Ebao Ancient Town
峨堡
The earthen ruins of an ancient Silk Road post station at the crossroads of the Qilian grasslands, and a transit town for self-drivers heading to Qilian, Menyuan or Zhangye.
Ebao Town lies in eastern Qilian County, where Provincial Highway S204 (toward the Qilian county seat) and G227 (toward Menyuan and Zhangye via Biandukou Pass) meet. At an altitude of about 3,300 m, it is the central market town of the Qilian grasslands. Beside the town stands Ebao Ancient Town, the rammed-earth ruins of a post-station fortress built in the Yuan dynasty. It was an important stop on the Qinghai branch of the Silk Road, just before crossing the Qilian Mountains. Its earthen walls and gate remains survive, and from the walls you can see the surrounding grasslands and snowy peaks. Admission is free, and a visit takes about 30 minutes. The town has petrol stations, several Muslim and Tibetan restaurants, and signature dishes such as hand-grabbed mutton and yak-meat noodles. Simple guesthouses are also available, and self-drivers often refuel and eat here. The core of the Qilian grassland begins right around the town, where herders offer horse rides and Tibetan costumes for photographs in summer. Routes: from Menyuan via Jingyang Pass to Ebao is about 90 km; from Zhangye via Biandukou Pass to Ebao is about 130 km; and from Ebao to the Qilian county seat is about 70 km. The three routes converge here, and the old town and grassland viewing platforms are standard stops. In July the grassland also hosts wildflowers and horse races. Notes: the altitude is high and the wind strong, so do not linger too long; accommodation in town is basic, so consider staying in the Qilian county seat instead; the old walls are rammed earth, so do not climb or damage them.
Opening hours
All day