Dajingmen

Located at the northern end of Qiaoxi District, Zhangjiakou City, Dajingmen is one of the famous passes of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty. It is known as the four great passes of the Great Wall together with Shanhaiguan, Jiayuguan, and Juyongguan.

At the top of the gate is a platform 12 meters long and 7.5 meters wide. On the east and west sides of the platform, there are two 5-meter-wide Great Wall horse roads. Along the horse road to the east, you can see the ruins of Laiyuanbao and the Great Wall Museum, and at the end, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Zhangjiakou's mother river Qingshui River. To the west along the horse road, you can see the legendary Wolong Pavilion and the Erlang Temple which was built during the Yongzheng period.

The shape of Dajingmen is simple and magnificent, and the four characters of "Da Hao He Shan" which means great rivers and mountains are vivid on it. 

Climbing Dajingmen, you can overlook the beautiful mountain scenery of Zhangjiakou city in the south: the east and west Taiping Mountains on both sides face each other, and the Qingshui River flows down mountains, running through the belly of the city. In the north, you can see the undulating and continuous mountains.

Address: The Intersection of Mingde North Road and Zhenggou Street, Qiaoxi District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province

Jimingyi Ancient City

Jimingyi City was first built in the Yuan Dynasty and has a history of more than 800 years. In 1219 AD, Genghis Khan led his troops to the west and built the city on the road leading to the western regions. Because the city is located under Jiming Mountain, it is called Jimingyi.

The city is slightly square in shape and the walls are made of earth and bricks. The length is 460 meters from east to west and 480 meters from north to south.

Jimingyi City has two functions: military station and civilian station. In 1913, the Beiyang government used it for postal service, and it ended its 694-year history as a station.

According to expert research, Jimingyi Ancient City is the largest existing ancient station in China that is the most well-preserved and the most characteristic and has the most functions. It has important historical, artistic and scientific value, known as a "living fossil" of postal archaeology and confidential archaeology. It also has the reputation of "the world's first post office" and takes a leading position in the history of Chinese postal services.

Address: 30 Kilometers West of Huailai County, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province

Translator: BAO Minmin

Reviewer: ZHANG Ruochen