Jiayuguan Fort

嘉峪关关城

The 'Greatest Pass under Heaven' at the western end of the Ming Great Wall, the most completely preserved ancient military fortress of its kind. Set against the Qilian Mountains, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Jiayuguan Fort is located about 6 km west of Jiayuguan city. It was first built in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming dynasty (1372) and is the westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall, as well as the best-preserved fortress along the Great Wall. In 1987, it was inscribed as part of the Great Wall on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The fort consists of an inner city, an outer city, a barbican and a moat. From the top of the walls, you can see the Qilian Mountains to the south and the Black Mountains to the north, and the majestic pass stands dramatically against the Gobi. Highlights include the two three-story towers, Guanghua Tower and Rouyuan Tower; the legend of 'Stone-Striking Swallow Chirp' (Jishi Yanming); the plaque reading 'Greatest Pass under Heaven' outside the west gate; and the 'city-fixing bricks' in the walls. Admission costs about 110 yuan and includes the Great Wall Museum. Nearby, the Overhanging Great Wall (about 20 km away) and the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall (the westernmost beacon tower on the Great Wall, on the bank of the Taolai River) can be visited on a combined ticket or separately. A visit inside the fort takes about 2 hours.

Getting there: high-speed trains from Dunhuang to Jiayuguan take about 1.5 to 2 hours and arrive at Jiayuguan South Station. A taxi from the city to the fort costs about 20 yuan, and Jiayuguan has an airport. Many travelers stop for a night in Jiayuguan between Dunhuang and Zhangye, and in the evening head to Datang Food Street for grilled meat.

Visitor notes: there is no shade inside the fort, so expect strong sun and wind. In peak season, afternoons are crowded, so it is best to enter as soon as the gates open in the morning.

Jiayuguan Fort

Opening hours

Nearby sights

Places to eat nearby