Shanhai Pass is a major fortified gateway located at the eastern terminus of the Great Wall of China. Situated in present-day Shanhaiguan District within Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, it serves as one of the country's most critical historical fortifications. The site occupies a strategic position commanding the narrowest choke point in the Liaoxi Corridor, an elongated coastal plain situated between the foothills of the Yan Mountains and the Bohai Sea.
The pass functions as the primary landway connecting North and Northeast China. Its defensive infrastructure is notable for its scale, featuring walls that extend from the Yan Mountains to the shores of Liaodong Bay. The fortification sits on the east bank of the Shi River, providing a natural barrier at this significant geographic bottleneck.