Tàihángshān

The Taihang Mountains run along the eastern edge of the Loess Plateau through parts of Shanxi, Hebei and Henan. This northern mountain area lies near Datong and Yingzhou, where ridges and broken ground concentrate travel in valleys and passes. Forests, pasture and scattered cultivation offer different resources; snow and cold add seasonal difficulties to the roads.

For the Ming state, the broader Datong region formed part of a northern defensive frontier. Garrisons required grain, fodder, animals and transport, linking agricultural districts with military supply. Relations with Mongol peoples involved trade and negotiation as well as war. Under the Qing, the frontier's political meaning changed, although mountains and valleys continued to influence communication and production.