Cloud Platform (Yuntai)

In the very center of the Juyongguan Fortress, located in the Changping District near Beijing, stands a white marble structure that many tourists often unjustly overlook. This is the Cloud Platform (Yuntai) — a true masterpiece of Yuan-era stone carving and one of the most remarkable structures along the entire Great Wall.

The Origin of Yuntai: A Dream of an Emperor

There is a widespread legend about the construction of Yuntai. According to records, the last emperor of the Yuan dynasty had a dream while returning from Dadu (modern-day Beijing) to the Mongolian steppes for a summer rest. Passing through the Juyongguan Pass, he dreamed that he found himself in a Buddhist sanctuary and saw the Buddha preaching sutras from an altar. Upon waking, the emperor decided to turn this dream into reality and ordered the construction of a gateway pagoda at the pass.

Construction began in 1342 and lasted four years — until 1345. The base of the pagoda is what is now Yuntai. On top originally stood three white Tibetan pagodas: the middle one larger, the side ones slightly smaller. From a distance it seemed that the pagodas floated in the clouds — hence the name "Yuntai" (Cloud Platform).

From Pagoda to "Pavilion on Stone"

The three pagodas on Yuntai did not stand for long. At the end of the Yuan and the beginning of the Ming, they gradually fell into disrepair, and by the Ming era they had already collapsed. During the Zhengtong reign of the Ming dynasty, a temple called "Tai`ansi" was built on top of Yuntai — meaning "peace and tranquility in the country." Since the temple stood on a white stone platform, people nicknamed it the "pavilion on stone," and the platform itself — the "platform of white clouds."

However, in 1702 the Tai`ansi temple burned down in a fire, and the "pavilion on stone" disappeared forever. Only the stone platform below remained. Its height reaches 9.5 meters. Since then, the name "Yuntai" has been firmly established.

An Empire Carved in Stone 

The main value of Yuntai is its carving. On the inner and outer walls of the arched passage, Buddhist sutras and records of merits for the construction of the pagoda are carved in six languages: Lantsha (Siddham), Tibetan, Phags-pa script, Uyghur, Tangut, and Chinese. The use of six scripts on a single structure had never occurred before the Yuan era. This is direct evidence of the cultural synthesis of the multi-ethnic Yuan empire and a most important material monument for linguists studying ancient scripts.

The reliefs of the Four Heavenly Kings on the sides of the arch are an example of Yuan Buddhist sculpture. The folds of clothing and facial expressions are worked out with thoroughness. On the vault of the arch are carved the Buddhas of the ten directions and more than a thousand small images of Buddha, added during the Ming era.

Wheel Ruts under the Arch

The passage of Yuntai was once an obligatory route for carts, horses, and travelers on the ancient road through Juyongguan. Imperial processions heading from Dadu to Shangdu, as well as merchants traveling from north to south and back, passed through here. Year after year, the stone slabs of the floor in the passage were worn by wheels into deep ruts. These ruts are visible to this day.

In 1987, the Cloud Platform, together with the entire Great Wall, was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The Juyongguan Pass is located approximately 60 kilometers from the center of Beijing and is considered one of the most important passes of the Ming Wall. Together with the Zijingguan and Daomaguan passes, it is counted among the "inner three passes."