- The First Pass under Heaven - Shanhai Pass Scenic Spot
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“The first pass of the 10,000 Li Great Wall, protecting both Shenyang (outside the Great Wall) and Beijing (inside the Great Wall) second to none by its vital position guarding the throat of Liaoxi Corridor”. It is indispensable to climb the Great Wall to overlook the green forest landscape in distance of Yanshan Mountain Range when arriving at the First Pass under Heaven. The Yushui River (now called Daihe River) flows with drift ice, the Great Wall looks like tough sized silk, and the Pass seems like powerful lock. The tower of the First Pass under Heaven just likes a pearl at the coastal line of Bohai Sea.
The First Pass under Heaven is one of the Key National Cultural Relics Protection Sites, and the Advanced Unit of Creating National Civilized Scenic Spots. It is located at the central part of the ancient Shanhaiguan city of Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, which is about 15km away from downtown area of Qinhuangdao. Early in 1979, it was listed among the first batch of four major national scenic spots opened to tourists.
The First Pass under Heaven is the first pass of the Great Wall at the east start. It is the boundary distinguishing inside and outside the Great Wall regions, and was also the important protective building for the capital of Ming dynasty --- Beijing. “Located at the east side of the Tateishi, facing to the vast ocean, this Pass seems created by God. And it is where the careers just start!” The First Pass under Heaven was constructed by General Xu Da in 14th year of Hongwu Period of Ming Dynasty (1381). It is the historical relics and humanistic landscape mainly representing the important Pass and the plains section of Great Wall of Ming Dynasty.
The scenic spot covers an area of 0.1 square kilometers, including archery gate tower of “The First Pass under Heaven”, Jingbian Tower, Muying Tower, Linlu Tower, Ruilian Pavilion Park, Wengcheng City, Square of The First Pass under Heaven, and Great Wall of Ming dynasty with 1350meters. This scenic spot is named by its included landmark building – “The Archery Gate Tower of the First Pass under Heaven”. It is the most completely reserved Great Wall military defense system up to now.
"The first archery gate tower in the world", also known as "The east guard tower", is the east gate of the city of Shanhaiguan. According to the Linyu County Records, it had been repaired for many times during the Ming and Qing dynasties, and was also repaired for many times even after liberation. The floor area of the gate tower is 198 square meters. It is of gable and hip roof with single eave. The four corners are decorated by ridges in different shapes. There are totally 68 holes of arrow windows on north, east, and south sides of the tower. The most attractive on the gate tower is the huge plaque on the top: The First Pass under Heaven”. There’re totally three plaques inside the tower: one that is hung inside the first floor is the original one, which, according to the legend, was written by Xiao Xian in the eighth year of Chenghua Period of Ming dynasty (the year of 1472), who was a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations. On the north and south sides of the archery gate tower with plaque of “The First Pass under Heaven”, there are respectively two wing towers for protecting, namely: Jingbian Tower, Muying Tower, Linlu Tower, and Weiyuan Hall (now only having legacy), thus a “Five tigers guarding the east gate” position is well formed. This section of the Great Wall and its buildings played a decisive role in preventing the rise of the Norfolk and the remnants of the Yuan dynasty in the Ming dynasty. After the Man ethnic group entered the central plains and established Qing dynasty, the Shanhai Pass section of the Great Wall lost its military defense function, but it was still the traffic hinge of both northeast part of China and northern part of China. And in Qing dynasty, it became the only way for the emperors going back to Shenyang for worshipping the ancestors and the best place for literati to go up high for appreciate the landscapes. In major festivals, activities of Wushu competition, folk performance, vocal concert, and archaic performance would be held in the scenic spot.