The Jiayuguan Cultural Relics Scenic Area is located in Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province, and is a National 5A-level tourist attraction. As the western end of the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty, the scenic area was first built in the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372). Due to its strategic location and magnificent architecture, it has long been known as the "Most Majestic Pass Under Heaven" and the "First Pass in the Hexi Corridor". The scenic area consists of the Pass City, the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall, the Hanging Wall Great Wall, and the Wei-Jin Tomb Group, forming an ancient military defense system known as "a city within a city, a wall outside the city, and a moat beyond the wall". Among them, the Pass City has a perimeter of approximately 733 meters, the Great Wall stretches for about 60 kilometers, and the total area of the scenic area is not yet publicly available.
Historical Culture
The history of Jiayuguan can be traced back to the Qin and Han dynasties, successively serving as the activity area for the Xirong, Wusun, Xiongnu, and other tribes. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, it was incorporated into the Central Plains and became part of the territory, with the establishment of the Four Garrisons in the Hexi Corridor and the construction of the Great Wall. In the fifth year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1372), General Feng Sheng, leading the army to conquer the west, began to build an earthen city. Later, it was expanded multiple times: in the eighth year of Hongzhi (1495), the Pass Tower was added; in the first year of Zhengde (1506), the auxiliary buildings were improved; in the eighteenth year of Jiajing (1539), the Great Wall on both wings was built, forming a complete defense system after 168 years. In the Qing Dynasty, Jiayuguan gradually lost its military function and turned into a tax station, with multiple repairs during this period. During the Republic of China, it still had official offices, and the existing layout of the Pass City basically retains the style of the Ming Dynasty.
Main Attractions
Jiayuguan Pass City
Located 6 kilometers southwest of the urban area, it is the westernmost pass of the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty and also a key point on the Silk Road. The Pass City is composed of the outer city, inner city, barbican, Luo City, and moat, covering a total area of approximately 33,500 square meters. The inner city has buildings such as the Colonel's Mansion, Guandi Temple, and Rouyuan Tower. The Guanghua Tower, Rouyuan Tower, and Jiayuguan Tower all have a double-eaved Xieshan roof structures. The Great Wall on both wings of the pass stretches across the Gobi, connecting the Hanging Wall Great Wall in the north and the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall in the south.
Hanging Wall Great Wall
Located on the east slope of Black Mountain, 8 kilometers north of the Pass City, it was built in the nineteenth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1540). It is named after being built on a 45-degree ridge and looking like it is hanging. The original Great Wall was 4 meters wide at the bottom and 2 meters wide at the top. The existing 750 meters were rebuilt in 1987, and together with the western "Dark Wall Great Wall", it seals the Shiguanxia Pass, forming a complete defense system.
First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall
Built in the eighteenth year of Jiajing in the Ming Dynasty (1539), it is located on a 56-meter-high cliff above the Tao River and is the westernmost beacon tower of the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty. The scenic area includes underground valleys, sky bridges, and ancient barracks. In 2013, a Historical and Cultural Experience Hall was added, with a total area of approximately 32,000 square meters.
Wei-Jin Tomb Group
Located in the desert 20 kilometers northeast of the urban area, there are more than 1,400 brick mural tombs from the Wei-Jin period (220-419 AD), known as the "World's Largest Underground Gallery". The tomb group is distributed between Guoyuan Township and Xincheng Township, and the mural content covers social life scenes such as agriculture, animal husbandry, and banquets.
Jiuyan Spring Lake
It is an important part of the historical and natural landscape of Jiayuguan. It was not only a water source guarantee for building the pass in ancient times but also the core carrier of local intangible cultural heritage legends. Today, due to the decline of the underground water level, the spring has evolved into an artificial lake.
Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum
It is China's first special museum with the theme of Great Wall history and culture. On May 1, 2003, the new museum was officially completed. The new museum covers an area of 4,523 square meters, with a building area of 3,499 square meters and an exhibition area of 2,700 square meters. The main building has a beacon tower-like appearance, which is simple and heavy, and echoes the ancient pass, jointly constructing the unique landscape of the Jiayuguan Cultural Relics Scenic Area.
Rouyuan Tower
It has a three-story, three-eaved Xieshan roof structures with a height of 17 meters. Its style is completely consistent with the Guanghua Tower above the east gate of the inner city. Below the tower is the west gate of the inner city, with the door plaque inscribed with the characters "Rouyuan", which means that the Ming Dynasty implemented a "reconciliation" policy towards various nomadic ethnic groups on the border (outside the pass), appeasing remote areas to achieve a long-term stable governance strategy.
Tour Route
Classic one-day tour route:
Morning: Pass City Scenic Area (Inner City → Rouyuan Tower → Great Wall Museum, about 2 hours) → Take photos at Jiuyan Spring Lake;
Afternoon: Take the scenic area direct bus to Hanging Wall Great Wall (climbing experience, about 1.5 hours) → Go to the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall (cliff landscape + experience hall, about 1.5 hours);
Transportation suggestion: Purchase a 35-yuan full-day direct bus ticket, covering the three core attractions, avoiding the hassle of driving and parking.
Tour Suggestions
- Clothing: Windproof coat, comfortable sneakers (the stone slab road in the Pass City is relatively slippery), sunscreen and sunglasses for summer;
- Time: Avoid the high-temperature period at noon, it is recommended to enter the park at 8:30 to enjoy a better experience by avoiding the peak hours;
- Guide: The scenic area provides electronic audio guides (rental fee 20 yuan) or book an artificial tour guide (about 100 yuan per group);
- Dining: There are few restaurants in the scenic area, it is recommended to taste local snacks at the "Food Plaza" at the east gate of the Pass City.
Notes
- Real-name ticketing: You need to bring your ID card for face recognition comparison when entering the park;
- Cultural relic protection: Climbing the city walls and carving cultural relics are prohibited. Some sections of the Hanging Wall Great Wall are steep, so please pay attention to safety;
- Environmental hygiene: Trash cans are set up in the scenic area, please do not litter and smoking is prohibited in non-smoking areas;
- Drone-free area: Drones are prohibited in the Pass City and along the Great Wall. If you need to take photos, please apply in advance;
- Child supervision: Minors need adult supervision, and special attention should be paid to safety in the cliff area of the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall.
Transportation
- Bus: Take Bus No. 4 or 6 from the urban area to the "Pass City Scenic Area" stop, with a fare of 1-2 yuan;
- Self-driving: Navigate to "Jiayuguan Pass City", the journey from the urban area to the scenic area is about 15 minutes, and the parking lot charges 5-10 yuan per day;
- Scenic area direct bus:
- Route 1: Pass City West Gate → Hanging Wall Great Wall → Pass City East Gate, round-trip 20 yuan, 16 kilometers in total;
- Route 2: Pass City West Gate → First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall → Pass City East Gate, round-trip 20 yuan, 16 kilometers in total;
- Full-day joint ticket 35 yuan, covering the three major attractions, with round-trip departures every day from 8:30 to 17:00; - Taxi: About 15 yuan from the urban area to the Pass City, and about 30 yuan to the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall.
Opening Hours
Daytime opening: 8:30-19:30 (ticket sales stop at 18:00);
Nighttime opening: 19:30-23:00 (ticket sales stop at 22:00);
Large groups need to book in advance, and the time for special holidays shall be subject to the scenic area announcement.
Tickets
Ticket price is 105 yuan per person.
You can search for the official WeChat public account "嘉峪关关城景区" to get the latest information or purchase tickets online.
Online Booking
Click here to jump to the Trip.com ticketing platform for ticket purchase.