Jiayuguan Pass

🌟 Explore the majestic pass that stands alone in the world, Jiayuguan is not just a point on the map, it is a dream stage where history and nature intertwine, a feast through time awaits your unveiling! 🌌 🔍 Jiayuguan, the brightest pearl of the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall in the west, flanked by mountains to the north and south, the Heishan arm-like Great Wall and the First Pier echo each other from afar, creating an immortal frontier landscape. 🏰 📜【Historical Enigma, Unveiling the Miracle】 🤔 The legend of the fixed city bricks, the wisdom of a single brick, witnesses the magical calculations of the craftsmen, as if it's a miracle where time stands still! 🧱 🧊 Ice paths for transporting stones, ice paving the way, the ingenious collaboration between nature and human effort, achieving the legendary chapters of an immortal project! 🧊 🐐 Goats carrying bricks, intelligent creatures, adding a touch of warmth and wisdom to the ancient walls! 🐐 🐦 The stone-tapping swallows' song of love and loyalty, a poignant legend that transcends time, making every brick and tile remember the affection. 🐦 🏛️【Strolling through the Ancient City of Wisdom】 📜 Inner city, outer city, pot city, each step is a footnote of the ancients' wisdom. 🏰 🌄 Geography class begins, from the majestic Qilian Mountains to the vast Gobi, Jiayuguan, the throat lock, the watcher of history. 🏜️ 🎭 The Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea on the stage, the frontier wisdom of Rouyuan Gate, the morning light of hope at Guanghua Gate, each scene is a symphony of culture and art. 🎭 👣【A Journey Through a Thousand Years】 🚪 Starting from the East Gate, shuttle through the time tunnel of the stele corridor, pick up the fragrance of books at Wenchang Pavilion, pay tribute to loyalty and bravery in front of the Guandi Temple, and finally listen to the echoes of history under the stage. 🚶‍♂️ 🏞️ Leaving the pass, why not gaze at the distant snow-capped mountains, capture the sound of camel bells under the sunset, and freeze that moment of eternity. 🌄 📷【Time Imprints Under the Lens】 🚪 Inside the Chaozong Gate, Rouyuan Gate, one frame one world, a perfect interpretation of classical aesthetics. 🖼️ 🏹 The watch of the arrow tower, the fortitude of the enemy tower, the solitude of the corner tower, each frame is a whisper of history. 🏰 🌅 Sunset at the West Gate, golden radiance spills over the ancient road, the sound of camel bells, a gentle dialogue between the present and the past. 🌄 ✨ As the journey in Jiayuguan's afterglow slowly comes to an end, it is not only a geographical leap, but also a purification of the soul. Here, every brick tells a story, every shutter click is a tribute to the past. 🌟

👍Most recommended: Gansu is a province in the northwest region of China, boasting a wealth of historical and cultural heritage as well as natural landscapes. ❤Reasons for recommendation: There are 7 5A scenic spots, which are: Jiayuguan Cultural Relics Scenic Area: The starting point of the Great Wall from the Ming Dynasty, representing ancient Chinese military defensive works. Dunhuang Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring Scenic Area: Located in Dunhuang City, it is a naturally formed crescent-shaped lake, known as the 'Pearl of the Desert'. Zhangye Danxia Landform Scenic Area: A landscape of red sandstone, with unique shapes and colorful patterns. Kongtong Mountain Scenic Area: A famous Taoist mountain and a renowned tourist destination in the northwest region of China. Maijishan Scenic Area: A representative of Buddhist grotto art, hailed as the 'Oriental Sculpture Gallery'. Bingling Temple World Cultural Heritage Tourist Area: The Bingling Temple Grottoes are an important heritage of Chinese Buddhist art, with high historical and artistic value. Longnan Guan'e Valley Scenic Area: A national forest park, integrating forest landscapes, grassland landscapes, geomorphic landscapes, water landscapes, celestial phenomena, and other natural and cultural landscapes. These scenic spots each have their own characteristics, with unique natural scenery, cultural landscapes, and historical and cultural connotations, attracting a large number of tourists for sightseeing and travel.

