Things to do in Dai County

No. 9 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shanxi

Yanmenguan

Yanmenguan, located approx. 30 km northwest of Dai County in Xinzhou, is a pass on the inner Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, andNingwu Pass, together with Pianguan, they are known as the "three outer passes". There is no public transportation from Dai County town to the attraction, so you can only get there by private charter. Inside the attraction, you have to rely entirely on walking.YanmenguanSince ancient times, it has been a crucial pass for the Central Plains dynasties to defend against invasions from northern nomadic tribes. Its earliest history can be traced back to the Warring States period when King Wuling of Zhao fought against the Xiongnu here. Han Dynasty generals Li Guang, Wei Qing, and Huo Qubing once led troops to battle the Xiongnu in this area. During the Northern Song Dynasty,YanmenguanIt became the main battlefield between the Song and Liao dynasties, and the prototype of the well-known story of the Yang family generals took place here. A statue of Yang Liulang stands in the attraction. ExistingYanmenguanIt was built in the seventh year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1374) (with multiple reconstructions in recent years). Currently, there are three gates (east gate, west gate, and small north gate). A wild goose tower stands atop the east gate, and the lintel of the small north gate (i.e., the barbican gate) is inscribed with "Yanmenguan"Three large characters flanked by brick-carved couplets: 'Foremost strategic pass in three frontiers, most revered fortress among nine passes,' both inscribed by the great calligrapher Fu Shan of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. You can visit the ruins of Ming and Qing military barracks on the hill north of the fortress. To the right outside the west gate areGuan Yu templeOutside the east gate stands the Jingbian Temple, dedicated to Li Mu, a renowned general of the Zhao state during the Warring States period. If you are a fan of the Great Wall, when you visit Yanmenguan, you can walk along the ancient pass trail here. The ancient pass trail in the attraction is built along the local mountain terrain, winding through the peaks. Climbing this section of the trail may be slightly tiring for those who usually work in offices, but when you ascend a peak along the ancient path and gaze at the vast expanse of withered grass outside the pass, quietly feeling the weight of history, you'll find the physical effort well worth it. There are some farmhouse inns near Yanmenguan that can provide food and stay, but most visitors return to Dai County or go to other counties or cities for accommodation. Walking the ancient pass consumes a lot of energy, so you can bring some dry food and drinking water.

Bianjing Drum Tower

Located in the center of Daixian County, it is also known as Qiaolou, commonly known as Drum Tower. It was built in the Ming Dynasty and has a history of more than 600 years. It is a landmark building in Daixian. The building is a wooden structure, about 26 meters high, with extraordinary momentum. The building is seven rooms wide and four rooms deep, and the plaques of "The First Floor of Yanmen" and "Three Passes of Wei Town" are hung upstairs. In the platform downstairs, there is a 10-meter-high stone coupon building hole leading from north to south, which can be passed.

Daizhou Ancient City - Ayuwang Pagoda

The Daixian Ashoka Pagoda, commonly known as the White Pagoda, is located in the Yuanguo Temple in the ancient city of Daixian, facing the Bianjing Tower. The Ashoka Pagoda was first built in the first year of Renshou in the Sui Dynasty (601 AD). It was originally a wooden structure and was called "Longxing". It was rebuilt in the first year of Dazhong in the Tang Dynasty (847 AD) and changed "Longxing" to "Yuanguo". In the following hundreds of years, it was abandoned and rebuilt several times. In the twelfth year of Zhiyuan in the Yuan Dynasty (1275 AD), it was rebuilt into a brick pagoda and has been preserved to this day.The Ashoka Pagoda is made of bricks and is a cone in the Tibetan Buddhist style. The base of the pagoda is rectangular, 50 meters long from north to south, 30 meters from east to west, and 1.5 meters high. The pagoda is built in the center of the base. It is built on a Sumeru pedestal with upturned lotus petals and a mixed belly and square pedestals, and is carved with various floral decorations, lotus petals, and Indian "Dharani Sutras".The tower has a L-shaped pedestal on which a brake pole is supported. The original brick pagoda had 13 floors, two of which have been destroyed. The upper part is covered with a plate and the middle is filled with a golden top jewel. The tower has a beautiful shape, is strong and upright, and is highly carved. It is a masterpiece among Tibetan towers in my country. Two stone statues of Sakyamuni and Duobao are placed side by side on the north wall of the third floor of the tower. The upper beam of the Buddha pedestal is engraved with an inscription that the statue was made for Emperor Taizong's birthday in the second year of Zhenguan. The frame of the south gate preserves the cloud pattern carved in Tang Dynasty, and the surface is left with inscriptions by tourists from Song Dynasty.

