Section of the Great Wall at Shanhaiguan.

Shanhaiguan or Shanhai Pass (simplified Chinese: 山海关; traditional Chinese: 山海關; pinyin: Shānhǎi Guān; Wade-Giles: Shan Hai Kuan; literally, "Mountain and Sea Pass") is a part of the city of Qinhuangdao, in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. Pinyin, more formally Hanyu pinyin, is the most common Standard Mandarin Romanization system in use Wade-Giles (ˌweɪdˈʤaɪlz) sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization system (phonetic notation and Transcription) for the Mandarin Qinhuangdao ( Postal map spelling: Chinwangtao) is a city in Hebei province China. ( Postal map spelling: Hopeh) is a northern province of the People's Republic of China. Talk People's Republic of China) PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES In 1961, Shanhaiguan became a site of China First Class National Cultural Site. Along with Jiayuguan and Juyongguan, it is one of the major passes of the Great Wall of China. Jiayuguan or Jiayu Pass ( is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China, near the city of Jiayuguan in Gansu province Juyongguan or Juyong Pass ( is located in an 18 kilometer-long valley named "Guangou" which is inside Changping County more than 50 kilometers from Beijing The Great Wall of China ( or ( is a series of stone and earthen Fortifications in China, built rebuilt and maintained between the 6th century BC and the 16th

It is a popular tourist destination, featuring the eastern end of the Great Wall. A tourist destination is a city town or other area that is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from Tourism. The "First Pass Under Heaven" is also a noticeable tourist attraction. The place where the wall itself meets the Pacific Ocean (at the Bohai Sea) has been nicknamed the "Old Dragon's Head. "

It is nearly 300 km east of Beijing and linked via the Jingshen Expressway. The Jingshen Expressway ( is an Expressway in China which links Beijing to Shenyang.

History

Throughout Chinese history, it served as a frontier of defence against tribes from Manchuria (e. g. the Khitan, Jurchen and the Manchus). The Khitan (or Khitai,) were a Nomadic people, located in Mongolia and modern Manchuria (Northeast China from the 4th century dominating much of it The Jurchens ( were a Tungus people who inhabited the region of Manchuria ( Northeast China) until the 17th century when they adopted the name Manchu The Manchu people ( Manchu: Manju;, Mongolian: Манж Russian: Маньчжуры are a Tungusic people who originated in

Shanhaiguan is located south of Yan Mountain, and north of Bohai. For centuries, the pass guarded the narrow passage between the Northeast and the Central East region of China. Both Northern Qi Dynasty and Tang Dynasty constructed passes. In 1381, Ming general Xu Da constructed Shanhaiguan, named due to its position between mountain and the sea.

Later Ming general Qi Jiguang began fortification and construction of a military city around Shanhaiguan, building cities and forts to the east, south and north of the pass. Life Early life Qi Jiguang was born in the town of Luqiao (鲁橋 in Shandong province to a family with a long military tradition Shanhaiguan became one of the most heavily fortified pass in China, and to this day, it is also one of the best preserved passes in the Great Wall.

During the end of Ming Dynasty, Shanhaiguan general Wu Sangui was about to surrender and join the rebel forces of Li Zicheng when he heard that his concubine Chen Yuanyuan was taken by Li Zicheng. Wu Sangui ( styled Changbai 長白 or Changbo 長伯 (1612 &ndash October 2, 1678) was a Ming Chinese general who was Li Zicheng ( ( September 22, 1606 - 1644 born Lĭ Hóngjī (鴻基 was one of the major figures in the rebellion that brought down the Ming Dynasty China Chen Yuanyuan (Chinese 陈圆圆 1624–1681 born Xing Yuan (邢沅 lived near the end of the Ming Dynasty, and was a Concubine of Wu Sangui Enraged, he contacted the Qing and the leader Dorgon. Dorgon ( Manchu:;) ( November 17, 1612 &ndash December 31, 1650) also known as Hošoi Mergen Cin Wang, the Prince Afterwards, Wu Sangui opened the gates of Shanhaiguan for Qing soldiers and together fought a decisive battle against Li Zicheng. The Battle of Shanhai Pass (山海关之战 fought in Shanhaiguan, China in 1644 was the decisive battle leading to the formation of the Qing Dynasty The victory by the Qing Dynasty hastened the foundering of Li Zicheng's political powers and firmly established Qing as the dominant power in China.

During the Qing Dynasty, Shanhaiguan, situated between Shenyang and Beijing, was referred to as the Key to the Capitals. Both during the Republic, as well as Eight-Nation Alliance and Second World War, Shanhaiguan was the site of many conflicts. REPUBLIC OF CHINA ARTICLE GUIDELINES The Eight-Nation Alliance ( was an alliance of 8 nations ( Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including

Structure

The pass of Shanhaiguan is a square, with a perimeter of around 4 kilometers long. The walls reach a height of 14 meters, and are 7 meters thick. The east, south and north sides are surrounded by a deep, wide moat. There are drawbridges over the moat. In the middle of the pass stands a tall bell tower.

All four sides of Shanhaiguan had a gate: Zhendong (East), Yinun (West), Mangyang (South), and Weiyuan (North). Due to disrepair over the centuries, only Zhendong gate still remains today. Zhendong Gate is the most important gate in Shanhaiguan due to its position, which faces outside the pass. Written on a board that hangs above the gate is an alternate name of Shanhai Pass, "First Pass Under the Heaven" (天下第一关). This should not be confused with the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven" (天下第一雄关), a different pass located at the west end of the Great Wall. Jiayuguan or Jiayu Pass ( is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China, near the city of Jiayuguan in Gansu province

See also

• Kwantung Army
• Chinese architecture

External links

• Photos of Shanhaiguan
• Great Wall Forum Great Wall of China discussion forum, maps, photos