To the north, it connects to the Heishan Overhanging Great Wall, and to the south, it connects to the 'First Pier under Heaven', known as the 'First and Greatest Pass under Heaven'. It is the starting point of the western end of the Ming Great Wall — Jiayuguan It is also the shining pearl on the Northwest Grand Loop. When you come to Jiayuguan, whether it's for taking photos and checking in, or for a history lesson, The most correct way to open it, you must know! 🌟 Must-know historical anecdotes: 🔹Dingcheng Brick: A brick on the eaves platform behind the gate tower of the West Weng City. It is said to be the extra brick left over by the craftsmen who built the pass through calculation, claimed to be placed by immortals, and has existed since the Ming Dynasty! 🔹Ice Path for Transporting Stones: The stones used for building the pass tower were from Heishan and were too heavy to carry. The phrase 'Ice Path for Transporting Stones' fell from the sky, so the craftsmen poured water on the road in winter to make ice, which allowed them to transport the stones successfully! 🔹Goats Carrying Bricks: The construction of the higher city tower was difficult for human and horse power, so a shepherd boy hung the bricks on the goats' backs, lightly patted the goats, and they easily carried the bricks up the tower, which the craftsmen then imitated! 🔹Striking Stone and the Swallows' Cry: A pair of swallows built a nest at Rouyuan Gate. One day, the gate closed early, the female swallow returned, but the male swallow died hitting the wall as it could not enter. The female swallow died of grief, and the 'jiu jiu' cry of the swallows is said to be heard to this day! 🌟 Must-know knowledge points for visiting Jiayuguan: 📑 Architectural Overview: Jiayuguan city tower is composed of the inner city, outer city, and Weng city. The inner city tower is symmetrical, with a special horse path for easy access of warhorses to the city wall; the Weng city is convenient for soldiers to live; the outer city is mainly for defense and war preparation! 📑 Geographic Knowledge: Jiayuguan is the westernmost pass of the Hexi Corridor, with the majestic Qilian Mountains to the west, the desert area to the west, and Jiuquan to the east, an ancient military stronghold! 📑 Scenic Spot Knowledge: 1⃣ Stage: The Jiayuguan stage was built during the Qianlong period, depicting the stories of the Chinese 'Eight Immortals', with the Eight Trigrams on top; 2⃣ Rouyuan Gate: It implies that the Ming Dynasty implemented a conciliatory policy towards the ethnic groups outside the pass, achieving long-term peace and stability at the border; 3⃣ Guanghua Gate: Facing east, where the sun rises, symbolizing the auspicious energy shining over the land; 4⃣ Wenchang Pavilion: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, a place for literati to recite poetry, compose essays, and read books, and in the later Qing period, it became an office for officials; 5⃣ Guandi Temple: Built by the soldiers guarding the pass, symbolizing loyalty and bravery; 6⃣ Arrow Tower: An ancient lookout post, which allows easy observation of beacon fires in the south, west, and north directions of the city pass; 7⃣ Pass Permit: Imitating the ancient ceremony of passing through the gate, there is now a special person issuing pass documents, currently charging a toll of 30 yuan for passing through; 🧗‍♂️ Recommended Tour Route: Enter from the East Gate — Stele Corridor — Wenchang Pavilion — Guandi Temple — Stage — Chaozong Gate — Guerrilla General's Mansion — Striking Stone and the Swallows' Cry — Horse Path — Climb the City Wall — Guanghua Tower — South Enemy Tower — Corner Tower — City Wall — Guanzhao — Huiji Gate — Jiayuguan Gate — 'First and Greatest Pass under Heaven' Stele; 📸 Photo Check-in Points: 🍂 Chaozong Gate: Take photos of Rouyuan Gate from inside the gate tunnel, using a frame composition 🍂 Various angles to check in at the corner tower, arrow tower, and enemy tower 🍂 After exiting the west gate of Jiayuguan, walk two hundred meters to the right (towards the north gate), and use a telephoto lens to capture Jiayuguan with the snow-capped mountains in the background 🍂 Jiayuguan Sunset: At the west gate, you can photograph the sunset, and occasionally you will encounter a camel team passing by

