Shanhai Pass, City gate at eastern end of Great Wall in Shanhaiguan District, China
Shanhai Pass is a fortified gate structure at the eastern terminus of the Great Wall in Shanhaiguan, rising approximately 14 meters high with walls about 7 meters thick. A deep moat surrounds the entire defensive complex, creating a formidable barrier that protected this critical passage.
The fortress was established in 1381 by Ming Dynasty general Xu Da as a strategic military outpost positioned between the Yan Mountains and the Bohai Sea. This location made it a crucial checkpoint for controlling movement along a vital passage into eastern China.
The gate displays Chinese characters reading 'First Pass Under Heaven', showing visitors its role as the primary eastern entrance to China. People who pass through recognize this inscription as marking one of the country's most important gateways.
Visitors can reach the site using buses 25 or 33 from Sidaoqiao station, with the entrance gate clearly accessible and well signposted. Plan at least two hours to explore the fortification and walk around the surrounding grounds.
The gate connects three distinct geographical features where mountains, sea, and wall meet at a single location. This rare combination makes the site a unique junction point that many travelers pass through without fully recognizing its geographical significance.
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