Jiayuguan Fortress: A long history, ancient charm, and traces of time.

Jiayuguan Fortress Full Guide | Exploring the "First Impregnable Pass Under Heaven" and Unlocking the Passion of the Desert Frontier I. Basic Information • Location: 5 km west of Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province • History: Built in the fifth year of the Ming Dynasty Hongwu period (1372), it is the western starting point of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall and is known as one of the "Three Great Wonders of the Great Wall" along with Shanhaiguan and Zhenbeitai. • Tickets: Peak season (May to October): CNY 110/person (including a joint ticket for the Fortress, the Overhanging Great Wall, and the First Pier of the Great Wall); Off-season (November to April): CNY 90/person. • Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00 (peak season extended to 20:00, with night light show). • Recommended Length of Visit: 3-4 hours (Fortress core area); 1 day if including all attractions on the joint ticket. II. Transportation Guide • By Plane: Jiayuguan Airport → Taxi to the city center (approx. CNY 30), then take bus No. 4 directly to the Fortress. • By High-Speed Train: Jiayuguan South Station → Taxi to the Fortress (approx. CNY 20), or take bus No. 12 to "Guancheng" Station. • By Car: Lianhuo Expressway "Jiayuguan" Exit → Drive along G312 for 10 minutes to reach the scenic area. • City Transportation: Bus Nos. 4 and 6 directly reach the South Gate of the scenic area; scenic area battery car: CNY 10/person (optional). III. Must-Visit Attractions 1. Fortress Core Area • Guanghua Tower & Rouyuan Tower: Symmetrical east and west towers, climb the towers to overlook the Qilian Mountains and the Gobi Desert. • Horse Path: Ancient military passage for riding horses, perfect for taking photos with a sense of history. • Guerrilla General's Mansion: The office of the Ming Dynasty garrison general, restoring the ancient frontier military camp life. • Barbican: A classic example of the "Please enter the urn" tactic, feel the ancient defensive wisdom. • Great Wall Museum (Free): A comprehensive interpretation of the Great Wall culture, suitable for family study tours. 2. Joint Ticket Attractions • Overhanging Great Wall (8 km north of the Fortress): A 45° steep slope "hanging" on the Black Mountain, climb to the top to overlook the picturesque Gobi Desert. • First Pier of the Great Wall (7 km south of the Fortress): The westernmost pier of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, check out the Tolai River Grand Canyon glass viewing platform. 3. Hidden Gems • Ancient Outbound Ceremony: Experience the "Customs Clearance Document" with a stamp in Hanfu (CNY 50/person). • Night Tour of the Fortress: Summer light show + immersive performance "The World's Great Pass" (separate ticket purchase required). IV. Classic Route Recommendations • Half-Day Tour: South Gate of the Scenic Area → Wenchang Pavilion → Guandi Temple → Guanghua Tower → Barbican → Rouyuan Tower → Great Wall Museum. • One-Day Deep Tour: Fortress in the morning → Mutton Noodles in the city center for lunch → Overhanging Great Wall in the afternoon → Watch the sunset at the First Pier of the Great Wall in the evening. V. Surrounding Activities • Dunhuang (2.5 hours by bullet train): Mogao Grottoes + Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, experience the Silk Road twin cities. • Zhangye (1 hour by bullet train): Colorful Danxia + Mati Temple, a combination of geological wonders and grotto culture. • Qilian Mountain Grassland (3 hours by car): Horse riding on the snow-capped mountains and grasslands in summer, glacier hiking in winter. VI. Food Recommendations • Must-Eat Specialties: ◦ 🍜 Mutton Noodles: Mutton stewed noodles, a hearty dish in Northwest China. ◦ 🥘 Jiayuguan Barbecue: Red willow branch grilled mutton skewers + grilled sheep tripe, served with apricot juice to relieve greasiness. ◦ 🫓 Hú Guō: Chicken soup with hot and spicy soup + fried dough twists, the local's first choice for breakfast. • Recommended Restaurants: ◦ Damo Naan Pit Meat: Naan pit roasted lamb chops are crispy, fragrant, and juicy, with an average cost of CNY 80 per person. ◦ Dongjun Barbecue City: A 30-year-old shop with a lively atmosphere for late-night snacks. ◦ Xiaodang Jiayuguan Barbecue: A popular chain store with a clean environment and a wide variety of dishes. VII. Accommodation Guide • Around the Scenic Area: ◦ Guanchengli Homestay: Ancient style inn with a view of the city wall from the window (CNY 300-500/night). ◦ Jiayuguan Hotel: Four-star hotel, 10-minute walk to the Fortress (from CNY 200 in the off-season). • City Center First Choice: Fuqiang West Road/Xinhua Middle Road, convenient for eating, drinking, and transportation (chain hotels from CNY 150). VIII. Useful Tips 1. Best Season: May to October (avoid sandstorms), the golden poplar forest in September and October is super beautiful. 2. Sun and Wind Protection: Sunglasses + face mask + high SPF sunscreen, the Gobi Desert has extremely strong ultraviolet rays! 3. Photography Tips: • Take a panoramic view of the city tower with the Qilian Mountains in the background on the second floor of Rouyuan Tower. • Use a wide-angle lens at the top of the Overhanging Great Wall to capture the "Great Wall into the Clouds". 4. Avoid the Pitfalls: • "Horse riding tour of the Great Wall" outside the scenic area is mostly privately charged, choose carefully. • Joint tickets are valid on the same day, it is recommended to enter the park before 9 am. 5. Cultural Surprise: Postcards can be sent from the scenic post office (with the postmark of "The First Impregnable Pass Under Heaven"). "The Great Wall on the Silk Road, the most beautiful Jiayuguan with beacon towers." This majestic pass that has stood in the Gobi Desert for six hundred years is waiting for you to touch the temperature of history! 🏜️🗡️