I am Guanhai Tingtao tour+ a global traveler, please follow me! (Published the 1508th travel photography article in 844 locations across 51 countries on 5 continents) Jiayuguan is the westernmost pass of the Ming Great Wall. Upon first entering Jiayuguan, one is greeted by a vista of loess yellow, and the entire fortress seems to be piled up with loess, yet it is the most well-preserved among the many fortresses of the Great Wall. Approaching Jiayuguan, the stone-built gate tower is topped with a wooden three-story, three-eaved watchtower. Under the eaves, there is a horizontal plaque inscribed by Zuo Zongtang with the words "the First and Greatest Pass under Heaven", exuding a majestic aura. It echoes the "First Pass under Heaven" of Shanhaiguan, thousands of miles away. Climbing the ancient walls, one can gaze into the vast Gobi desert and the continuous mountains, feeling the historical vicissitudes of "the First and Greatest Pass under Heaven". The ancients, taking advantage of the natural terrain, built such a magnificent and spectacular military defense project, and one can't help but admire the wisdom and extraordinary abilities of the ancestors. It's truly great! Visiting the Jiayuguan fortress, the ticket includes a bundle of three attractions. In addition to touring the Jiayuguan fortress, one can also visit the Overhanging Great Wall and the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall.

Jiayuguan, acclaimed as the "First and Greatest Pass under Heaven", is situated at the crucial passageway between the east and the west, with Shanhaiguan to the east and Zhenbeitai to the west, while Jiayuguan itself is located right here. Historically, this place was the strategic throat of the Hexi Corridor. Due to its unique geographical position, it was praised as the key to the border areas, guarding the important passage of the Silk Road. The construction of Jiayuguan Fort began in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty. After 168 years of meticulous construction, from its initial establishment to completion, this majestic pass was finally able to present its complete appearance. As an important pass among the nine towns along the Great Wall during the Ming Dynasty, Jiayuguan is one of the three great wonders of the Great Wall of China. Its grand architecture and strategic terrain are truly deserving of the title of the world's first. Today, the Jiayuguan Fort is well-preserved. Its solid stone walls and towering watchtowers still allow people to feel the wisdom and courage of the ancients. This place is not only an important transportation fortress of the ancient Silk Road but also a symbol of the unyielding and united spirit of the Chinese nation. Stepping onto the ancient pass of Jiayuguan, one seems to hear the echoes of history and feel the grandeur of those tumultuous historical periods. This place has witnessed the glory and honor of countless heroes and the splendid history of the Chinese nation.

| The First and Greatest Pass under Heaven is captured on film. Jiayuguan truly deserves its reputation as the most formidable pass under heaven, with its loess walls standing tall there—majestic and solemn. In an instant, it's as if one can see the vast hordes of the Xiongnu wrapped in billowing sandstorms, bearing down on the city, and the tension of guarding the frontier instantly arises. Outside the city, it's utterly barren, not a blade of grass in sight, only the relentless winds whipping up the sand, comparable to the sandstorms in Beijing, only more common here. The saying 'As long as the dragon city's swift general is there, he will not let the nomadic horses cross the Yinshan Mountains' is not at all mistaken; the ancients were truly poets. ⏱ Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00 (Ticket sales stop at 17:30) 🎫 Ticket Price: Peak season 110, off-season 55 (includes Jiayuguan Fort + Overhanging Great Wall + First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall) 📣 Tickets are valid for 3 days from the date of visit and can be accessed with an ID card or QR code 🚌 Public Transport: Scenic area shuttle bus (tickets purchased on the bus at the parking lot, free during off-season) 🕰️ Recommended Duration of Visit: 2-3 hours 🏠 Overview of Jiayuguan Fort: Jiayuguan's city tower is divided into the inner city, outer city, and barbican. The outer city is where you can capture the three characters of 'Jiayuguan City Tower' (Picture 1). 🚶🏻 Tour Route: The First and Greatest Pass → Wenchang Pavilion → Guandi Temple → Chaozong Gate Guerrilla General's Mansion → Climb the City Wall → Guanghua Tower → South Enemy Tower → Corner Tower → City Wall → Guanzhao → Huiji Gate → Jiayuguan Gate → The First and Greatest Pass Stele

