Yanmen Pass is located in the Yanmen Mountains, about 20 kilometers north of Dai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction and one of the important passes of the Great Wall, known as "the First Pass of China". The scenic area is characterized by precipitous mountain terrain and profound historical heritage. It was an important military defense fortress in ancient northern China, witnessing countless alternations between wars and peace. The total area of Yanmen Pass Scenic Area is about 30 square kilometers, with the core scenic area covering approximately 1.68 square kilometers. There are about 40 remaining architectural relics such as the pass city, the Great Wall, and beacon towers. Among them, the pass city has a circumference of over 1 kilometer and a wall height of 7 meters, with a stone base and brick body, filled with rammed earth inside. It has two gates, the east gate named "Tianxian (Natural Danger)" and the west gate named "Dili (Geographical Advantage)", both with gate towers. The scenic area also preserves facilities such as ancient post roads, drill grounds, and military stockades from the Ming and Qing dynasties, completely presenting the style of the ancient border military defense system.
Historical Culture
The history of Yanmen Pass can be traced back to the Warring States Period. King Wuling of Zhao established Yanmen Commandery here, and it has been a military strategic point in successive dynasties. After the Qin Dynasty unified the six states, the general Meng Tian led his troops to attack the Xiongnu in the north and once built the Great Wall here. During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing repeatedly marched northward out of Yanmen Pass to fight against the Xiongnu, leaving the eternal line "If only the flying general were here in Longcheng, no Hunnish horses would dare cross the Yinshan Mountains".
During the Northern Song Dynasty, Yanmen Pass became an important defense line on the border between the Song and Liao dynasties. The famous anti-Liao general Yang Ye and his Yang family generals garrisoned here, defeating the Liao army many times and leaving many heroic deeds. Relics such as the Yang Linggong Temple still exist in the scenic area. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, although the military status of Yanmen Pass declined somewhat, it remained an important transportation artery and border town in the north, witnessing ethnic integration and commercial exchanges.
As an important part of the Great Wall culture, Yanmen Pass carries rich historical memories, and its architectural layout embodies the essence of ancient military defense thoughts. In 1987, Yanmen Pass, as an important part of the Great Wall, was included in the World Heritage List. In 2017, it was rated as a national 5A-level tourist attraction, becoming an important window to display ancient Chinese border culture.
Main Attractions
Pass City
The Pass City is the core building of Yanmen Pass, first built in the Ming Dynasty, and the existing buildings were restored in recent years. The Pass City faces south, with a circumference of over 1,000 meters and a wall height of 7 meters. The wall is based on stone, with brick-covered surfaces and filled with rammed earth inside, making it extremely solid. The Pass City has two city gates, the east gate inscribed with "Tianxian" and the west gate inscribed with "Dili", both with gate towers. The gate towers are 12 meters high, with five bays in width, three bays in depth, and a single-eave gable and hip roof, showing a majestic momentum. Inside the Pass City, there are military facilities such as a barbican, a drill ground, and barracks. The barbican is square-shaped, which can enhance the defense capability of the Pass City. The drill ground, where ancient armies trained, covers an area of about 5,000 square meters, and relics such as flagpoles and martial arts platforms still remain. Standing on the Pass City, you can overlook the rolling mountains and feel the precipitous momentum of "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand can't get through".
Great Wall Section
The section of the Great Wall in Yanmen Pass Scenic Area is about 5 kilometers long, first built in the Warring States Period, and was largely rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty. The existing walls are mostly relics from the Ming Dynasty. The Great Wall is built along the mountains, winding along the ridges, with an average height of about 6 meters and a width of 3-5 meters. Some sections have steep slopes, with the steepest part reaching more than 70 degrees, making construction extremely difficult. There are 18 beacon towers distributed on the Great Wall, with a spacing of about 500 meters. The beacon towers are square or round, 8-10 meters high, and were important facilities for transmitting military information in ancient times. In case of enemy situation, smoke was lit during the day and fire at night to quickly convey information. Tourists can hike along the Great Wall trail to feel the magnificent momentum of the ancient Great Wall. Among them, the section from the Pass City to Baicaokou is the best-preserved, with a length of about 2 kilometers, and a round-trip hike takes 1.5-2 hours.
