Jianmen Pass The First Pass Under Heaven
Jianmen Pass Scenic Area⛩️
Located in the northern part of Jiange County, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province, Jianmen Pass Scenic Area comprises two neighboring attractions: Jianmen Pass and Cuiyun Corridor. It is a national scenic area, a renowned red tourism destination, a dual heritage site of natural and cultural significance, and is listed on China’s tentative list for World Cultural Heritage.
Covering an area of 84 square kilometers, with a core zone of 6 square kilometers, the landscape here is characterized by a northwest-to-southeast incline. The area is famous for its Danxia landforms, particularly its rare wall-like conglomerate cliff formations, which embody the area’s dramatic and rugged terrain often described as “majestic, dangerous, steep, and peculiar.”
*jianmen pass.
*jianmen pass walk along the cliff.
The region enjoys a subtropical humid monsoon climate with distinct seasons, abundant rainfall, and frequent mist and cloud cover. The significant difference in temperature between day and night is typical. The area’s rivers belong to the Jialing River system, with Jianxi River cutting through the mountains and giving rise to numerous waterfalls and gorges. Forests dominate the landscape, with a coverage rate exceeding 92%, and the area is part of Sichuan’s Montane Oak-Pine forest subregion.
Historically, Jianmen Pass was a key military stronghold. During the Three Kingdoms period, Zhuge Liang constructed fortifications by building stone gates into the cliffs at the strategic narrow passage between two cliffs. Over time, the area became known as Jianmen Pass. The region’s rich cultural tapestry encompasses the history of the ancient Shu Road, Three Kingdoms heritage, frontier culture, and revolutionary history.
Jianmen Pass has been a fiercely contested site throughout history, and today, it boasts over 300 scenic spots, including the Jianmen Tower, the Seventy-two Peaks, the Tomb of Jiang Wei, the Golden Ox Road, Liangshan Temple, Bird Road, and a glass viewing platform.
ecognized as a national 5A-level tourist attraction, Jianmen Pass is home to the ancient Shu Road, known as the “living fossil of world land transportation” and one of the earliest large-scale transportation relics in human history. The pass itself, often referred to as “the most majestic pass under heaven” and “the first pass in the world,” has never been breached in direct combat during the era of cold weapons.
It is regarded as the most formidable natural fortress in the world. Additionally, Jianmen Pass is a national key cultural relic protection site, a national forest park, a Sichuan nature reserve, and a Sichuan geological park.
*Jianmen Pass Corridor along the Cliff.
Why the name Jianmen Pass? ❓
Jianmen Pass is situated at the break in Dajian Mountain, where steep cliffs rise skyward, resembling sword-like peaks. The sheer cliffs on both sides face each other, creating the appearance of a gate, hence the name “Jianmen” (Sword Gate).
During the Shu Han period of the Three Kingdoms, Prime Minister Zhuge Liang expanded the original plank road into what became known as the “Jian Ge Dao” (Sword Pavilion Road), fortifying the mountain pass by building a stone gate into the cliffs and setting up a military outpost to defend the strategic location. Historically, “Jian Ge Dao” was often shortened to “Jian Ge.” After the Sui Dynasty, the plank roads from Xiao Jian to Da Jian gradually fell into disrepair, and the name “Jian Ge” became synonymous with Jianmen Pass.
After the Tang Dynasty, the Jianmen Pass Tower was officially renamed “Jianmen Pass.” Strategically guarding the crucial Jin Niu Road, which was the most direct route from Hanzhong to Bashu (Sichuan) and connected all the way to Chengdu, Jianmen Pass was considered the northern gateway to Sichuan.
This made it a highly contested military site throughout history. In the era of cold weapons, it was never breached in a direct assault and earned the reputation as “The Most Majestic Pass Under Heaven” and “The First Pass Under Heaven.”
*Steep staircase of Jianmen Pass.
*One part of the corridor in Jianmen pass.
Historical Evolution.🐣
The Jianmen Pass, located in present-day Jiange County, was part of Liangzhou during the Xia and Shang dynasties, fell under Yongzhou in the Western Zhou period, and later belonged to the Shu Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods before becoming part of the Qin Empire.
The Jianmen Pass, located in present-day Jiange County, was part of Liangzhou during the Xia and Shang dynasties, fell under Yongzhou in the Western Zhou period, and later belonged to the Shu Kingdom during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods before becoming part of the Qin Empire.