To the north, it connects to the Black Mountain cantilevered Great Wall, and to the south, it joins the 'Number One Pier under Heaven', known as the 'First and Greatest Pass under Heaven'. It is the starting point of the western end of the Ming Great Wall - Jiayuguan. It is also the shining pearl on the Northwest Grand Loop. When you come to Jiayuguan, whether you're taking photos and checking in, or catching up on historical knowledge, The most correct way to open it, you must know! 🌟 Must-know historical anecdotes: 🔹 Fixed City Brick: A brick on the eaves platform behind the gate tower of the Western Pot City. It is said to be an extra brick left over by the craftsmen who built the pass through calculation, claimed to be placed by immortals, and has existed since the Ming Dynasty! 🔹 Ice Path for Transporting Stones: The stones used to build the pass tower were from Black Mountain and were too heavy to carry. The phrase 'Ice Path for Transporting Stones' fell from the sky, so the craftsmen poured water on the road in winter to make ice, which allowed them to transport the stones smoothly! 🔹 Goats Carrying Bricks: The construction of the higher city tower was difficult for human and horse power, so a shepherd boy hung bricks on the backs of goats, lightly patted the goats, and they easily carried the bricks up the tower, which the craftsmen then imitated! 🔹 Clapping Stones and the Swallow's Cry: A pair of swallows built a nest at the Rouyuan Gate. One day, the gate closed early, the female swallow had returned, but the male swallow could not enter and died upon hitting the wall. The female swallow died of grief, and the 'jiu jiu' sound of the swallow's cry is said to be heard to this day! 🌟 Must-know knowledge points for visiting Jiayuguan: 📑 Architectural Overview: Jiayuguan City Tower is composed of the inner city, outer city, and pot city. The inner city tower is symmetrical, with a special horse path for easy access of warhorses to the city wall; the pot city facilitates soldiers' living; the outer city is mainly for defense and war preparation! 📑 Geographic Knowledge: Jiayuguan is the westernmost pass of the Hexi Corridor, with the majestic Qilian Mountains to the west, a desert area to the west, and Jiuquan to the east, an ancient military stronghold! 📑 Scenic Spot Knowledge: 1⃣ Stage: The Jiayuguan stage was built during the Qianlong period, depicting the stories of the Chinese 'Eight Immortals', with the Eight Trigrams on top; 2⃣ Rouyuan Gate: It implies that the Ming Dynasty implemented a conciliatory policy towards the ethnic groups outside the pass, achieving long-term peace and stability at the border; 3⃣ Guanghua Gate: Facing east, where the sun rises, symbolizing the auspicious qi shining over the land; 4⃣ Wenchang Pavilion: During the Ming and Qing dynasties, a place for literati to compose poetry and read books, and in the later Qing period, it became an office for officials; 5⃣ Guandi Temple: Built by the soldiers guarding the pass, symbolizing loyalty and bravery; 6⃣ Arrow Tower: An ancient lookout post, which allows for convenient observation of beacon fires in the south, west, and north directions of the city pass; 7⃣ Pass Permit: Imitating the ancient ceremony of passing through the gate, there are now special personnel issuing pass documents, currently charging a toll of 30 yuan; 🧗‍♂️ Recommended Tour Route: Enter from the East Gate - Stele Corridor - Wenchang Pavilion - Guandi Temple - Stage - Chaozong Gate - Guerrilla General's Mansion - Clapping Stones and the Swallow's Cry - Horse Path - Climb the City Wall - Guanghua Tower - South Enemy Tower - Corner Tower - City Wall - Guanzhao - Huiji Gate - Jiayuguan Gate - 'First and Greatest Pass under Heaven' Stele;

