Dusong Pass

　　Dusong Pass is a mountain pass in the northwest of Lin’an, an ancient Chinese city (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang). It is situated on Dusong Ridge to the south of present-day Anji County, Zhejiang Province. Surrounded by high mountains and deep valleys to the east and west, and connected by a narrow gorge to the north and south, it served as a strategic chokepoint on the ancient route from Lin’an through Guangde to Jiankang (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), often used for military surprise maneuvers. Perched atop the steep Dusong Ridge, Dusong Pass is extremely rugged. Originally, there was a thousand-year-old pine tree next to the pass, which gave the pass its name — “Dusong” meaning “solitary pine.” The Ming Dynasty poet Ling Shuo wrote in his poem “Winter Splendor at Dusong”: “The mountain opens as the gate is breached, / Clouds rise from treetops calling dragons forth. / The sky-supporting trunk towers a thousand feet, / Its proud, snow-defying form overshadows all. / Over years its roots turn jade-hard and strong, / Cave winds roar like thunder through cliffs and dells. / Its ancient visage remains unchanged through time, / Forever paired with bamboo and plum in rhyme.” “Winter Splendor at Dusong” was once one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Zhangnan (Anji), and the sight of the majestic pine and pass must have been truly splendid.

　　Dusong Pass, a mountain pass in the northwest of Lin’an, an ancient Chinese city (present-day Hangzhou, Zhejiang), is located within the territory of present-day Anji County, Zhejiang Province. It borders Yuhang District of Hangzhou to the south and lies 8 kilometers north of Dibu Town, the county seat. Historically, Dusong Pass, along with Youling Pass and Baihang Pass in Yuhang, were collectively known as the “Three Dusong Passes.” They formed the main northern defensive line of Lin’an, the Southern Song capital. Holding Dusong Pass meant blocking northern military threats to Hangzhou, making it a strategic military stronghold in ancient times.

　　Dusong Pass is flanked by high mountains and secluded valleys to the east and west, and connected by a narrow gorge to the north and south. It served as a strategic chokepoint on the ancient route from Lin’an through Guangde to Jiankang (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), often used for military surprise maneuvers. During the Jianyan era (1127–1130) of the Southern Song Dynasty, to block the advance of Jin troops southward, a stone pass was built on Dusong Ridge. Five kilometers south of the pass, to the left is Baihang Pass (on Baihang Ridge), and to the right is Youling Pass (on Youling Ridge), together forming the “Three Dusong Passes” (see color plate). Southeast of Dusong Pass to Xikou lies a valley path stretching 20 kilometers. Xikou guards the mouth of the valley passage and is considered the key junction of the Three Passes. In the first year of the De period (1275), Yuan troops marched from Jiankang through Guangde, broke through Dusong Pass, and advanced directly to Lin’an. By 1279, the Southern Song Dynasty had fallen. In the 12th year of the Zhi Zheng era (1352) during the Yuan Dynasty, Red Turban rebel forces occupied Dusong and Anji. Yuan troops advanced north from Shuangxi Kou, broke through the Three Dusong Passes, and defeated the rebels. In the 10th year of the Xianfeng era (1860) during the Qing Dynasty, as Qing forces attacked Tianjing (present-day Nanjing, Jiangsu), Taiping Rebellion general Li Xiucheng took a shortcut through Dusong from Hangzhou and swiftly moved north, joining other Taiping forces to decisively defeat the Qing army and lift the siege of Tianjing. Today, Dusong Pass has lost much of its former strategic importance.

　　The terrain around Dusong Pass is extremely rugged. Behind the pass rises the lofty Dusong Ridge, covered with verdant pines and bamboos. Two mountain ridges extending forward from Dusong Ridge resemble the arms of giants, embracing the pass within. The pass wall is entirely built from large stones. According to the Annals of Anji County compiled during the Qing Dynasty, the wall originally had arrow towers, and there were six barracks inside the pass. The wall is about 60 meters long and 10 meters thick. It spans the rapid-flowing Dusong Stream and connects the two towering mountain ridges on either side. Along the right side of the stream is a steep, narrow path leading directly to the gate. The gate is cave-like, 10 meters deep, about three meters high, and less than a meter wide — only wide enough for one person to pass through. At the center of the cave’s ceiling is a skylight measuring two meters long and one meter wide. This creative design allows light into the dark tunnel during peacetime, but during battle, if enemies entered the tunnel, defenders could attack them from above, leaving no place for the enemy to hide — truly embodying the idea of “one man guarding the pass can hold back ten thousand.”

　　At the junction of southeastern Anji and Yuhang lies a place called Guanshang. The ancient Xuanchang Road passes through Anji’s Dibu Town heading north from here, entering Huizhou from Xuancheng. This place is named Guanshang, and naturally, it has its own gate. The checkpoint established here during the Jianyan era of the Southern Song Dynasty was named Dusong Pass. Legend has it that there was once a solitary pine tree in front of the gate, but after several cycles of rise and decline, it no longer exists — only a stone tablet for cultural relic protection remains. This area is rather quiet, seemingly devoid of visitors seeking history. Currently, only the gate tower remains, while the surrounding walls were demolished during road construction. The pass is nestled among several residential houses, and the military-purpose troop hiding caves that once existed here have vanished, replaced by a bamboo storage area. Stepping through the gate, the structure resembles a short tunnel. The gate tunnel is 10 meters deep, about three meters high, and less than a meter wide — only allowing one person through. In the middle of the gate, there is a square hole in the ceiling. Presumably, it served two purposes: providing daylight during normal times, and functioning as a killing zone in military defense — when enemies entered the gate, defenders could attack them from above, leaving no escape. Time has changed everything, and after the rise and fall of dynasties, the site is now dilapidated. Originally, in this area, there were also other passes such as Youling Pass and Qianqiu Pass.