Níngshǎn

Ningshan lies among the forests and narrow valleys of the Qinling, on the Ziwu road between the Wei plain and southern Shaanxi. Wulang Pass was one of the guarded crossings on this difficult route; a Ming inspection post was established there in 1521. During the White Lotus uprising, Qing authorities fortified the pass in 1800 and named the new garrison Ningshan, meaning the defence and tranquillity of Shaanxi. A wall was built under the local official Zhang Yue in 1802.