With a long history of over 1000 years, Yangguan Pass was first built in the 3rd year of Yuanding, during the reign of Emperor Wu in Han Dynasty (114 BC). During the period of Western Han (from 206 BC to 220 AD), it was the site of Yangguan county town, where the Yangguan governor once lived. It is a military stronghold of great importance, and the only passage to the southern part of "Silk Road". Today, each time when the wind blow through the old site of Yangguan, people can find the remains of weapons, earthenware, household utensils and coins washed out. So it was also named by the locals" Gudongtan Sands (Antiquities Sands). A Tang Poem Yangguan San Die depicts Yangguan, "Please have one more drink, my friend; Out of Yangguan Pass, you would have any intimate not." These beautiful lines add more charm to the Pass. On the passage to Yanguan, visitors can also see the miraculous "Stealth Sleeping-Buddha".
