Ruins of the Muling Pass of the Qi Great Wall

Ruins of the Muling Pass of the Qi Great Wall

The Ruins of the Muling Pass of the Qi Great Wall are a cultural tourism attraction and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Ruins of the Muling Pass of the Qi Great Wall are located within the territories of Yugou Township, Mazhan Town, Quanli Township, Yangzhuang Township, and Fuguangzhuang Township to the east of Yishui County, covering an area of over 4,600 hectares. This section was part of the ancient Great Wall built by the State of Qi. The Qi State was one of the feudal states enfeoffed during the Western Zhou Dynasty; during the reign of King Xuan of Qi (319–301 BCE), its territory expanded to the east as far as the Yellow Sea, to the west as far as the Yellow River, and to the south reaching the Muling Pass. To defend against invasions from states such as Lu and Chu, the Qi State extended previously scattered sections of the wall, stretching from Pingyin in the west to Langya Terrace in the east, spanning 500 kilometers in total. The Muling Pass section was mostly built along mountain ridges, with walls constructed from a mixture of sand and soil, rammed into shape. The base width ranged from 3 to 5 meters. There are four well-preserved segments: two 5-kilometer stretches on the eastern and western sides of the Muling Pass respectively; a 4-kilometer section from Donggouzi to Fengmingyu in both eastern and western Gouzi of Yangzhuang Town; and a 1.5-kilometer stretch on Guanguang Mountain in Duozhuang. The height varies, with the highest section being the eastern part of the Muling Pass, standing 1–2 meters above the ground. The Muling Pass served as a crucial fortress along the Qi Great Wall. Since the Qi era, it has been regarded as a strategic stronghold by successive dynasties and was garrisoned by troops. A stone stele erected during the renovation of the gatehouse in the Jiajing era of the Ming Dynasty still remains today. The valley at Muling Pass is steep and narrow, historically known as the “Southern Natural Barrier of Qi.” From atop the pass, one can take in the full view of the Yihe and Shuhe Rivers, while the winding remnants of the Great Wall undulate impressively, exuding grandeur and majesty.

Designated as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit in 1978.