Jiayuguan

The western starting point of the Ming Great Wall and the "Greatest Pass Under Heaven," with the fortress, the Overhanging Great Wall, the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall and Wei-Jin dynasty painted tombs, and views south to the Qilian Mountains and No. 1 Glacier.

Jiayuguan lies in the western section of the Hexi Corridor in Gansu Province, with the Qilian Mountains to the south and the Black Mountains to the north. Jiayuguan Fort, set between the two ranges, is the western starting point of the Ming Great Wall and is known as the "Greatest Pass Under Heaven." Together with Jiuquan (Suzhou) city, about 20 km to the east, it forms the twin cities known as "Jiu-Jia." This was a key point on the Silk Road, and the sights revolve around the Great Wall's defensive system: the fort's inner and outer walls, barbican and gate towers are the core; 8 km to the north is the Overhanging Great Wall, built along a mountain ridge, and 7 km to the south is the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall, at the edge of the Taolai River Gorge. The Xincheng Wei-Jin Tombs in the Gobi to the northeast are famous for their painted brick murals, the Black Mountains north of the city have ancient rock carvings, and the Great Wall Museum of China stands right next to the fort. About 1.5 hours' drive south, you can climb to the Qilian Mountains' No. 1 Glacier; to the east, Jiuquan has a Ming-dynasty Drum Tower and the "Western Han Jiuquan Relics," and the Wenshu Mountain Grottoes on the southern outskirts are early Buddhist remains of the Hexi region; if you are traveling with children, there is Fantawild Adventure. The climate is arid, with hot days and cool mornings and evenings in summer. May–October is the best time to visit, and the glacier can only be climbed in June–September; winter is bitterly cold but has few visitors, and the Great Wall looks beautiful after snowfall. Getting there: the Lanzhou–Xinjiang High-Speed Railway has a Jiayuguan South Station, about 4 hours from Lanzhou and about 1.5–2 hours from Dunhuang; Jiayuguan Airport has direct flights to Beijing, Shanghai and other cities; taxis in town are cheap, and the Great Wall sites are not far apart, so you can hire a car and see them all in one day. We recommend staying 1–2 days; it is often a stop in the middle of the Hexi Corridor (Zhangye–Jiayuguan–Dunhuang). Bring sun protection and plenty of water, as the Gobi sites have little shade; the glacier is above 4,300 m, so be prepared for altitude sickness.

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