecting vehicle at the transfer point on the second basement floor of the station square. There are direct buses between Jianmen Pass High - speed Railway Station and the South Gate of Jianmen Pass Scenic Area, passing through Jianmen Pass Coach Station and Jianmen Pass Tourist Center (North Gate). The fare is 6 yuan per person. The departure time is from 8:00 to 19:30, with one bus every half an hour. During peak hours, the bus departs when it is full.
Opening Hours
Summer: 08:00 - 17:00 Winter: 08:30 - 16:30 For reference only, subject to the actual opening hours of the scenic area.
Tickets
Full price: 105 yuan per person; half price: 50 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account of the scenic area "剑门关旅游度假区" to get the latest