Hangu Pass Tourist Area

Hangu Pass in Sanmenxia [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Located at the junction of Henan, Shaanxi and Shanxi provinces, the Hangu Pass tourist area is 12 kilometers from Lingbao, Henan province. Covering an area of 16.9 square kilometers, the tourist area is rich in Taoism and military culture.

Hangu Pass is one of the earliest fortresses in Chinese history, and it is also the holy land where Lao-tzu, the great ancient Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, wrote the Tao Te Ching, the masterpiece of Taoism. The area has become very famous in China and abroad.

The tourist area is divided into Hangu Pass and Taichu Palace. Built in the Spring and Autumn Period (770-476 BC) and Warring States Period (475-221 BC), Hangu Pass got its name because of its strategic geographical location. It has witnessed numerous battles from ancient to modern times.

Taichu Palace is the place where Lao-tzu wrote the Tao Te Ching. As a treasure of world culture, the great work contains extensive knowledge and profound insights, covering politics, economics, military affairs, arts and other aspects.

Hangu Pass has celebrated the birth of Lao-tzu every year since 1992, welcoming tourists from all over the world as they visit the site. The area has about 20 scenic spots for tourists to visit.