Tongguan County

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Tongguan

Tongguan (潼关), also called Tong Pass, is located in the east of the Central Plain, north of the Qinling Mountains, south of Wei and Luo River, east of the Mount Hua and in between the three provinces of Shanxi, Shaanxi and Henan. Throughout Chinese history, Tongguan remains to be a strategic point due to its geographical significance.

The present day Tongguan is part of Weinan City, Shaanxi.

[edit] History

Located between the Qinling Mountains and the Yellow River, the path to Tongguan is very narrow and its terrain was difficult to pass. After the Eastern Han Dynasty, Tongguan gradually replaced Hangu Pass in significance, and became the eastern portal of Guanzhong. Beginning from the Battle of Tongguan until the Sui and Tang Dynasty, Tongguan was always a important strategic base. It was especially apparent during the Tang Dynasty, as the safety of the national capital Chang'an was directly connected with the defense of Tongguan. The loss of Tongguan usually leads directly to the fall of Chang'an as it happened during the An Shi Rebellion.^[1]