Manyan Pass

　　The ancient town of Manyan Pass is situated in Manyan Town, approximately 70 kilometers southeast of Shanyang County in Shangluo, where the Qianjin River and the Jinjia River meet. It gets its name from its expansive landforms and broad water expanses. In ancient times, Manyan Pass marked the border between the Qin and Chu states, and military defenses were established here throughout various dynasties. Today, it lies on the border between Shaanxi and Hubei provinces.

　　Manyan Pass has a long history. During the Spring and Autumn Period, it was part of the Manzi Kingdom; in the Warring States Period, the Chu state passed through here on its way to Fangcheng, and the Qin-Chu boundary stele still remains today. During the Southern Song Dynasty, this area was a fiercely contested battlefield between the Song and Jin forces. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, water transport flourished here, and historic structures such as the Shipowners’ Guild Hall, Hubei Guild Hall, Wuchang Guild Hall, Muleteers’ Guild Hall, and the Temple of Martial Saint were built—many of which are now protected cultural relics. Beneath the Shidianzi Village in front of Manyan Town, at the foot of Shanling Mountain, lies the "Thousand Buddha Cave" carved into the mountainside during the Wu Zhou Yongchang era, which still houses 222 Buddha statues. Outside the cave are polygonal archways and temples built during the Republic of China period. Below the cave entrance are the Bamboo Forest Monastery and performance pavilions, renovated during the Qing Kangxi reign.

　　Nestled against mountains and alongside rivers, Manyan Pass is surrounded by ranges: the towering Longshan Mountain to the east, the majestic Huling Mountain to the north, and the grand Yunling Mountain to the southwest. The Qianjin and Jinjia Rivers flow through the area. The climate here is warm and humid, ideal for growing citrus fruits, rice, sesame, and tung oil. Before the Longhai Railway was completed, Manyan served as a key hub for both water and overland trade, becoming one of the important distribution centers for goods exchanged among Shaanxi, Hubei, Henan, and Sichuan. The streets of Manyan are long and narrow, paved with stone slabs and pebbles. The residential houses along the street mostly have wooden plank walls, are delicately built, and feature one upper floor adorned with painted gables, upturned dragon-and-phoenix roof corners, and hanging mirrors, all contributing to an antique charm. Daily markets are held in the streets, with numerous shops open, continuing the traditional custom of “men working the fields and women running the stalls.”