Yang Linggong Temple
Yang Linggong Temple is located on the east side of the Pass City, built to commemorate Yang Ye (Yang Linggong), a famous anti-Liao general in the Northern Song Dynasty. It was first built in the Yuan Dynasty, and the existing buildings were rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. The temple covers an area of about 1,200 square meters, facing south, consisting of a mountain gate, a main hall, and east and west side halls. The main hall enshrines statues of Yang Ye and his wife She Taijun, and the side halls on both sides enshrine statues of other generals of the Yang family, with vivid and lifelike expressions. The temple preserves inscriptions from the Ming and Qing dynasties, recording Yang Ye's life stories and the Yang family's achievements in resisting the Liao. It is an important place to promote patriotism and a must-visit for tourists to pay tribute to heroes and understand the Yang family culture.
Ancient Post Road
The Ancient Post Road is located on the west side of the Pass City, an important transportation artery connecting the Central Plains and the north in ancient times, and was a must-pass for business travelers and military movements in history. The post road is paved with stone slabs, with a total length of about 3 kilometers and a width of 2-3 meters. Due to years of vehicle and horse rolling, there are deep ruts on the stone slabs, with the deepest reaching more than 10 centimeters, witnessing the prosperity of the past. On both sides of the post road, there are relics of post stations, shops, and inns. Among them, "Yanmen Stockade" is an important settlement on the post road, once garrisoned by heavy troops, with some remaining house foundations and walls. Walking on the Ancient Post Road, you can imagine the bustling scene of "the rumble of carts and the neighing of horses" in those days, and feel the close connection between ancient transportation, military affairs, and commerce.
Wild Goose Pagoda
Wild Goose Pagoda, also known as "Watchtower", is located on the top of the mountain southeast of the Pass City. It was first built in the Ming Dynasty, a hexagonal pavilion-style brick tower, about 20 meters high, with five floors. Each floor of the Wild Goose Pagoda has a viewing window, and climbing to the top allows you to overlook the entire view of Yanmen Pass and the surrounding mountains and landforms. It was an important military observation facility in ancient times. There are stone steps inside the tower for climbing, and the tower body preserves some inscriptions from the Ming Dynasty, recording the military deployment and construction situation at that time. The Wild Goose Pagoda has a simple and solemn shape, being both a military facility and one of the landmark buildings of Yanmen Pass, attracting many tourists to climb and enjoy the scenery.
Delicacies
Dai County Braised Fish
Dai County Braised Fish is a traditional famous dish in Dai County where Yanmen Pass is located. It uses fresh carp from the local Hutuo River as raw material, with seasonings such as green onions, ginger, garlic, and chili, made through frying and braising processes. It is characterized by tender fish meat, rich soup, savory and delicious taste with a slight spiciness. When making, the carp is first fried until golden on both sides, then seasonings and water are added for slow braising to make the fish fully absorb the flavor of the soup, and coriander is sprinkled before serving to enhance the aroma. This dish can be tasted in restaurants in Dai County, with a price of about 60-80 yuan per serving, and it is a characteristic delicacy for entertaining guests locally.
Dai County Baked Cake
Dai County Baked Cake is a local traditional pasta, similar in shape to a sesame cake. It is made with flour, oil, and salt as the main raw materials through fermentation, rolling, and baking. The baked cakes come in sweet and salty flavors. Salty baked cakes can be filled with chopped green onions, sesame seeds, etc., while sweet ones are filled with sugar. They are characterized by a crispy outer skin, soft inner texture, and rich wheat aroma. They can be eaten directly or with meat and vegetables for a better flavor. There are many baked cake stalls on the streets and alleys of Dai County, with a price of about 2-3 yuan each. They are a favorite breakfast and snack of local residents and a portable specialty snack for tourists.
