Jianmenguan is the Chinese name for Jianmen Fortress or Jianmen Pass. The fortress is built in a 5-meter wide cut on the Great Jian Mountain Range that is by average 300 meters high, resembling a gate of the mountain therefore it got the name of Jian Gate(Jianmen). Jianmenguan is a critical fortress during Three Kingdom Period. The famous quote from historical poet Li Bai “one man guards the fortress/pass, 10,000 men can’t pass” is a praise of the ruggedness of the terrain here.
Jianmenguan is located 10km south to the city of Jian’Ge and 10km north to Cui Yun Lang Park. It is one of the most important Three Kingdom Sits in China and one of the top historical travel destinations in Sichuan. Jianmenguan is a must see place for a Three Kingdom or Ancient Shu Roads tour. It is a big park that requires a full day’s visit to cover its highlights.
A mountain to the east of Jianmen Pass is called "Jiang Wei Cheng", also known as "Yingpanzui". Yingpanzui was a military stronghold where military strategists throughout history guarded the Jianmen Pass. The top terrain is relatively open, covered with dense thorns and shrubs, making it a natural shelter. Jiang Wei, the general of Shu Han in the Three Kingdoms, retreated from Youzhong to defend Jian’Ge and resist the Wei general Zhong Hui's army. He once set up camp here. Jiang Wei Cheng faces the steep cliffs of Jianmen to the north, the pass of Jianmen Pass to the west, and the pass of Houmen Gate to the east. It is surrounded by danger on three sides, with only Jianmen Field to the south, which can accommodate tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. After Jiang Wei set up camp here, the name "Jiang Wei Chengdu" was passed down.
Pingxiang Marquis Temple, also known as Jiang Wei Temple, Boyue Temple, Jiang Gong Temple, and Boyu Temple. The Jiangwei Temple was first built during the Zhengde period of the Ming Dynasty, divided into two courtyards. The front courtyard has a statue of Liu Guan Zhang, named Wusheng Palace, while the main hall of the back courtyard has a statue of Jiangwei, named Zhongqin Temple. The Jiang Wei Temple that we see now was rebuilt on the original site in 2009, and the rebuilt Jiang Wei Temple has basically maintained its original architectural style, including the Jiang Wei Hall, Kong Ming Shoushu Hall, and Jiang Wei Tomb, which belong to tomb temples.
In the middle of the cliff at Jianmen Pass, there is a huge stone pillar standing independently from the edge of the cliff. The locals call it Bamboo Shoot Peak, also known as Stone Shoot Peak, based on its natural shape. The Bamboo Shoot Peak stands around 50 meters tall, with no grass or trees growing throughout its body. On its tip, there is a lush shrub growing.
Liangshan Temple is located at the top of Dajian Mountain, on the sacrificial cliff between Taohua Peak and Xiaoyao Peak at an altitude of 1180 meters on Jianmen 72 Peaks. Liangshan is said to be the place where Emperor Wu of Liang practiced, so there are ancient temples such as Liangshan Temple and Emperor Wu's Temple built on the mountain. Liangshan Temple was first built in the Tang Dynasty and underwent repairs throughout history. During the Qing Dynasty, it was expanded into two courtyard houses with a building area of 947 square meters. Liangshan Temple faces south, with a huge plaque hanging high in the middle of the mountain gate with the three golden characters "Liangshan Temple". In addition to the the Shakya Mani Hall, the temple also has Guanyin Hall, Sutra Pavilion, Monk's Room, Tea Hall, etc.
It is said that during the Three Kingdoms period, the Prime Minister of Shu, Zhuge Liang, led his army to attack Wei. Passing through Dajian Mountain, he saw the steep terrain and ordered his soldiers to dig rocks, stick in beams, and build plank roads to assist him in his six expeditions to Qi Mountain and launch a northern expedition against Cao Wei. Although the ancient boardwalk has long been lost in the long river of history, now, on these towering peaks, steep winding boardwalks have been rebuilt along the mountain for visitors to climb and observe. The Jianmen Plank Road follows the terrain of the mountain, with wooden planks suspended in the air.
Throughout history, officials have repeatedly built fortress at the Jianmen Pass, all of which were destroyed by war. They were rebuilt during the Ming Dynasty and repaired several times during the Qing Dynasty. In 1935, during the construction of the Sichuan Shaanxi Highway in the Republic of China, they were all demolished. The Guanlou, which was renovated in 1992, is located opposite the new Guanlou that everyone can see. The 2008 "5.12" earthquake severely damaged the Guanlou. In 2009, Jiange County decided to rebuild the Guanlou on the original site of the Qing Dynasty Guanlou. The building is 18.3 meters wide, 19.61 meters high, and 17.7 meters deep, with a fully wooden structure.
The suspended glass viewing platform is located at the highest point of the scenic area of Jianmenguan, on the main peak of Dajian Mountain in Jianmen Pass Scenic Area. The platform has a built surface elevation of 1163 meters, and the overhanging part is made of steel structure. The steel beams of the steel structure are composed of two overlapping “?” characters. The main platform has a suspended span of 25 millimeters, and the platform surface layer is made of high-strength multi-layer laminated glass, with a glass thickness of about 6 centimeters. The platform is about 150 meters high to the bottom, and the overhanging length of the suspended glass viewing platform is the second in the world and the first in Asia. The design width of the bridge deck is 3 meters, with a net span of about 20 meters of ancient trees. The landscape glass platform echoes the ancient trees, ancient wood and stone carvings, etc. Tourists can walk on it and experience the majesty, wonder, danger, and beauty of the Jianmen Pass scenic area from a high altitude.
Business Hour: 1 Jan to 31 Mar: 08:30-16:30; 1 Apr to 31 Dec: 08:00-17:00
Entrance Ticket Fee: 105yuan/person
Recommended Time to Spend: 6-8 Hours
