Jaiyuguan Travel Guide

Jiayuguan City is located in the Gobi Desert of Gansu Province, nestled between the Qilian Mountains’ Wenshu Mountain and the Heishan Range’s Black Mountain. Positioned on the Jiayu Plateau, it marks the western end of the Great Wall and serves as a vital gateway along the ancient Silk Road. Built in 1372 during the Ming Dynasty (Hongwu reign), the city’s strategic importance dates back even further, with watchtowers constructed as early as the Han and Sui dynasties. Known as the “Most Majestic Pass Under Heaven,” Jiayuguan is the first stronghold guarding the Hexi Corridor and a key passage of the ancient Silk Road.

Visitors can marvel at the imposing Jiayuguan Pass, the “First and Most Majestic Pass Under Heaven,” explore the breathtaking Overhanging Great Wall, often referred to as the “Badaling of the West,” and visit the First Pier of the Great Wall. The awe-inspiring glaciers and vast desert landscapes evoke a sense of solitude and timeless grandeur, while the mighty walls of Jiayuguan embody the strength and historical significance of this ancient defense system.