Youmian Kaolaolao
Youmian Kaolaolao is a traditional pasta in northern Shanxi, also very common in the surrounding areas of Yanmen Pass. It uses oat flour as the raw material. The dough is rolled into thin strips and coiled into a cylindrical shape, similar to a kaolao (a bamboo container), then steamed in a steamer before eating. When eating, it can be dipped in tomato sauce, meat sauce, vinegar, etc. It has a chewy texture and is rich in nutrition. It can be tasted in farmhouses near Yanmen Pass Scenic Area or restaurants in Dai County, with a price of about 15-20 yuan per serving. It is one of the daily staple foods of local people, reflecting the dietary characteristics of the north.
Surrounding Delicacy - Xinzhou Wa Su (Tile Crisp)
Xinzhou Wa Su is a traditional pastry in Xinzhou City, about 70 kilometers away from Yanmen Pass, and is a delicacy worth tasting in the surrounding area. Wa Su is made with flour, sugar, and oil as the main raw materials through processes such as shaping and baking, named for its tile-like shape. It is characterized by a golden color, crispy texture, sweet and delicious taste, melting in the mouth, with a sesame aroma. Xinzhou Wa Su has a long history, created in the Qing Dynasty, and was once presented as a tribute to the imperial court. It can be purchased in pastry shops in Xinzhou urban area or specialty stores in Dai County, with a price of about 10-15 yuan per box. It is easy to carry and a good choice for gifting relatives and friends.
Tickets
The ticket price is 90 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "雁门关景区官微" to get the latest updates or buy tickets online.
Opening Hours
The opening hours are slightly adjusted according to the season: from April 1st to October 31st, it is 8:00-18:00 (admission stops at 17:30); from November 1st to March 31st of the next year, it is 8:30-17:00 (admission stops at 16:30). The opening hours of some attractions in the scenic area, such as Yang Linggong Temple and Wild Goose Pagoda, are the same as the scenic area. It is recommended that tourists arrange their itinerary reasonably to avoid missing the visiting time. In addition, the scenic area may appropriately extend the opening hours on major holidays, and the specific information is subject to the announcement on that day.
Tour Route
Recommended tour route (one-day tour): Arrive at the scenic area entrance at 8:30 a.m., take the sightseeing bus to the Pass City (about 10 minutes). First, visit the Pass City, tour the east and west gates and the gate towers to understand the architectural layout and defense functions of the Pass City (about 1 hour); then go to Yang Linggong Temple to pay tribute to the heroic deeds of the Yang family generals (about 40 minutes).
Have lunch at the farmhouse in the scenic area at noon, tasting specialties such as Youmian Kaolaolao and Dai County Baked Cake. At 13:30 p.m., hike along the Great Wall trail to the Baicaokou section to enjoy the majestic style of the Great Wall, and you can climb the beacon tower to experience ancient military observation on the way (round trip about 2 hours); then go to the Ancient Post Road to feel the historical marks of the former transportation artery (about 1 hour); finally, climb the Wild Goose Pagoda to overlook the entire view of the scenic area (about 40 minutes). Return to the scenic area entrance by sightseeing bus around 17:00 to end the trip. If time permits, you can go to Dai County after the tour to visit attractions such as Dai County Confucian Temple and Bianjing Tower to further experience the local historical culture.
Transportation
- Long-distance buses: Dai County Bus Station has direct buses to Yanmen Pass Scenic Area, with one bus at 8:00, 10:00, and 14:00 every day. The journey takes about 40 minutes, and the fare is 10 yuan per person; there is a bus from Xinzhou Bus Station to Dai County every 30 minutes, with a journey of about 1 hour and a fare of 15 yuan per person. After arriving in Dai County, you can transfer to the bus to Yanmen Pass.
- Trains: Dai County Railway Station is located in Dai County. There are direct trains to Dai County Station from Beijing, Taiyuan, Datong and other places. Among them, the journey from Taiyuan to Dai County Station takes about 2.5 hours, with a hard seat fare of 28.5 yuan; the journey from Beijing to Dai County Station takes about 6 hours, with a hard seat fare of 64.5 yuan. You can take a taxi from Dai County Railway Station to Dai County Bus Station (about 5 yuan), then transfer to the bus to Yanmen Pass.
