Don't just go to Badaling anymore! The desolation and grandeur of Yanmen Pass are the true face of the Great Wall.

The mountains stand like iron, stretching across the vast land of northern Shanxi. Yanmen Pass stands tall among these towering peaks, guarding the vital throat between the Central Plains and the frontier. The mountain ranges extend on both sides, connected by a narrow path, with treacherous terrain, historically known as "Among the nine great passes under heaven, Yanmen is the foremost."

At dawn, the fortress city appears faintly through the mist, the walls built of bluestone are weathered and thick, as if engraved with over two thousand years of beacon fire memories. During the Warring States period, King Wuling of Zhao initiated the construction of the pass with his reforms of wearing Hu-style clothing and horseback archery; in the Han dynasty, generals Wei Qing and Huo Qubing fought the Xiongnu, their banners fluttering past this mighty pass; Tang general Li Jing guarded the frontier, intimidating the southern desert; in the Song dynasty, the Yang family generals fought fiercely at Jinshatan, their loyal spirits shining forever over the mountains and rivers. Every brick of the wall is soaked with soldiers' blood; every arrow slit has gazed upon the lonely moon over the borderlands.

When the autumn wind rises, wild geese fly south, passing over the watchtowers, their cries piercing the sky, giving rise to the name Yanmen. This place is not only a military stronghold but also a corridor of ethnic integration. Caravans for marriage alliances slowly traveled westward here, Zhang Qian’s horses trod this land on his mission to the Western Regions, and merchants in the tea-horse trade passed through endlessly. Beyond the clash of swords and blades, there were also silks and camel bells, writing chapters of cultural convergence.

Today, when you ascend, you still see the mountains and passes as before, the Great Wall winding like a dragon. The setting sun shines on the ancient battlefield, filling the world with solemnity. Yanmen Pass is not just a fortress; it is a witness to history, a mark on the backbone of China, silent and resilient, telling the eternal themes of protection, struggle, and integration.

Post by Z3phyr3@l_1nk4n | Oct 24, 2025