Jiayuguan Fortress

Introducing Jiayuguan Fortress (from Chinaculture.org & Wikipedia)
The Jiayuguan Fortress is not only the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), but also a key waypoint of the ancient Silk Road., which was first built in the 5thyear (1372) of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty. It is so called because is built at the foot of Jiayu Mountain. Along with Juyong Pass and Shanhaiguan, it is one of the main passes of the Great Wall. Among the passes on the Great Wall, Jiayuguan is the most intact surviving ancient military building. The pass is also known by the name the “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven”. Jiayuguan has a somewhat fearsome reputation because Chinese people who were banished were ordered to leave through Jiayuguan for the west, the vast majority never to return. Amongst those once banished in disgrace was the famous Chinese Opium War Viceroy of Liangguang, Commissioner Lin Zexu, who died in Urumqi where a statue in his honor can today be found in a local park. After three large-scale repairs and decorations in 1950, 1957 و 1973, the Jiayu Pass took on a new look as an impregnable pass. Many visitors come to the Jiayu Pass to cherish the memory of the past.

Jiayuguan Fortress Fast Facts
• الاسم الصيني: Jia Yu Guan 嘉峪关
• أفضل وقت للزيارة: من أبريل إلى أكتوبر
• ساعات الزيارة الموصى بها: 1-2 ساعات
• الأنشطة التي يمكن ممارستها: التصوير, المشي لمسافات طويلة, الهندسة المعمارية, التاريخ
• ساعات العمل: 08:30-20:00 من مايو إلى أكتوبر; 08:30-18:00 from Nov to Apr
• رسوم الدخول: يوان صيني 110 من مايو إلى أكتوبر; يوان صيني 90 from Nov to Apr. The entrance ticket includes the First Strategic Post and Overhanging Great Wall.
• العنوان: 6km Southwest of the Jiayuguan City, مقاطعة غansu

What to expect at Jiayuguan Fortress

The circumvallation of the Jiayu Pass looks trapeziform and there is a thick wall built outside the western circumvallation, which makes the defense of the circumvallation stronger. The circumvallation is 11.7 meters high and 733.3 meters long in total. There is an area of more than 33,500 square meters of the circumvallation. Outside the northern and southern circumvallation are parallel low cob walls, which are called the additional wall built for defense.

The city walls have two gates: the eastern one named Guanghua Gate and the western one named Rouyuan Gate, both of which have gate towers, 17 أمتار عالية, three-bay wide, with three-tiered gable and hip roof and surrounded by enclosing porches, looking grand and majestic. In the northern side inside the city walls is a wide slope horse way, directly leading to the top of the city wall.

Outside the eastern and western gate, are built small enceintes of the gates. The gates of small enceintes open southwards, لكنها ليست متصلة بالبوابات الرئيسية لجدران المدينة. البوابة الشرقية للسور تُسمى تشاوزونغ, بينما تُسمى الغربية هويجي. أكثر من 10 أمتار خارج البوابة الغربية توجد حواجز مزدوجة مربعة الشكل, بجانب جدران المدينة, والبوابة الخاصة بها تفتح نحو الغرب. يوجد اسم ممر جياغيو منحوت بقوة وحيوية على الجزء العلوي من الغطاء العلوي للبوابة.

عند المشي غربًا خارج بوابة المدينة, حوالي أكثر من 100 خطوة, سيشاهد المرء لوحًا حجريًا كبيرًا منقوش عليه أربعة أحرف كبيرة تعني الممر الذي لا يُقهر في العالم, والذي أُقيم في عهد أسرة تشينغ (1644-1911). في الزوايا الأربع لجدران المدينة, يوجد برج مراقبة مكون من طابقين في كل زاوية, يشبه الحصن الصغير. في الوسط الأيمن من الجدران الشمالية والجنوبية للمدينة يُبنى برج مراقبة لكل منهما, which is two-bay wide with front porches. On the west, the south and the north sides of the additional walls also stands a watchtower each. It is said that when building the pass, workmen made a most precise estimation of materials and as a result only one brick was left. This brick is still kept on the eaves of the gate tower of the western enceinte. Outside the eastern enceinte there are some buildings such as the Wenchang Pavilion, the Guandi Temple and the Theatre Building, and inside it there is an Office of Guerrilla Warfare, which were all built in the Qing Dynasty.

How to get to Jiayuguan Fortress
• Jiayuguan Fortress is approximately 6 km away from Jiayuguan City.
• خذ الحافلة 4 أو 6 to the Guancheng Scenic Area.
• There is no shuttle bus among Jiayuguan Fortress, the First Strategic Post and the Overhanging Great Wall. It is suggested to charter a minibus to travel between them.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Jiayuguan to Jiayuguan Fortress.

Additional travel advice on Jiayuguan Fortress
• Please wear sunscreen, hat and sunglasses to prevent strong sunlight.
• Please wear body lotion, lip balm and hand cream as it is always dry in Jiayuguan.
• Please prepare a scarf to cover your face in case there are sandstorms. It is better to check the weather forecast in advance when taking outdoor activities.
• The best time for photographing is during the sunset.