Daizhou Ancient City

Located in Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province, China, the ancient city of Daizhou is an important frontier town with a long history and a rich cultural heritage. The ancient city wall is relatively well preserved, and the bricks and stones on the wall record the traces of repairs in successive dynasties. The city gate tower attracts tourists with its traditional architectural style. The layout of the streets and alleys in the city still retains the style of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The houses on both sides of the bluestone road are mostly wooden structures, with carved window lattices and gray tile roofs. The ancient city of Daizhou is famous for its diverse historical and cultural background. Temples and ancestral halls are scattered among it, enshrining different gods, reflecting the belief traditions of local residents. During festivals, traditional folk activities are often performed in the ancient city, attracting residents from surrounding areas to participate. The natural landscape around the ancient city also provides tourists with opportunities for hiking and sightseeing. The interweaving landscape of mountains and rivers adds natural charm to Daizhou. Through the combination of history and nature, the ancient city of Daizhou provides tourists with an immersive cultural experience.

No. 9 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Xinzhou

Daixian Confucian Temple

Daixian Confucian Temple consists of three courtyards. The front courtyard features main structures such as the Lingxing Gate. The middle courtyard houses the temple's main buildings, and the back courtyard is a place for honoring past Confucian scholars and sages.

Yanmen Pass Section of the Great Wall

Yanmen Pass Section of the Great Wall,located 3,000m east of Baicaokou Village, Yanmenguan Township, Dai County, extending southwest from Xinguangwu, Shanyin County, and entering Dai County,starting at 3,000m east of Baicaokou Village, Yanmenguan Township, and ending at 1,500m northwest of Baicaokou Village.

Yanmen Pass Scenic Area - Viewing Platform

No. 1 of Fall Viewing Attractions in Shuozhou

Guangwu Great Wall

The Guangwu Great Wall starts from the east of Baicaokou River in Daixian County, Xinzhou City in the west, and ends at Xinguangwu Village in Shanyin County, Shuozhou City in the east, with a total length of 10 kilometers. This section of the Great Wall was built by Li Jingyuan, the governor of the capital, in the thirty-third year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1605). This line is also a mature donkey line, which is very famous among donkey friends. According to historical records, this section of the Great Wall is made of bricks and stone, with stone tombs at the bottom, bricks above, and soil construction inside, 6-10 meters high, 4 meters wide at the top, and 5 meters wide at the bottom. The towers, the enemy towers, the fortresses are disposed of in the narrow, and the secret doors are set up, and the east-west extension is connected to the outer Great Wall. Today, many of these brick walls have been demolished by locals to build houses, leaving only some remnants of the city walls and wall stacks. There are also many castles scattered inside and outside the Great Wall. Xinguangwu City is one of them. This kind of castle on the edge of the Ming Dynasty is usually planted, and it is used for expeditions during wartime. This is also the second line of defense to defend the Central Plains when the Great Wall defense line of the Datong Line is broken through. You can charter a car from Shanyin or Daixian to the scenic spot.

The First Pass of China

The First Pass of China was built by Wu Zetian.

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Badaling Great Wall

The Badaling Great Wall is a highly representative section of the Ming Great Wall, located in Yanqing, Beijing, north of Juyong Pass. Since ancient times, it has been a strategic military location guarding the northwestern passage to the capital. The pass city is trapezoidal in shape, narrow in the east and wide in the west, with two gates, east and west. The east gate bears the inscription "Juyong Outer Town," and the west gate bears the inscription "Key to the North Gate." Both inscriptions remain clearly legible to this day. Extending north from the pass is the North Wall, along which more than ten watchtowers are distributed; to the south is the South Wall, which has fewer watchtowers. North Tower 8 is the highest point of the entire section, at over 1,000 meters above sea level, and from its top you can overlook the magnificent sweep of the wall winding along the mountain ridges. The North Wall has higher terrain and steeper slopes with open views, and is the main route for most visitors; the South Wall is relatively gentle and less crowded, making it suitable for visitors who want to take photos at a relaxed pace and avoid the crowds. If time permits, walking the South Wall first and then the North Wall is a more leisurely arrangement. Badaling Great Wall is also one of the earlier sections of the wall opened to the public. The top surface of the wall is paved with square bricks, and the widest parts can accommodate five horses walking side by side. Defensive structures such as battlements and arrow holes are well preserved, and walking along it gives a direct sense of the construction standards of Ming Dynasty border defense works. In fall, layers of red leaves on the mountains contrast beautifully with the gray brick wall, making it a season that many photography enthusiasts travel specifically to capture. ▲Travel through 600 years of gilded splendor and encounter the visual shock of crimson red leaves blanketing the mountains ▲nightAs night falls, it winds through the mountains like a brilliant golden dragon, and the ancient city wall illuminated by lights tells of the glory and mystery of a thousand years of history ▲ In winter, the Badaling Great Wall, covered in pristine white snow, winds through the mountains like a silver dragon. The golden light of dawn spills across the wall, painting a tranquil and magnificent picture.