Coordinates: 40°00′33.71″N, 119°45′14.92″E Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

'First Gate Under Heaven', under repairs in 2003.

Shanhaiguan (Simplified Chinese: 山海关; Traditional Chinese: 山海關; pinyin: Shānhǎi Guān; Wade-Giles: Shan Hai Kuan) is a part of the city of Qinhuangdao, in Hebei province, People's Republic of China. It literally means "The Pass of Mountain and Sea". In 1961, Shanhaiguan became a site of China First Class National Cultural Site. Image of Great Wall at Shanhaiguan (First Gate Under Heaven) under repair, taken by me 2003/10. ... Image of Great Wall at Shanhaiguan (First Gate Under Heaven) under repair, taken by me 2003/10. ... Simplified Chinese characters (Simplified Chinese: 简体字; Traditional Chinese: 簡體字; pinyin: jiǎntǐzì; also called 简化字/簡化字, jiǎnhuàzì) are one of two standard character sets of printed contemporary Chinese written language. ... Traditional Chinese (Traditional Chinese: 正體字/繁體字, Simplified Chinese: 正体字/繁体字) refers to one of two standard sets of printed Chinese characters. ... It has been suggested that Pinyin method be merged into this article or section. ... Wade-Giles, sometimes abbreviated Wade, is a Romanization (phonetic notation and transliteration) system for the Chinese language based on Mandarin. ... Categories: China geography stubs | Cities in China ... Hebei (Chinese: 河北; pinyin: ; Wade-Giles: Ho-pei; Postal System Pinyin: Hopeh) is a northern province of the Peoples Republic of China. ...

It is a popular tourist destination, featuring the eastern end of the Great Wall. 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." A tourist destination is a city, town or other area the economy of which is dependent to a significant extent on the revenues accruing from tourism. ... A section of the Great Wall near Beijing during winter The course of the Great Wall is shown in this map dated from 1805 The Great Wall (Traditional Chinese: ; Simplified Chinese: ; pinyin: , literally long city wall) is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in China, built between 5th century...

It is nearly 300 km east of Beijing and linked via the Jingshen Expressway. Beijing [English Pronunciation] (Chinese: 北京 [Chinese Pronunciation]; Pinyin: Běijīng; IPA: ), a metropolis in northern China, is the capital of the Peoples Republic of China (PRC). ... Jingshen Expressway (Beijing segment, taken in July of 2004) Jingshen Expressway (Tianjin segment, taken in July of 2004) The Jingshen Expressway (Hanyu Pinyin: Jingshen Gaosu Gonglu) 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). Khitan may refer to: Khitan people Khitan language Khitan script Category: ... The Jurchens (Chinese: 女真, pinyin: nǚzhēn) were a Tungusic people who inhabited parts of Manchuria and northern Korea until the seventeenth century, when they became the Manchus. ... The Manchu (manju in Manchu; 滿族 (pinyin: mǎnzú) in Chinese, often shortened to 滿 (pinyin: mǎn) are an ethnic group who originated in northeastern Manchuria. ...

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 Chi Dynasty and Tang Dynasty constructued passes. In 1381, Ming general Xu Dai 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. Shanhaiguan became one of the most heavily fortified pass in China, and to this day, it is also one of the most preserved pass in the Great Wall. Statue of Qi Jiguang in Penglai, Shandong Province Qi Jiguang ( Simplified Chinese: 戚继光; Traditional Chinese: 戚繼光; Pinyin: qī jì gūang) ( November 12, 1528 - January 5, 1588) was a Chinese military general and national hero during the Ming Dynasty. ...

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. Enraged, he contacted the Qing and the leader Dorgon. Afterwards, Wu Sangui opened the gates of Shanhaiguan for Qing soldiers and together fought a decisive battle against Li Zicheng. 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. Wu Sangui (Chinese: 吳三桂; pinyin: Wú Sānguì; WG: Wu San-kuei) (1612 - October 2, 1678) was a Ming Chinese general who opened the gates of the Great Wall of China at Shanhai Pass to let Manchu soldiers into China proper. ... Lǐ Zìchéng (李自成) (September 22, 1606 - 1644), born Li HóngjÄ« (鴻基), was a rebel in late Ming Dynasty China who proclaimed himself ChuÇŽng Wáng (闖王), or The Roaming King. Born in Mizhi District (米脂縣), Yanan Subprefecture (延安府), Shaanxi, Li grew up as a shepherd. ... 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. ... Dorgon (多爾袞 duo1 er3 gun3) (November 17, 1612 - December 31, 1650), also known as Hošoi Mergen Cin Wang (和碩睿親王), was a Manchu prince in the early Qing dynasty. ... Combatants Qing Dynasty Wu Sangui Li Zicheng Commanders Dorgon Wu Sangui Li Zicheng Tang Tung Strength 125,000 - 150,000 men 100,000 men Battle of Shanhai Pass (山海关之战), fought in Shanhaiguan, China, was the decisive battle leading to the formation of the Qing Dynasty 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.

Structure

The pass of Shanhaiguan is a square, with a perimeter of around 4 kilometers long. The walls reach the heigh of 14 meters, and are 7 meters thick. The pass's east, south and north side is surrounded by a moat of 8 feet deep and 17 feet wide. There are drawbridges to get over the moat, and 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. On the gate hangs the board, written on it "First Pass Under the Heaven."

See also

• Kwantung Army

The Kwantung Army or Guandong Army (関東軍 Japanese: Kantōgun) was a unit of the Imperial Japanese Army that originated from a Guandong garrison established in 1906 to defend the Kwantung Leased Territory and the areas adjacent to the South Manchurian Railway. ...

External link

• Photos of Shanhaiguan