Battle of Shanhai Pass
1644 CE · Shanhai Pass, China
The Battle of Shanhai Pass was fought in 1644 CE in Shanhai Pass, China between Qing dynasty and Wu Sangui's Ming troops vs Li Zicheng's Shun dynasty; decisive Qing victory; the Manchus entered Beijing and founded China's last dynasty.
Battle of Shanhai Pass: quick facts
- Date
- 1644 CE
- Location
- Shanhai Pass, China
- Belligerents
- Qing dynasty and Wu Sangui's Ming troops vs Li Zicheng's Shun dynasty
- Commanders
- Dorgon and Wu Sangui vs Li Zicheng
- Result
- decisive Qing victory; the Manchus entered Beijing and founded China's last dynasty.
- Era
- ⛩️ East Asia
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Shanhai Pass?
The Battle of Shanhai Pass was the pivotal moment that allowed the Manchu Qing Dynasty to enter China proper. Ming general Wu Sangui, trapped between the rebel army of Li Zicheng that had captured Beijing and the Manchu forces outside the Great Wall, chose to open the gates to the Manchus. The combined Manchu and Ming forces routed Li Zicheng's rebel army, but the Manchus never left, establishing the Qing Dynasty that would rule China for nearly three centuries.
Did you know?
Wu Sangui's decision to open the gates of the Great Wall at Shanhai Pass to the Manchus was partly motivated by rage after the rebel Li Zicheng seized his favorite concubine, Chen Yuanyuan.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Shanhai Pass on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.