Ancient Yulei Pass

　　Within the territory, Ancient Yulei Pass is one of the four renowned formidable passes in Wen County. It is situated one kilometer downstream from the Guantoubu Bridge, flanked by towering cliffs on both sides with extremely steep and perilous terrain. Since the Tang and Song dynasties, it has been a strategic military garrison site. The old provincial records refer to it as the “Throat of Qin and Shu.” Its treacherous pass and dangerous roads are immortalized in poetry. The Ming Dynasty poet Zhang Qiliang wrote in his poem “Yulei Pass”: *Heaven cleaved a chasm to lock the throat, Controlling two hundred prefectures of the southwest. Though defenses held against invaders, unrest lingered, Double gates stood unbreached, bolts drawn long at ease. Moonlight whitens the cliffs where cocks crow at dawn, Winds whisper through woods as wild geese survey autumn. Behold the travelers along the roadside path— Who rides the purple aura atop the blue ox?* During the Three Kingdoms period, the Wei general Guo Huai built Guo Huai City at Guantoubu, the ruins of which are now submerged beneath the Bikou Reservoir. The township government was originally located in an area called “Yuzhen” (Jade Pillow). Legend has it that there was a rock between the cliffs resembling a jade shoot, white and gleaming like jade—visible but unreachable, impossible for humans to retrieve, hence the name “Yuzhen.” The Song Dynasty poet Xianyu Xian wrote in his poem “Yuzhen”: *Peaks rise in beauty cradling a lone summit, A pillow seemingly matching the color of jade. The Weaving Maid knew not of the fallen loom stone, The Moon Goddess felt the sea turtle had vanished.* In the Ming Dynasty, a post station was established here, and thus it was also known as Yuzhen Post.

　　At the junction of the Bailong River and the Baishui River, one kilometer away from the old Yulei Township (now in front of Yuleiping), there used to be the Yinping Bridge—a chain suspension bridge that served as a gateway along the Shu Road. After the Wei forces of the Three Kingdoms invaded Shu, the location of the bridge changed multiple times. In the late Ming Dynasty (1643), it was burned down by bandits. In the 51st year of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty (1702), a wooden bridge was rebuilt, and in the 6th year of the Xianfeng reign (1856), the Yulei Pass wooden bridge was reconstructed. The bridge underwent numerous repairs and retained its majestic appearance, becoming a scenic landmark referred to as the Throat of Qin and Shu. In December 1949, in an attempt to block the southward advance of the People’s Liberation Army, the Kuomintang troops burned the bridge, and its ruins were later submerged in the Bikou Reservoir area. Ancient plank roads were abundant throughout the Yulei region. Yang Shi, the governor of Wenzhou Prefecture, wrote in “Inscription at Yuzhen Post”: *The plank roads are perilous, layer upon layer of danger, Travelers’ hearts grow ever more sorrowful. Countless mountains stand as sheer cliffs, A single river flows where no boat may pass.* Yulei Pass was an ancient ferry crossing on the Yinping. In 1963, after the Gansu-Sichuan Highway was opened to traffic, a wooden ferry for both vehicles and boats was established. In 1975, with the impoundment of the Bikou Reservoir, the highway was rerouted to the north bank, and a motorized ferry was relocated to Guantoubu. Every year from May to October, when the Bikou Power Plant releases floodwaters for flood control, the reservoir water level drops, halting ferry operations. Travelers and pedestrians then have no choice but to cross the river in small boats and climb up the cliffs to reach the highway, a situation that has caused much hardship. Construction of the Yulei Pass Highway Suspension Bridge began in May 1985 and was completed and opened to traffic on September 18, 1988, taking over three years. Also known as the Guantoubu Bridge, it is a stiffened truss double-chain vehicle suspension bridge. With a total investment of over 8.7 million yuan, the bridge spans 212 meters in total length, with a clear span of 180 meters, a deck width of 7.5 meters, and a self-weight of 1,000 tons. It can accommodate two-way traffic for 20-ton heavy-duty vehicles. It is the third bridge of its kind in China, resembling a steel dragon soaring through the air, transforming a natural barrier into a thoroughfare. It plays a significant role in improving transportation in Wen County, promoting foreign trade exports, and boosting tourism. The Yuleiping Iron Cable Bridge within the region is also one of the largest iron cable bridges over the Bailong River.

　　Source: Gansu Wen County Official Website