Niangzi Pass

Hours & Admission Price Peak Season
Jan.-Dec.
8:00-18:00
15 Low Season
Jan.-Dec.
8:00-18:00
15 Address & Phone Transportation Take the train to Taiyuan train station (Taiyuan City) from Datong City, and transfer the train No.6032 and 6034 to Niangzi Pass. Notes

Niangzi Pass was important military stronghold of Great Wall in past Dynasties. It is famous for the legend that Princess Pinyang set up defenses and garrisoned here.

Niangzi Pass is located in Pingding County, Yangquan City, the juncture of Shanxi Province and Hebei Province. It is a famous pass in Great Wall. It was important military stronghold in past Dynasties which could trace the history of Warring States Period?475?221B.C.). It was so called because Princess Pinyang (the third daughter of the first emperor of Tang Dynasty (618-907 B.C.)) once set up defenses and garrisoned here. The city wall existing now was built in 1542 A.D.

There are two gates in the east and south. The east gate has the tablet with Chinese characters of Zhi Li Niang Ni Guan, and there is a plain stage built on the city gate for parading troop and watching enemy's situation. The south gate is made of bluestone with “Sunjiang Tower” stands on that, and it is said that it was built for Princess Pinyang to gather generals to defend enemies.

Military meaning

Niangzi Pass is opposite to Jingxing Pass, which are important military strongholds. It is one of few route ways linked to Shanxi Province and Hebei Province. So Niangzi Pass has an important function to defend two provinces.

Niangzi Pass Waterfall

Niangzi Pass also has beautiful sceneries, and the most famous one is “Hanging Waterfall” that also is called “Niangzi Pass Waterfall” in the southeast of the east gate. It is 6.5 meters wide and the head drop is 40 meters. Waterfall pouring down from high with lots of springs welled up from the cliff like scattered pearls, which form splendid Waterfall Cave.

Qiankong Cliff

Qiankong Cliff is located in the downstream of Niangzi Pass Waterfall. It was formed because of crustal changes ten millions years ago. The cliff is pocked with thousand of large and small stalactite caves with different shape, and animal and plant fossils formed ten millions years ago naked on the cliffs, which have great values for archeology research.

There still have many historical relics related to Princess Pinyang around Niangzi Pass, like “Pool for Princess to Washing Face” and “Summering Pavilion” and so on.

Datong Culture