Why
Jiayuguan Fort
is special

The remote Ming Dynasty Jaiyuguan fort was the last and farthest west of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall outposts. It successfully guarded the strategic Jaiyuguan Pass for centuries.

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Jiayuguan Fort
tips & insigjts

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Strategic location

It commands a narrow critical mountain pass which was a tempting route for an ancient invading army. And, because the Silk Road went through the pass, Jiayuguan was a logical place to collect duties from the caravans.

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Great Wall of China

It stretched out from both sides of the fortress. If you wanted to enter China's heartland, you had to travel through the fort, in one guarded gate and out the other.

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Architectural design

The Jiayuguan bastion has a formidable (yet elegant) design. Its walls are 10 meters (33 feet) high and exceptionally thick. The bastion's solid construction and intelligent military layout inspired ancients to proudly call Jiayuguan "The strongest pass under heaven".

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Construction history

The Ming Dynasty Jiayuguan fort was built in 1372. It was enlarged in 1539 and restored a couple of decades ago.

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Measurements

Jiayuguan's outer wall is 733 meters (nearly a half mile) in circumference. Its two gate watchtowers are 20 meters (63 feet) tall.

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View

For an awesome view, climb the nearby section of the Great Wall called the Overhanging Great Wall. Be forewarned, though, one part has a 45 degree incline.

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Nearest major cities

Jiayaguan is about 380 kilometers (230 miles) from Dinhuang city and 750 kilometers (450 miles) northwest of Lanzhou city, the capital of Gansu province.

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Pronunciation guide

Jiayuguan:   zhee'ah-yoo-zhew'ahn

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