Xifeng Xiongguan Big Knife Park

Xifeng Xiongguan Big Knife Park

Xifeng Xiongguan Big Knife Park is situated in the “golden triangle” formed by three of China’s major cultural heritage sites — the Eastern Qing Tombs in Zunhua, the Chengde Mountain Resort, and the Laolongtou scenic area in Qinhuangdao. It stands against the world-famous Great Wall and sits at the edge of the Panjiakou Reservoir, the third-largest in China. Xifeng Pass was once a bloody ancient battlefield where battle flags flew and swords clashed. It is the birthplace of the renowned patriotic song “March of the Volunteers,” and the site where anti-Japanese heroes — including Song Zheyuan, commander of the 29th Army; Zhao Dengyu, front-line commander; Zhang Zizhong, commander of the 38th Division; and Feng Zhi’an, commander of the 37th Division — fought bravely. The Battle of Xifeng Pass in 1933 has been recorded in world military history and has been designated as a patriotic education base.

Xifeng Xiongguan Big Knife Park boasts beautiful scenery and precipitous mountain terrain. It features an intact section of the Inner Great Wall, where the Japanese invaders once took refuge. From the wall, visitors can enjoy views of the Panjiakou Reservoir. The park is just two kilometers away from Jiangwen Village, the water recreation area of the Panjiakou Reservoir and the filming location of the movie “Devils on the Doorstep.” Here, verdant mountains, clear waters, blue skies, and ancient architecture blend harmoniously, creating a landscape that combines the vast, rugged beauty of the grasslands with the delicate charm of the Jiangnan water towns. The underwater section of the Great Wall here is unique in the world. Emperor Kangxi, who made six southern tours, visited Xifeng Pass twice and left behind timeless poetic lines such as “Fragrant grass veils the narrow path, aged trees lie bathed in bluish mist” and “The sacred tomb’s aura draws near, as I wade through emerald hills.”