Iron Gate Pass
铁门关
A strategic pass on the middle Silk Road where the Peacock River cuts through a canyon, with a watchtower, ancient plank road, and a Tang poem stele carved into the cliffs.
Iron Gate Pass lies in a canyon between the Hora Mountains and the Kuruk Tagh about 8 km north of Korla. The Peacock River flows through the gorge. This strategic pass on the middle route of the ancient Silk Road is known as the 'Last Gate Under Heaven,' and it has served as a military stronghold since the Jin dynasty. The site includes a watchtower, an ancient plank road, a stele inscribed with Cen Shen's poem 'Inscribed on the Iron Gate Tower,' the Princess's Tomb, and canyon trails. Climbing the watchtower gives you views down into the gorge. Admission is about 30 yuan, and a visit takes about 1.5 hours. A taxi from downtown takes about 20 minutes. It can also be combined with the scenery of the upper Peacock River.
Opening hours
About 10:00–19:30 (Beijing time)
Nearby sights
- Peacock River Scenic Belt
- Bayingolin Museum
- Swan River
- Shikchin (Qigexing) Buddhist Temple Ruins
- Lotus Lake & Ahongkou (Bosten Lake)
- Bosten Lake Dahekou (Xihai Fishing Village)
- Lopnur People's Village
- Bailuzhou (Bosten Lake South Shore)