- Self-driving: Starting from Taiyuan, drive north along the Erguang Expressway (G55) to Dai County Exit, then drive along the signs of Yanmen Pass Scenic Area. The whole journey is about 180 kilometers, taking about 2.5 hours; starting from Beijing, drive southwest along the Jingkun Expressway (G5), transfer to Erguang Expressway (G55) to Dai County Exit. The whole journey is about 480 kilometers, taking about 5.5 hours. There is a parking lot in the scenic area, with a charging standard of 5 yuan per hour and a maximum charge of 20 yuan within 24 hours.
Must-visit Attractions
- Pass City: The core building of Yanmen Pass, with a circumference of over 1,000 meters and a wall height of 7 meters. It has two gates "Tianxian" and "Dili" with majestic gate towers. It is an important window to understand the ancient military defense system, and the visiting time is about 1 hour.
- Great Wall (Baicaokou section): The best-preserved section of the Great Wall, with a total length of about 2 kilometers. The walls are tall and solid, with dense distribution of beacon towers. Hiking here can deeply feel the magnificent momentum of the Great Wall, and the round trip takes about 2 hours.
- Yang Linggong Temple: An important place to commemorate the Yang family generals, covering an area of 1,200 square meters. It contains statues and inscriptions of Yang Ye and the Yang family generals, being a scenic spot to promote patriotism, with a visiting time of about 40 minutes.
- Wild Goose Pagoda: A hexagonal brick tower about 20 meters high. Climbing to the top allows you to overlook the entire view of the scenic area, and it is one of the landmark buildings of Yanmen Pass, with a visiting time of about 40 minutes.
Tour Suggestions
- The scenic area is mostly mountainous with steep trails. It is recommended to wear comfortable sports shoes and avoid high heels. In summer, the ultraviolet rays are strong, so you need to bring sun hats, sunscreen and other sun protection products; in winter, it is cold and windy, so you must keep warm.
- The scenic area is large, and a full hiking tour takes about 5-6 hours, which consumes a lot of energy. It is recommended to carry an appropriate amount of drinking water and snacks. The prices at farmhouses and small stores in the scenic area are relatively high, so you can prepare them in advance in Dai County.
- It is advisable to hire a scenic area guide (100 yuan per trip). The guide can introduce the historical background and stories of the scenic spots in detail, helping you better understand the culture of Yanmen Pass. You can also rent an electronic guide (30 yuan per unit) to listen to the explanations independently.
- The best seasons to visit are April-May and September-October, when the climate is pleasant and the scenery is beautiful. There is a lot of rain in summer, so you need to be cautious of natural disasters such as landslides. Some roads may be icy in winter, so you should be careful when visiting.
- There are few dining options in the scenic area, so it is recommended to eat in Dai County. The "time-honored" restaurants in Dai County, such as "Daizhou Renjia", offer authentic local dishes like Dai County braised fish, with an average consumption of about 50 yuan per person.
Precautions
- Some sections of the Great Wall have dangerous terrain. When hiking, you must pay attention to safety, do not deviate from the trail without permission, and do not stay or take photos in dangerous areas. The trails are slippery in rainy or snowy weather, so it is recommended to suspend hiking.
- Ancient buildings and cultural relics in the scenic area must be protected. It is strictly forbidden to carve, paint or climb on them. Violators will be fined or face other penalties. Smoking is only allowed in designated areas, and littering of cigarette butts is strictly prohibited to prevent fires.
- Mobile phone signals are weak in some parts of the scenic area. It is recommended to keep in touch with your companions and avoid acting alone. The scenic area has an emergency rescue hotline, and you can seek help in case of emergencies.
- Respect local customs and habits. There are villages and residents around the scenic area. Do not enter private houses without permission during the visit and do not disturb the normal life of the residents.
- The scenic area ticket is valid on the day of purchase. If you leave the park and want to enter again, you need to buy a new ticket. It is recommended to arrange your visiting time reasonably to avoid repeated ticket purchases.
- Self-driving tourists must park their vehicles in the designated parking lots of the scenic area and must not park randomly by the roadside to avoid affecting traffic and being fined.