The Juyongguan Pass is located in “Guangou”, a 20 kilometer-long valley at the north side of Nankou Township in Changping District, Beijing. It is one of the three greatest passes of the Great Wall in China, the other two being the Jiayuguan Pass and Shanhaiguan Pass. In ancient times the Juyongguan Pass included the whole Guangou valley. It is very important strategic place because of its location to connect the inner land and the area near the northern border of China. It was also a defence of the ancient Beijing City, hence of great military values. Today the Pass is a wonderful spot of rolling mountains and lush green. The stele with the inscription “Lush Greenery at Juyongguan Pass”, one of the Eight Great views of Yanjing, still lies in the Diecui Mountain.

In the middle of the Pass, there is a white marble platform which was originally built in 1345 and commonly called “Cloud Platform”. On the platform three Buddhist towers were once built, while beneath is an arched door where men, horses and carriages could pass through, hence it was originally called “Crossing Street Tower”. At the beginning of the Ming Dynasty the Buddhist towers were destroyed and later a Tai’an Temple was built, but it was also destroyed at the early Qing Dynasty. Today only some pillar supports and balustrade columns are left.

The platform occupies a space of 310 square meters, 2,215 Buddhist status and many divine animals were carve both on the arched door and in the arched hole, They are all art treasures from the Yuan Dynasty. On the wall of the arched hole, there is also a Dharani Mantra and Account of Tower-Building Dedication Tangut and Uygur, which is important material object for the study of ancient Chinese languages as well as of great value for the study of history, literature, epigraphy and cultural relics.

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