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Juyong Pass

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Traditional Chinese
  
居庸關

Hanyu Pinyin
  
Jūyōng guān

IPA
  
[tɕý.jʊ́ŋ kwán]

Simplified Chinese
  
居庸关

Wade–Giles
  
Chü-yung kuan

Yale Romanization
  
Gēui-yùhng gwāan

Juyong Pass wwwchinatourguidecomchinaphotosbeijingattrac

Similar
  
Badaling, Mutianyu, Great Wall of China, Ming tombs, Simatai

The great wall at juyongguan juyong pass near beijing china


Juyong Pass (Chinese: 居庸关; pinyin: Jūyōng guān) is a mountain pass located in the Changping District of Beijing Municipality, over 50 kilometers (31 mi) from central Beijing. The Great Wall of China passes through, and the Cloud Platform was built here in the year 1342.

Contents

Map of Juyong Guan, Changping, China, 102201

Great wall of china chinesische mauer juyongguan or juyong pass


Geography

Juyongguan (pass) is in the 18-kilometer (11 mi)-long Guangou Valley. The pass is one of the three greatest mountain passes of the Great Wall of China. The other two are Jiayuguan and Shanhaiguan (passes). Juyongguan Pass has two 'sub-passes,' one at the valley's south and the other at the north. The southern one is called "Nan (pass)" and the northern is called "Badaling".

History

The pass had many different names during former Chinese dynasties. However, the name "Juyongguan" was used by more than three dynasties. It was first used in the Qin Dynasty when Emperor Qinshihuang ordered the building of the Great Wall. Juyongguan pass was connected to the Great Wall in the Southern and Northern Dynasties era.

The present pass route was built in the Ming Dynasty and received much renovation later. It was a very important strategic place connecting the inner land and the area near the northern border of China. It was also used to defend the ancient city of Beijing.

History

In the middle of the Juyongguan (pass) and Guangou Valley, there is the Cloud Platform gate, also known as the "Crossing Street Tower". It was built in 1342 during the Yuan Dynasty, and made of white marble with a height of 9.5 metres (31 ft). There were originally three white pagodas atop the platform, giving it the name of "Crossing Street Tower". They were each destroyed in the transitional period between the late Yuan and early Ming Dynasties. In the early Ming Dynasty, a Buddhist Tai'an Temple hall was built on the platform. It was destroyed in 1702 during the Qing Dynasty.

Platform

The Yuan era Cloud Platform remains. Around the top of the platform are elements such as stone balustrades and a watch post. They remain in the original Yuan style. On the platform are carvings of Buddhist figures and symbols, as well as Buddhist texts written in six languages and scripts:

  • Sanskrit in Lanydza script, Tibetan script, 'Phags-pa script, Old Uyghur script, Tangut script and Chinese characters
  • Tibetan language in Tibetan script
  • Mongolian language in 'Phags-pa script
  • Old Uyghur language in Old Uyghur script
  • Tangut language in Tangut script
  • Chinese language in Chinese characters
  • Portal

    In the middle of the platform's base there is an arched portal - where people, carts, horsemen, and palanquins could pass through. Many images of people and animals were carved inside the arched gate tunnel and around the portal.

    References

    Juyong Pass Wikipedia