Shimen Pass (石门关), also known as Stone Gate Pass, is a significant part of the Cangshan National Geological Park in Dali. Historically, it served as a crucial passage for the Ancient Tea-Horse Road, the Bona Ancient Road, the Salt and Rice Ancient Road, and the Burma Road. Situated amidst two steep peaks, with towering cliffs facing each other, it resembles a massive gate pushed open, hence the name “Stone Gate Pass.” During the periods of Nanzhao and Dali Kingdoms, Shimen Pass held strategic importance, and it was from here that the Yuan army, led by Kublai Khan, crossed Cangshan Mountain to conquer the Dali Kingdom.
Within the Shimen Pass scenic area, visitors can marvel at numerous renowned attractions, such as Mist-Locked Stone Gate, Lingyun Plank Road, Yuhuang Flowing Green, and Sunset Glow over Cangshan Mountain. The Shimen Pass gorge is over 300 meters high, about a hundred meters wide, and stretches over a kilometer long. With cliffs towering on both sides and towering boulders, clear streams flowing through the gorge, cascading waterfalls, vines climbing the rocks, and exotic flowers and plants, the scenery is enchanting and captivating.
In October 1994, a large-scale cliff painting covering an area of approximately 16 square meters was discovered in Songlin Village near Shimen Pass. It depicts animals, figures, fruit trees, handprints, houses, hunting scenes, and circle dances, totaling more than 200 images. The largest painting measures about 1 square meter, while the smallest is approximately 5 square centimeters. Experts have identified it as artwork from the Bronze Age, naming it the “Yangbi Cangshan Cliff Paintings.” It provides valuable insights into the society, ethnicity, religion, art, and daily life of two to three thousand years ago, becoming a major attraction for sightseeing and exploration.
Additionally, the scenic area features a high-altitude glass plank road winding along the cliffs of Mount Qingliang, north of the Shimen Pass, with the highest point being an 80-meter-long glass plank road section. Walking on it feels like “walking in the air,” offering thrilling excitement. Furthermore, there’s a colorful glass viewing platform perched on the cliff precipice at a height of 176 meters, allowing visitors to enjoy panoramic views and experience the joy of walking in the sky and observing the clouds from the cliff’s edge.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | Half a day |
| Ticket Price | 140 RMB |
| Opening Hours | 8.30 – 17.30 |
| Telephone Number | 0086-400-810-8831 |
Location and Transportation
Located within Yangbi County, Dali Prefecture, Yunnan Province, Shimen Pass is situated on the western slope of Cangshan Mountain. It is approximately 24 kilometers from Dali City and 8 kilometers from Yangbi County Town. To reach Shimen Pass, travelers can take a bus from Xiaguan Fengche Square Passenger Transport South Station (下关风车广场客运南站), also known as Xingsheng Passenger Transport Station (兴盛客运站), to Yangbi. Buses operate from 7:00 to 19:00, departing approximately every 15 minutes. Simply inform the bus driver to stop at Shimen Pass Station.