Juandongmen

Juandongmen

Juandongmen, also known as Shizi Kou (Lion’s Mouth), is located in the northeastern part of Tanghe Village, Langping Township.

Originally a gorge about 6 meters wide, the left side of the gorge features sheer cliffs so steep that even monkeys find it hard to climb. On the right side, rocks jut out resembling the gaping, roaring mouth of a lion, with jagged boulders strewn overhead and no paths to follow. This spot serves as a strategic passage between Lingyun and Leye counties, and all travelers passing through must go through this gorge. Due to its desolate and isolated location, with no inhabitants, it was often the site of robberies, murders, and assaults on women before liberation.

In the early years after liberation, during a period of bandit unrest, local residents set up a checkpoint at Juandongmen to prevent harassment by bandits. The stone walls were entirely lined with cattle king thorns, the gate was sealed with logs as thick as bowls, and three holes were made in the wall, in which homemade cannons made from palm trees were installed. Additionally, bamboo spikes were densely planted along the 1-kilometer-long road to the south of the gate. This checkpoint was maintained for over two years and was only dismantled after the bandit suppression campaign ended.

In 1968, when the Baise–Leye Highway was constructed through Juandongmen, the stone walls were completely demolished, turning the once-formidable barrier into a passable route.