Jiayugan, or Jiayu Pass, is bordered by the Qilian mountains in the south and Gobi Desert in the north. It represents the western starting point of a section of the Great Wall constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The pass covers an area of 33,500 square meters (eight acres) and lies at the base of a narrow valley, and takes its name from one of the surrounding hills, the Jiayu. Commonly referred to as the finest example of its kind on earth, the pass is the best preserved of the Great Wall’s ancient military fortresses.
Jiayu Pass served as a caravan stop along the Silk Road and transit pool for wool, silk and tea linking Mongolia, Sichuan and Tibet. Today, visitors can soak in scenic views of the snow capped Qilian mountains and get a feeel of an ancient and remote China. Locals march around in armor and spar to renact ancient military scenes.
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