During the Tang Dynasty, the towns of Dajian and Xiaojian were established within the county, and Jianmen Pass was officially recognized as one of the most formidable passes under heaven. Over the past 1,700 years, the Jianmen Tower has been repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt. In the early years of the Republic of China, local official Zhang Zheng oversaw the reconstruction of the pass and established barracks within it. In 1935, during the construction of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway, the pass tower was dismantled.
In 1992, a new Jianmen Tower was constructed at the base of the cliffs along the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway. In 2008, the Wenchuan earthquake caused severe damage to the area, prompting Jiange County to raise 350 million yuan for the restoration and redevelopment of the scenic site. This included planning, demolition of disorganized structures, restoration of the pass, construction of roads, cultural projects, infrastructure, greening, and environmental protection efforts.
*XueGui Bridge in Jianmen pass.
Topography and Landforms🐣
The Jianmen Pass Scenic Area is located in the northern part of Jiange County, within the narrow valley region of the middle and low mountains. Dajian Mountain, part of the Jianmen Mountain Range, belongs to a branch of the Longmen Mountains. The terrain is higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast, with a roughly oval-shaped plain dominated by low mountainous landscapes, and an average elevation of 1,069 meters.
The area features a monocline mountain, steep on the northern side and gently sloping on the southern side. Exposed conglomerate rocks often form towering cliffs, creating steep peaks, deep ravines, and narrow valleys, with relative elevation differences ranging from 300 to 600 meters. The most significant height difference occurs at the cliff beside Liangshan Temple, known as “She Shen Ya” or the Cliff of Self-Sacrifice.
The landscape can be summarized by the characteristics of “majestic, perilous, steep, and unique,” with imposing mountain ranges, towering cliffs stretching for miles, sheer rock faces, dangerous roads, and deep gorges. The conglomerate rock paths are steep and winding, with jagged rocks creating a dramatic and rugged terrain.
The main geomorphic features of Jianmen Pass consist of a peak-cluster Danxia landform, characterized by interconnected, steep Danxia peaks with flat tops, steep sides, and gentle bases. Other notable Danxia features include the Jianmen Cliff, Diao Cliff, and the Cliff of Self-Sacrifice, as well as canyons like the Jianmen Pass, Houguan Pass, and Jinniu Gorge.
The area is also home to stone pillars like the Statue of Jiang Wei, Shilun Peak, and Little Shilun Peak, caves such as the Twin Arch Cave and Great Pit Cave, and a small number of karst landforms. Influenced by tectonic movements, the Danxia peaks form nearly vertical cliffs and high mountain gorges, creating a unique wall-like conglomerate cliff landscape.
These formations are extensive, with various shapes, each creating its own distinct scene. Among them, Xiaojian Mountain and Dajian Mountain form a chain of pyramid-shaped conglomerate peaks, making them the most imposing and steep Danxia landforms in the region, with the highest vertical drop of cliffs reaching up to 500 meters.
*Stone statue.
Scenic Layout🧩
The Jianmen Pass Scenic Area covers a planned area of 84 square kilometers, with a core area of 6 square kilometers. The overall style of Jianmen Pass reflects the aesthetic of the Han Dynasty, and the area boasts over 300 scenic spots.
Near the southern gate, key attractions include the Jianmen Tower, the Jinniu Gorge Plank Road, the Temple of Lord Pingxiang, and the Red Army Battle Site (also known as Red Star Plaza). Near the northern gate, highlights include the ruins of Zhong Hui’s Fortress, Fairy Gallery, Yuan Nao Path, and Bird Path. To the east, visitors can explore Cuiping Peak, Liangshan Temple, the Glass Viewing Platform, and the Twin Arches. In the central area of the park, attractions such as Shilun Peak, Yixian Sky, and Tianti Gorge can be found.
Additionally, the “Four Scenic Views” of Jianmen include Sword Gate Drizzle, Snow on Cuiping, Sunset on the Cliffs, and Pine Waves at Liangshan. The “Four Wonders” of Jianmen are the Statue of Jiang Wei, the Yin-Yang Twin Swords, Evergreen Pine and Cypress, and the Millennium-old Lagerstroemia.