The pass at the eastern end of the Ming Wall called the “First Pass Under Heaven” is Shanhai Pass.
Shanhai Pass, also written Shanhaiguan, stands in present-day Hebei between the Yan Mountains and the Bohai Sea. Its position controlled the narrow land corridor linking the North China Plain with northeastern China, making it one of the most strategically important gateways in the Great Wall system. The name means “mountain-sea pass,” describing its location.
The present fortified pass was constructed during the Ming dynasty and strengthened substantially after the imperial capital moved to Beijing. Its defenses included walls, gates, moats, towers, and nearby forts. The nickname “First Pass Under Heaven” reflects its military importance rather than its position as the literal first point on the entire Great Wall.
A common mix-up is Jiayuguan, the famous western terminus of the Ming Wall in Gansu. Juyongguan is another major pass near Beijing, while Niangziguan lies farther west in Shanxi. Shanhai Pass is also associated with the Old Dragon’s Head, where the wall reaches the Bohai Sea.