Dajingmen Scenic Area · Folk Museum

📍 Address: B5-2 Mingdekou Street, Qiaoxi District, Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province
🕒 Opening Hours: 9:00–17:00 (closed on Mondays, except during public holidays)
🎫 Ticket Information: Free admission (reservation required)

🏯 Historical Origins

The Dajingmen Scenic Area was originally constructed during the Hongwu period of the Ming Dynasty (1368), serving as a key passageway of Xuanfu Town—one of the nine major military garrisons along the Great Wall. Renowned as the "First Gate Beyond the Frontier," it has stood as a witness to over a millennium of military conflict, commerce, and ethnic integration between the Central Plains and northern steppes. As the starting point of the Zhangku Ancient Road (Zhangjiakou to Kalgan), it holds profound historical significance.

🏛️ Architectural Features

Centered around the ancient city wall of Dajingmen, the existing watchtower dates back to the Qing Dynasty. Built with brick and stone, it stands approximately 12 meters tall and 10 meters wide, featuring an arched gateway adorned with a plaque inscribed with “Great Rivers and Mountains,” exuding grandeur and majesty. The wall stretches about 4 kilometers, winding along the hillsides in a serpentine pattern, combining defensive strength with transportation utility. It is now designated as a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

🌟 Highlights of the Folk Museum

Located inside the Dajingmen gate, the Folk Museum occupies the site of a former Qing-era relay station. Today, it serves as a specialized exhibition space showcasing the folk culture of the region where Shanxi, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia converge. With over a thousand artifacts in its collection, including:

• 🪘 A reconstructed model of a Mongolian yurt
• 🛍️ Account books from Zhangjiakou trading houses and camel caravan equipment
• 🎭 Puppetry props and traditional opera costumes
• 🥣 Tools used in preparing Hebei-style millet noodles and Mongolian milk tea

These exhibits vividly recreate the historical scenes of the “Going West through the Pass” migration wave, Jin merchant trade networks, and multi-ethnic coexistence.

🌍 Cultural Significance

Dajingmen is the only Great Wall passageway officially named “Gate,” symbolizing the convergence point between Central Plain and steppe civilizations. Its folk museum fills a critical gap in the systematic display of northern frontier folk culture, serving as a vital physical testament for research into Great Wall heritage, commercial history, and ethnic integration.

🚶 Travel Tips

• Recommended visit duration: 1.5 hours
• Ideal for: History enthusiasts, family outings, photography lovers
• Transportation: Take bus lines 1 or 2 to the “Dajingmen Stop,” then walk to the site
• Helpful Reminder: We recommend booking your visit in advance via the official “Zhangjiakou Culture & Tourism” WeChat account

✨ Fun Fact: Dajingmen was one of China’s first inland ports opened to foreign trade in the late 19th century, and it still preserves the enduring legacy of “a single city linking two capitals.”