Baideng Mountain

Baideng Mountain

Highlights: The Battle of Baideng: In 201 BC, Emperor Liu Bang personally led 320,000 troops to campaign against the Xiongnu. After initial victories, he pursued them in high spirits. The Xiongnu lured the Han army in with an army made up of old, weak, sick, and disabled soldiers. Liu Bang chased them all the way to Baideng Mountain near Datong. Suddenly, Modu Chanyu led 400,000 elite cavalry in an ambush, surrounding the Han army. The Xiongnu besieged Baideng Mountain for seven days and nights. It was the middle of winter, the weather was extremely cold, and the Han army ran out of food and water, putting them in a very critical situation. The strategist Chen Ping advised Liu Bang to send heavy gold and portraits of beautiful women to Modu Chanyu’s wife, Lady Yan, along with a letter that read: “If the Chanyu continues the siege, the Han will send beauties to him, and at that point, your status will no longer be secure…” Lady Yan strongly persuaded the Chanyu to withdraw his troops, and eventually, he did, lifting the siege on Liu Bang.

Introduction: Also known as Little Baideng Mountain, it is located 5 kilometers east of Datong City. To the east lies Cailiang Mountain, and it was the battlefield of the historical “Siege of Baideng.” In 1993, the Datong Municipal People’s Government erected a “Han-style” memorial pavilion here, with inscriptions detailing the events of the “Battle of Baideng.” Transportation: Take bus No. 4 from Datong Railway Station to Datong County Government, then transfer to a local Xiali car to quickly reach the scenic spot.

Datong City, Shanxi Province