December 13th (AMSP/CGTN) – – Dajing Gate in Zhangjiakou, Hebei province, is renowned as the “First Gate of the Great Wall”. Together with Shanhaiguan Pass, Jiayuguan Pass, and Juyongguan Pass, they are collectively known as the “Four Famous Passes” of the Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
In recent years, the Dajing Gate area has become a popular tourism destination, celebrated for its unique Great Wall scenery and local cultural elements. Dajing Gate translates as “the gate standing on the border”. In ancient times, it marked the boundary between the Central Plains and Mongolia, serving as a crucial entrance to China.
“Unlike other Great Wall passes, only Xiaojing Gate and Dajing Gate in Zhangjiakou are referred to as “gates”, symbolizing communication, exchange, and convergence with other cultures and territories,” said Liu Zhenying, Member of the Great Wall Society of China.
Historically, Dajing Gate has served as the northern gateway to the Chinese capital. It has witnessed the bustling exchanges of merchant caravans and the fusion of various cultures.
“This route originated from Dajing Gate in Zhangjiakou and extended to Ulaanbaatar, the capital of present-day Mongolia, historically known as Khureheh. It then stretched further into the Kyakhta area of Russia’s Buryatia Republic. This thoroughfare served as a continental bridge linking Europe and Asia,” said Liu Zhenying.
In recent years, Zhangjiakou City has focused on enhancing its cultural tourism, capitalizing on the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and the development of the Great Wall National Cultural Park just northeast of the capital. Plans are afoot to implement 33 projects, including the conservation of the Dajing Gate Great Wall and environmental improvements within the Laiyuan Fort area.
“We will continue to better preserve the legacy of the Great Wall, promoting the development of the film, cultural creativity, accommodation, and health and wellness industries, among others, along the Dajing Gate area,” said Gu Zhenhui, Director of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism Bureau of Qiaoxi District, Zhangjiakou.
Strolling through the cultural district of Dajing Gate, the numerous shops and ancient architecture evoke a sense of being transported back to a flourishing market centuries ago.
I experienced a harmonious blend of technology, reality, and history here, very beautiful, said a tourist.
The cultural atmosphere is quite profound, showcasing our unique frontier culture. The variety of creative cultural products and local specialties left a lasting impression on me, said another tourist.
With visitors able to explore ancient fortresses, attend cultural performances, and savor delicious treats, Dajing Gate is brimming with vitality, giving people another great reason to experience the ancient Great Wall while enjoying a raft of leisure activities.
amsp/cgtn-abp
CGTN