Jiayuguan Fortress, Gansu, China
4.0 (168 reviews) Wednesday: 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM Spent Ranking #2 in Jiayuguan Ancient Ruins
Beautiful Fortress at Jiayuguan Pass
This is a beautifully maintained fortress that is located at a strategic location - Jiayuguan Pass which is an important passage for the ancient Silk Road and it is also the location for the western end of the Great Wall.. This fortress is a very photogenic structure in this remote area of China - large and imposing. We walked around grounds of the fortress and on the fortress walls that overlook the Pass area. A must see place while in Jiayuguan because it served as an important location along the Silk Road.
Address
Within Yuquan Town, Yuquan Town, Jiayuguan 735100 China
Working hours
Monday : 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday : 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday : 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday : 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday : 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday : 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday : 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM
Current local date and time now
Wednesday, May 15, 2024, 23:21
User Ratings
4.0 based on (168 reviews)
Reviews
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4Stephen C 5:00 PM Oct 10, 2020
Not entirely but still worth a visit
Even though this place is predominantly reconstructed, I enjoyed the visit because it gave me a perspective of what the ancient city and the fortified walls look like. In fact, if I were to draw a parallel, the place is like a combination of the ancient city wall in Xi’an and a small section of the Great Wall of China located in Beijing. We enjoyed walking on top of the fortified walls. The views are nice, if not for the industrial towers that spoil the otherwise picturesque background. And if you missed the chance to ride on a camel at Mingsha Mountain, you will find then at the entrance of this attraction.
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5Kevin T 5:00 PM Apr 19, 2016
The Beginning of the Great Wall
A must see for anyone travelling the Silk Road as this was a strategic military post along the ancient route. Mid-April was a fantastic time to visit Jiayuguan Pass as the weather was mild (cool) and there were very few foreign tourists. Apparently during the high season the site is crammed full of tourists and the weather is 'boiling' hot. The wall here looks very different to the Great Wall that you see north of Beijing. Here the wall is constructed of compressed mud rather than the bricks and mortar used in other parts of the wall. Have someone explain the 'traps' that were built into the fort's construction as well as the 'single' brick (you'll know it when you see it). From the fortress walls you can see snow capped mountains to the south and dark coloured desert hills to the north. The 15km wide gap (pass) between the two is the reason the wall and the fortress are here. Located next to the wall is the Great Wall Museum which is full of historical artefacts and information related to the construction and maintenance of entire Great Wall. Once again, well worth a visit. Some Tips: -Wear comfortable shoes as there is quite a bit of walking involved (although you can hire a bicycle) - Unless you are a fluent Chinese speaker / reader..get a good local guide otherwise much will be missed due to a lack of understanding. - it can be very windy on top of the fortress so it's worthwhile getting a face mask to protect your mouth and nose from blowing sand. - If you intend travelling further along the Silk Road to Dunhuang, skip the camel rides here at Jiayuguan. The camel rides offered at Dunhuang are much better.
