▲ The Guan City of Jiayuguan is located about 5-6 km southwest of Jiayuguan City in Gansu Province. It serves as the western starting point of the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall and was a crucial transportation stronghold along the ancient Silk Road. Below is a comprehensive introduction:
▲ Construction began in the 5th year of the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty (1372 AD), supervised by Duke Song Feng Sheng. After intermittent construction spanning 168 years, it developed into a complete military defense system by the 18th year of the Jiajing era (1539 AD). It stands as one of the most magnificent passes along the existing Great Wall, renowned alongside Shanhai Pass and Zhenbeitai as the "Three Great Wonders of the Great Wall."
▲ As the strategic gateway of the Hexi Corridor, Jiayuguan once served as the vital passage for trade and tributary missions between the Central Plains and the Western Regions/Central Asia. During the Ming Dynasty, it replaced the Yumen Pass as the designated legal route for envoys from the Western Regions to enter the Central Plains, earning the titles "Great Frontier Defense Between China and Foreign Lands" and "Guan City of Jiayuguan".
▲ The Great Wall Pier, also known as Taolai River Pier, is the southernmost pier platform of the western Great Wall in Jiayuguan and the westernmost pier platform of the Ming Dynasty's Great Wall. Built in 1539 AD during the Ming Jiajing era under the supervision of Li Han, the military defense official of Suzhou, it stands 7.5 km north of Jiayuguan City on a 56-meter-high cliff by the Taolai River.
▲ The Overhanging Great Wall Scenic Spot is located on the northern slope of Heishan Mountain, north of Shiguan Gorge, 8 km away from the Guan City of Jiayuguan. In the 18th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1539), to strengthen the defense of Jiayuguan, Li Han, the military defense official of Suzhou, supervised the construction of a 15 km-long wall made of stone slabs and compacted earth, starting from the mountain ridge south of the gorge beyond the hidden wall.
▲ The Overhanging Great Wall Scenic Spot is located on the northern slope of Heishan Mountain, north of Shiguan Gorge, 8 km away from the Guan City of Jiayuguan. In the 18th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1539), to strengthen the defense of Jiayuguan, Li Han, the military defense official of Suzhou, supervised the construction of a 15 km-long wall made of stone slabs and compacted earth, starting from the mountain ridge south of the gorge beyond the hidden wall.
▲ The Overhanging Great Wall Scenic Spot is located on the northern slope of Heishan Mountain, north of Shiguan Gorge, 8 km away from the Guan City of Jiayuguan. In the 18th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1539), to strengthen the defense of Jiayuguan, Li Han, the military defense official of Suzhou, supervised the construction of a 15 km-long wall made of stone slabs and compacted earth, starting from the mountain ridge south of the gorge beyond the hidden wall.
