Zhengyang Pass

Zhengyang Pass

The ancient town of Zhengyangguan is located 30 kilometers southwest of Shouxian County. It borders Zhengyangguan Farm and Banqiao Town to the east, faces Huainan County across the Huai River to the west, connects to Yinghe Town to the south, and adjoins Fengzhuang Town to the north. Also known simply as Zhengyangguan, it is one of China’s renowned passes and an ancient town with a long history.

Its origins can be traced back to the middle period of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty. Zhengyangguan has over 1,780 years of fortification history. The town enjoys well-developed transportation and a prominent geographical location, with waterways connecting seventy-two rivers to Zhengyang and today’s Provincial Highway 310 running straight through the town. In the past, it was described as “a hub accessible by both land and water, bustling with goods and people,” “densely populated and commercially wealthy,” and “a gathering place for sailing vessels and merchants.” It once served as the commercial distribution center for twenty-four counties across Hubei, Henan, and Anhui provinces. Eight provinces across China had guildhalls in Zhengyangguan, which was historically known as the “Foremost Town of Fengcheng” (as it was formerly part of Fengyang Prefecture). Today, it is a famous commercial and tourism hub in western Anhui. The North Gate of the town (with the plaque “Foremost Town of Fengcheng”), the West Gate (with the plaque “Ancient Town of Huainan”), as well as the Temple of the Dark Emperor and the Sheep Stone sculpture, are iconic landmarks of Zhengyangguan.