Yanmen Pass

Yanmen Pass
The Great Wall of China at Yanmen Pass, overlooked by a pagoda
LocationShanxi, China
Coordinates39°11′13″N 112°51′48″E / 39.18694°N 112.86333°E / 39.18694; 112.86333
Yanmen Pass is located in China
Yanmen Pass
Yanmen Pass
Traditional Chinese雁門關
鴈門關
Simplified Chinese雁门关
PostalYenmen Pass
Literal meaningWild-Goose Gate Pass
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYànménguān
Wade–GilesYen-men Kuan
Yanmenguan Township
Traditional Chinese雁門關
鴈門關
Simplified Chinese雁门关
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYànménguān Xiāng
Wade–GilesYen-mên-kuan Hsiang
Yanmenguan Village
Traditional Chinese雁門關
鴈門關
Simplified Chinese雁门关
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYànménguān Cūn
Wade–GilesYen-mên-kuan Tsun
Other names
Xixing Pass
Traditional Chinese西陘關
Simplified Chinese西陉关
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinXīxíngguān
Wade–GilesHsi-hsing Kuan
Former names
Shangtian
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Literal meaningUpper Fields Township
Upon-the-Fields Township
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinShàngtiánxiāng
Wade–GilesShang-t‘ien Hsiang
Baicaokou
Traditional Chinese
Simplified Chinese
Literal meaningWhite-Grass Mouth Township
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinBáicǎokǒu Xiāng
Wade–GilesPai-ts‘ao-k‘ou Hsiang

Yanmen Pass, also known by its Chinese name Yanmenguan and as Xixingguan, is a mountain pass which includes three fortified gatehouses along the Great Wall of China. The area was a strategic choke point in ancient and medieval China, controlling access between the valleys of central Shanxi and the Eurasian Steppe. This made it the scene of various important battles, extending into World War II, and the area around the gatehouses and this stretch of the Great Wall is now a AAAAA-rated tourist attraction. The scenic area is located just outside Yanmenguan Village in Yanmenguan Township in Dai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, China.[1]