The Ming Dynasty Great Wall at Sanguankou

The Ming Dynasty Great Wall at Sanguankou

The Ming Dynasty Great Wall at Sanguankou is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Yinchuan is located in the northwest frontier of China. During the Ming Dynasty, Mongolian tribes such as the Tatars and Oirats frequently entered Chimu Pass (now Sanguankou) in the Helan Mountains from the Alxa Plateau in Inner Mongolia, advancing straight into the plains. To secure the border, the Ming rulers built the Great Wall (referred to as the "frontier wall" in the Ming Dynasty) and established fortifications at Sanguankou, making it one of the ancient "Four Perils" of Yinchuan's city defenses.

The Ming Dynasty Great Wall at Sanguankou is located over 40 kilometers west of Yinchuan in the southern part of the Helan Mountains. This pass marks the border between Ningxia and Alxa Left Banner in Inner Mongolia, with the Yinchuan–Bayanhot Highway passing through it. At the pass, remnants of the Great Wall can be seen. The three passes, arranged from east to west, are known as the First Barrier, Second Barrier, and Third Barrier, later collectively referred to as the Three Barriers. The area features winding mountain ranges and a rugged, precipitous terrain. Originally, a fortress was built in the mountain pass nestled between two cliffs.

Yinchuan, Ningxia