Atlas of China
Jiayuguan Pass 嘉峪关Jiāyù Guān
The Great Wall's mighty western fortress, framed by the snowy Qilian Mountains
- Best time
- May–Oct
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Days to budget
- 1 day
- Stay in
- Jiayuguan
- Region
- Gansu
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area, National heritage site
Why go to Jiayuguan Pass
Built in 1372 at a narrow point of the Hexi Corridor, Jiayuguan was the westernmost major pass of the Ming Great Wall, the last gate of the empire for travellers heading out along the Silk Road. Its restored fortress of gate towers and walls within walls stands on a bare gravel plain below the snow-capped Qilian range.
The story
A favourite local legend tells of an engineer who calculated the bricks needed so exactly that only one was left over, and a single brick still sits on a ledge of one of the gate towers to prove it.
What to see at Jiayuguan Pass
- Great Wall Museum 长城博物馆: A museum devoted to the Great Wall near the pass, with background on the Ming defences.
- First Beacon Tower 长城第一墩: A beacon tower on a cliff above the Taolai River, about 7.5 km from the pass.
- Overhanging Great Wall 悬壁长城: A stretch of Ming wall climbing steeply up a ridge north of the fortress.
How to visit Jiayuguan Pass
The fortress itself takes a couple of hours; the First Beacon Tower and the Overhanging Great Wall lie several kilometres outside it and are reached by the scenic-area bus or a short taxi ride. The pass, the Great Wall Museum and the two outlying sights together need three to five hours, so a half-day covers the fortress and one of them. Most visitors find that the sights are easier to understand with a guide.
How to get to Jiayuguan Pass
The fortress is about 15 minutes by taxi from central Jiayuguan, a city on the high-speed line between Lanzhou and Ürümqi.
Where to stay
Stay in Jiayuguan city, a short ride from the fortress and on the high-speed line.
What to eat
- Red-willow lamb skewers 红柳烤肉: Lamb grilled on branches of red willow, a local speciality.
- Desert onion 沙葱: A local desert plant eaten cold in a dressing or stir-fried.
Tips for visiting Jiayuguan Pass
- Add the Overhanging Great Wall and the First Beacon Tower on its cliff above the Taolai River.
- Bring sun protection and a windproof layer; the plain is very exposed.
- Come early or late in the day for softer light on the earthen walls.
Nearby
Also within 30 km: East Lake Ecological Park, Jiayuguan 东湖 (under 10 km), Zixuan Winery Estate 紫轩葡萄酒庄园 (10 km), Fantawild Adventure Jiayuguan 嘉峪关方特欢乐世界 (10 km), Wei–Jin Tombs, Jiayuguan 嘉峪关魏晋墓 (20 km), Wenshushan Grottoes 文殊山石窟 (20 km), Jiuquan Tianbao Ornamental Stone Exhibition 酒泉天宝 (30 km).
Trips with Jiayuguan Pass
- The Silk Road by train: Xi’an to Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi 11 days · Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi
On the map
Open Jiayuguan Pass on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Jiayuguan Pass on the map