Jiayuguan Pass


Jiayuguan Pass is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China and was built
during the Ming Dynasty, near the city of Jiayuguan in Gansu province. It is the first pass at the
west end of the Great Wall of China It is the western terminal of the world famous Great Wall
as well as the third biggest gliding bade in the world.

According to legend, when Jiayuguan was being planned, the official in charge asked the
designer to estimate the exact number of bricks required and the designer gave him a
number. The official questioned his judgment, asking him if that would be enough, so the
designer added one brick. When Jiayuguan was finished, there was one brick left over, which
was placed loose on one of the gates where it remains today.

The pass is located at the narrowest point of the western section of the Hexi Corridor, 6
kilometers southwest of the city of Jiayuguan. The construction of these walls began in 1372.
It was not until 1539 that the they became a complete defense system, which had three
defense lines, the entrenchment, the outer wall, and the inner wall. The inner wall is 10.7 meters high and encloses a city section of about 25,000
square meters.

The central area is made up of an inner city, containing the largest of the pass buildings.; an outer city section, surrounded by a large wall dotted
with watchtowers, turrets, and high-terrace pavilions; and finally, for purposes of defense, a moat. All of these features combined to make it a
daunting prospect for any would-be attackers.

There are two gates: one on the east side of the pass, and the other on the west side. On each gate there is a building. There is a turret on each
corner of the pass. On the north side, inside the two gates, there are wide roads leading to the top of the pass.

The Jiayuguan Pass was a key waypoint of the ancient Silk Road, it has a somewhat fearsome
reputation because Chinese people who were banished were ordered to leave through Jiayuguan
for the west, never to return.

Around Jiayuguan there are many historic sites such as the Mogao Grottoes. The Mogao Grottoes is
3 hours drive from Jiayuguan Pass. Many frescos were found in the areas around Jiayuguan.