1️⃣ Mogao Caves - A Buddhist Art Sanctuary 🔸Located in - Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City The fame of the Mogao Caves needs no introduction, as many have heard of it. Construction began during the Former Qin period and continued until the Yuan dynasty, spanning over a dozen dynasties. It is the largest and richest Buddhist art sanctuary in the world. 2️⃣ Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring - One of the Eight Scenic Spots of Dunhuang 🔸Located in - Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring is a national 5A tourist attraction, named for its crescent-like shape. Along with the unique desert landscape around, it has been considered one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Dunhuang since ancient times. 3️⃣ Jiayuguan Pass - The First and Greatest Pass under Heaven 🔸Located in - Jiayuguan City Jiayuguan Pass covers an area of 33,500 square meters and is known as the 'First and Greatest Pass under Heaven,' a national 5A tourist attraction. It was also a strategic pass on the ancient Silk Road, with significant defensive importance. The Great Wall walls connecting north and south form a strict defense system. 4️⃣ Maijishan - Known as the 'Jiangnan of the Northwest' 🔸Located in - Tianshui City Maijishan consists of grottoes, Xianren Cliff, Shimen, and Jieting Hot Springs, making up a national 5A tourist area of 215 square kilometers. Located at the watershed of the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, it has a suitable climate, not too hot in summer nor too cold in winter, and is also known as the 'Jiangnan of the Northwest.' 5️⃣ Kongtong Mountain - The Premier Mountain of Taoism in China 🔸Located in - Pingliang City Kongtong Mountain covers an area of 83.6 square kilometers and was a fortress on the Silk Road west of Guanzhong. Emperors like Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, and Emperor Xuanyuan, as well as many famous scholars and poets, have visited and left behind numerous historical works. The martial arts school born here became one of the five major martial arts schools in China. 6️⃣ Zhangye Danxia - A Danxia Landform with Strong Visual Appeal 🔸Located in - Zhangye City The Zhangye Danxia scenic area covers an area of 50 square kilometers, comprising the Rainbow Mountains, Wuhu Gorge, and Rainbow Clouds Platform, among others. It is not only of aesthetic value but also of scientific research importance. 7️⃣ Labrang Monastery - One of the Six Great Monasteries of the Gelug School of Tibetan Buddhism 🔸Located in - Xiahe County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture Labrang Monastery was built in 1709 and is designated as a national 4A scenic area. Here, one can experience the rich Tibetan culture and the complete Tibetan Buddhist teaching system. Its murals are acclaimed as a 'World Tibetan Academy,' and it has also been listed in the 'Magical Northwest Top 100 Scenery' list. 8️⃣ Yardang National Geopark - A Desert Landscape with Diverse Forms 🔸Located in - Dunhuang City This is a geological park known for its yardang landform, covering an area of 346.34 square kilometers. Due to its unique wind-erosion landforms and diverse desert landscapes, it has become a national 4A tourist attraction. Many films and commercials have been shot here, such as the well-known 'Hero' and 'Legend of the Heavenly Pulse,' among others.

To the unforgettable 2019 After taking the Lanxin High-Speed Train to Urumqi in July 2019, my yearning for the beautiful landscapes of my motherland was completely unleashed. Over the course of more than three months, I visited Ulanqab in Inner Mongolia; drove the Duku Highway alone, covering a total of 1500 kilometers; set out on the first day of the 317 highway opening to complete the Sichuan West Great Loop self-driving tour. I traveled from Highway 318 to 217 to Daocheng, and then from Seda back to Chengdu via Highway 317, covering nearly 2500 kilometers; joined a group tour around the Qinghai-Gansu Great Loop, covering nearly 3000 kilometers; and rushed to Jiuzhaigou at the beginning of November just after it reopened to witness its regal return. The journey was challenging, the scenery was stunning, and the true beauty is something that photos can hardly convey in full.

Jiayuguan. Speaking of, at the westernmost point of the Hexi Corridor, the world's first majestic pass, Jiayuguan, an ancient road runs through the Gobi and alluvial plains at the foot of the Qilian Mountains, the ancient "Silk Road" transportation fortress. You can take a bus directly from the city, and you can see the vicissitudes of the long river of history at a glance. The city walls on both sides of the city gate cross the desert and the Gobi. Golden horses and iron horses, the momentum is like a tiger swallowing thousands of miles.