Lengkou Pass

Lengkou Pass

Lengkou Pass is located 32 kilometers northeast of Qian'an City and was built in the early Ming Dynasty as an important pass along the Ming Great Wall. The *Yongping Prefecture Annals* record: “The pass city is built of brick, standing two zhang and nine chi high, with a perimeter of approximately 387 zhang. There is one gate each on the southeast sides.” Lengkou Pass is built on the steeply rising Phoenix Mountain. From a distance, Phoenix Mountain looks like a phoenix with its head raised and wings ready to take flight. At the mid-slope of its main peak lies two jade-green rocks resembling the phoenix’s eyes, while the surrounding peaks feature a mix of blue, brown, and yellow rocks that look like the phoenix’s colorful wings. Twelve continuous peaks resemble the phoenix’s spread tail. Each of the twelve peaks on the mountain has a fortress, hence the name “Twelve Fortress Camps of Phoenix Mountain.” The pass city follows the mountain terrain, with walls reinforced by bricks, and a training ground located to the south of the city.

Lengkou Pass was not originally called Lengkou Pass but had a much more beautiful name—Qingshui Mingyue Pass. Historical records indicate that the Sha River, which once flowed through the pass, was renowned for its crystal-clear waters. On clear, bright moonlit nights, especially during the third and fifth lunar months, the full moon would cast its glow upon the tranquil river, creating a serene, hazy, and solemn atmosphere that stirred the imagination—thus earning it the well-deserved title of “Qingshui Mingyue Pass” (Pass of Clear Water and Bright Moon). So how did it come to be known as “Lengkou” (Cold Mouth) Pass? It turns out that the name change was authorized by Emperor Kangxi himself.

Legend has it that one winter, Emperor Kangxi, traveling incognito on a donkey, arrived at Lengkou. It was the depths of winter, with heavy snow falling like goose feathers and fierce north winds howling, whipping the snow into people’s faces, making it hard to open one's mouth or eyes. Walking was difficult enough on flat ground, let alone attempting to cross a mountain pass between two peaks. Yet, it was precisely such harsh weather that Kangxi happened to encounter.

By then, Kangxi and his entourage had been traveling for most of the day, both man and donkey thoroughly exhausted. Even in fair weather without wind or rain during spring or summer, the high mountain pass was known for its bitter cold gusts. Now, in the dead of winter with a raging snowstorm, one could only imagine the conditions.

With the snow blowing fiercely and the wind cutting like knives, Kangxi rode his donkey forward, struggling to push against the biting cold and icy flakes, often moving one step forward and sliding half a step back. Upon entering the pass, he was immediately hit by a powerful blast of wind that nearly knocked him off the donkey, while the animal itself was battered backward by the storm. He tried several times to push forward against the wind and snow, only to be pushed back each time. His attendants fared no better—even if they wanted to help, they could barely stand against the storm themselves. Being a seasoned warrior and emperor used to battling on horseback, Kangxi suddenly had an idea: since the blinding wind and snow made it impossible to keep his eyes open or mouth shut, why not ride the donkey backward, just like the legendary Zhang Guolao? That way, he wouldn’t have to endure the wind and snow directly in his face. So he dismounted, reversed his position on the donkey, facing backward, and immediately felt much better. He flicked his whip and pressed forward with difficulty. The attendants followed suit, also riding backward. But luck was not on their side. Just as they were about to exit the pass, the road was slippery, and the donkey lost its footing, throwing Kangxi off its back. Fortunately, Kangxi was agile and escaped injury despite the fall. Once safely inside the pass, he looked back at the treacherous path and sighed: “What an icy, biting pass—so hard to get through!” With these imperial words, the Qingshui Mingyue Pass was henceforth renamed “Lengkou Pass” (Cold Mouth Pass).

Due to its strategic location, Lengkou Pass was heavily guarded throughout various dynasties. During the Ming Dynasty, when Qi Jiguang served as the General of Jizhen, he fortified the border walls and built enemy towers here, recognizing its critical importance. By the 1930s, it became one of the major battlefields of the Chinese military’s resistance against Japanese invaders during the famous Great Wall Defense battles. The Lengkou Pass defense was the only proactive offensive campaign launched by Chinese forces. Although the position was eventually lost, it demonstrated the heroic and unyielding spirit of the Chinese soldiers.

Source: Tourism Bureau