Shanhaiguan

Shanhaiguan, also known as "The First Pass Under Heaven," is located in the Shanhaiguan District, northeast of Qinhuangdao City. The Shanhaiguan Pass City was first built during the Ming Dynasty. Bordered by the Yanshan Mountains to the north and the Bohai Sea to the east, it is a city pass with a complete defense system and an important ancient military stronghold. The "inside the pass" and "outside the pass" often mentioned in ancient times referred to Shanhaiguan as the boundary. Shanhaiguan is one of the important passes in the eastern section of the Great Wall, echoing Jiayuguan in the western section, forming a complete whole, and is renowned as "The First Pass Under Heaven."

The Shanhaiguan Pass City has a perimeter of about 4 kilometers and is connected to the Great Wall. The Ming Dynasty city walls within the ancient city are well preserved, and most of the main streets and alleys retain their original appearance, making the ancient city more elegant and quaint. The most striking feature of the ancient city is the Zhenyuan Tower at the east gate of the pass city, also known as "The First Pass Under Heaven City Tower." The tower stands majestically on the Great Wall, overlooking all directions. Ascending the tower, one can get a panoramic view of Shanhaiguan City and the scenery outside the pass.

Surrounding the Zhenyuan Tower, there are buildings such as Jingbian Tower, Linlü Tower, Muying Tower, Weiyuan Hall, Wengcheng (barbican), East Luocheng, and the Great Wall Museum. However, most of them, except for the Great Wall Museum, are now in ruins. Nevertheless, one can still get a general understanding of ancient Chinese city defense architectural styles from the layout of the ruins. Afterwards, one can stroll into the ancient city, taste local specialty snacks, and experience the local customs and culture of Shanhaiguan.

Shanhaiguan Scenic Area is not only a military stronghold with a long history but also a tourist and summer resort with beautiful scenery and pleasant climate. More than 90 historical sites and scenic spots have been developed within the scenic area, with the Great Wall as the main axis. These include several scenic areas such as "Old Dragon Head," "Meng Jiangnü Temple," "Jiaoshan," "Changshoushan," "Yansai Lake," and "Wang Family Courtyard." The scenic spots are not far from each other, and transportation is convenient, allowing for a pleasant journey.