Hebei Zhangjiakou || Dazhimen || First Gate of the Great Wall.

|| Dazhimen || First Gate of the Great Wall. Although its name doesn't include "guan" (pass), it is still considered one of the four major passes of the Great Wall, along with Shanhai Pass, Jiayu Pass, and Juyong Pass. Dazhimen is located at the northernmost point of Zhangjiakou city. It is the only pass along the Great Wall named "men" (gate), and is therefore known as the "First Gate of the Great Wall". Dazhimen was built in the first year of the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1644 AD). After the Qing Dynasty entered the Central Plains, a gate was needed in Zhangjiakou to manage border trade. The name "Dazhimen" means "Gate of the Border" or "Gate of the Realm". The arched gate in the center of the city gate is the largest of its kind along the Great Wall, with a depth of 13 meters, a height of 12 meters, and a width of 9 meters. Above the two wooden and iron-clad gates, there is a huge plaque inscribed with the words "Dahao Hesheng" (Great Rivers and Mountains). This inscription was written in 1927 by Gao Weiyu, then governor of Chahar. It has become a symbol of Zhangjiakou. The inscription also has a palindrome feature. Reading it forward, it conveys the profound meaning of "Great Rivers and Mountains", and reading it backward, it also has a unique charm: "Mountains and Rivers are Great". The commercial street behind Dazhimen🏯 fully embodies the collision of ancient and modern civilizations. The entire street is designed in an ancient style🏯, with shops selling antiques, calligraphy and painting, and local specialties. There are also Western restaurants, creative shops, selfie studios, and bars. 📸 Photography Tips Hanfu (traditional Chinese clothing) is available for rent on the commercial street. If you want to dress up as Mulan🏇, you can match it with the simple and heavy, rough and powerful style and momentum of Dazhimen👍. There are many good locations for taking photos. You can lean against the city wall or gate. You can also take photos on the long stone steps, in front of the temple gate, or directly on the city wall. The houses are stacked on top of each other, and there are beautiful views everywhere. There are no dead angles in 360 degrees. 🚙 Transportation: Departing from Beijing,🚄 take the high-speed train to Zhangjiakou Station. You can choose to take a bus or taxi. 🚗 Drive directly to Dazhimen Scenic Area, where there is a parking lot. ⏰ Opening hours: All day, shops open around 9:00-22:00, city wall street lights turn off at 10:00.