Battle of Hulao Pass
621 CE · Hulao Pass, Henan, China
The Battle of Hulao Pass was fought in 621 CE in Hulao Pass, Henan, China between Tang dynasty vs the Xia and Zheng states; decisive Tang victory; Dou Jiande was captured and Wang Shichong surrendered Luoyang.
Battle of Hulao Pass: quick facts
- Date
- 621 CE
- Location
- Hulao Pass, Henan, China
- Belligerents
- Tang dynasty vs the Xia and Zheng states
- Commanders
- Li Shimin vs Dou Jiande
- Result
- decisive Tang victory; Dou Jiande was captured and Wang Shichong surrendered Luoyang.
- Era
- ⛩️ East Asia
- Quiz difficulty
- hard
What happened at the Battle of Hulao Pass?
The Battle of Hulao Pass was a decisive engagement during the wars of Tang Dynasty unification. Prince Li Shimin, the future Emperor Taizong, lured Dou Jiande's massive army into attacking a fortified position at the narrow Hulao Pass, then personally led a devastating cavalry charge that routed the enemy and captured Dou Jiande. The victory simultaneously eliminated two rival powers and effectively secured the Tang Dynasty's control over China, establishing what would become one of the greatest dynasties in Chinese history.
Did you know?
Li Shimin, who won at Hulao Pass, later forced his own father to abdicate and became Emperor Taizong of Tang, widely regarded as one of the greatest emperors in all of Chinese history.
Sources and further reading
- Battle of Hulao 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.