Qingshan Pass Tourist Area is situated in Shangying Township, Qianxi County. It is a National AAAA-level scenic spot and a Hebei Provincial Rural Tourism Demonstration Site.
Among the 115 kilometers of ancient Great Wall stretching across Qianxi County, the section at Qingshan Pass is the best-preserved, embodying the quintessence of Great Wall culture. Its highlights include distinctive watchtowers such as the 72-arch tower, Moon City and Prison Tower, the best-preserved hoist-style water gate along the entire Ten-Thousand-Li Great Wall, and a 400-year-old ancient castle built to guard Qingshan Pass.
The ancient castle forms the core attraction of the scenic zone, constructed during the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty. Two gateways pierce the castle wall, with the southern gate as the main entrance. Viewed from the Great Wall above, the castle appears flattened north-to-south and raised east-to-west, shaped like a gold ingot, hence its folk name "Gold Ingot City".
Steeped in ancient charm, the castle preserves rich frontier garrison culture and folk customs. Intact surviving architecture includes government offices, barracks, temples, teahouses, taverns and civilian residences, leading scholars to call it "the most exquisite castle along the entire Great Wall".
Built in October of the 12th year of the Wanli reign, Qingshan Pass Water Gate stands on the eastern side of the castle. Anchored into a cliff base, it is constructed from five layers of cut stone topped with fifty-five courses of square bricks, forming a complete arched water passage.