Sandaoguan is located six km north of the Shanhaiguan Pass,
running across the ravine between two mountains-the west one, 398 meters above
sea level and the east one, 292 meters. Erected on precipitous slopes, the
Great Wall here reaches 70 degrees in steepness, looking like a soaring dragon
and was dubbed the “Hanging Upside-Down Great Wall”. Three barriers were
erected across the bottom of the ravine. The first one was at the opening of
the ravine, with a narrow gate-the sole access to the second barrier, the
second one was at the midway point, which served as the main pass gate, on the
top of which there used to be a watchtower, and the third one was at the end of
the ravine, also with only one narrow gate. Because of the three barriers and
three gates, the stronghold was called Sandaoguan (Three Barriers Pass).
Sandaoguan village in the valley was the administrative seat
of the pass. Going northeast from here, one can reach Si’eryu, the terminal of
the Shanhai Route section of the Great Wall, and further on, one can reach the
starting point of the Shimen Route section of the Great Wall. West of
Sandoaguan Village lies Xuanyang Cave. Inside the case the “Poem On Xuanyang
Cave” is inscribed. It was written in 1602 by Zhu Hongfan, the Assistant
Commander of the Shanhai Route Section of the Great Wall. In the valley are
cliff carvings dating from the Chongzhen reign period (1628-1644) of the Ming
Dynasty. In 1985 this valley was developed into the Mt. Changshou (Longevity)
Scenic Area, which contains the Cave of Miracle-Working Doctors, where statues
of distinguished doctors of ancient China such as Hua Tuo, Zhang Zhongjing and
Li Shizhen have been erected. There are rocks engraved with the Chinese
character shou (longevity) in a
variety of styles by outstanding calligraphers.
Visitors who like off-path hiking may take the route in the
valley called Duanmuchong north of Mt. Changshou. Along the route, one can find
Housi Temple, Tuanyuan Temple, site of an ancient hot spring, and rocks of
grotesque shapes. This area lies beyond Yanse Lake, and therefore is difficult
to access. Traveling westward from here, one can find the ruins of Baita (White
Pagoda) Temple in Baita Village, a big rock resembling an elephant’s trunk, the
old house which served as the headquarters of General Zhang Xueliang during the
second Zhili-Fengtian War in Shahezhai Village, and an old ginkgo tree said to
be over 1,000 years old in Qianshuiying Village.