Overview:

Jiayuguan City Wall is an ancient defensive wall located in Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province, northwestern China. Built during the Ming Dynasty, it served as a defensive barrier against invasions from the Mongolian and Turkish forces of the north. It is one of the best-preserved ancient fortifications in China. The wall measures 5, 860 meters (19, 200 feet) in length and has 13 guard towers. Adjacent to the city wall is the ancient “Pass of Jiayuguan,” which also served as a fortress to protect the strategic gateway between the northern frontier of the Great Wall and the rest of China. The structure has been declared a national cultural heritage site and is currently visited by tourists from all over the world. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in China
Prominent Features:

1. Located on the west end of the Ming Great Wall, the Jiayuguan City Wall was built in 1372 and marks the end of the Great Wall of China. 2. Equipped with seven heavy city gates, the wall encompasses more than 20 ancient watchtowers that are adorned with stucco statues of gods and generals. 3. Inside the walls lies over 33,000 sq metres (355,216 sq ft) of houses, shops, and government buildings. 4. A much-visited site, the City Wall is a highly preserved structure with its original architecture in almost immaculate condition, including its ancient flagpole and beacon tower, as well as three layers of defensive walls. 5. Declared a national cultural relic in 1961, the city wall is a visual representation of an ancient era that can be seen from the highway leading to the Hexi Corridor. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in China.

History:

Jiayuguan City Wall is a fortified fortress and wall located in the city of Jiayuguan in Gansu Province, China. It is situated at the end of the Hexi Corridor, the last stop of the ancient Silk Road before one enters the vast deserts of northwest China. Originally built in 1372, Jiayuguan City Wall served as the first defensive line of a Chinese garrison whose primary objective was to protect the Ming Dynasty’s western flank from man-stealing Mongolian tribes who frequently raided the area. During the Yuan Dynasty, the city wall was refortified with a three meter wide wall and a thick base course of large stones for further protection. Jiayuguan City Wall is composed of three sections: the outer wall, the inner wall and the innermost wall. The outer walls are 2711 meters long and 8 to 10 meters high. The inner walls are 1814 meters long and 16.7 meters high. The innermost walls are 890 meters long and 12.7 meters high. The walls have a total of 72 watchtowers, 5 gates, and 3 beacon towers. Jiayuguan City Wall is considered one of the best preserved ancient walls in China. The walls remained as one of the main defences of the great Ming and Qing dynasties for centuries, and is an important part of China’s cultural heritage. The fortress is now part of the Jiayuguan Pass Scenic Area, and is open for tours from April to October each year. Visit one of the famous monuments of China with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. The Jiayuguan City Wall is the largest and best-preserved fort city in China. The whole building is 2.5 kilometers long and 12 meters high. 2. The Jiayuguan City Wall was kept in its original shape until Operation Barbarossa when the Japanese forces done the wall in 1942. It was then reconstructed in 1983. 3. The wall has 4 total gates: Zhenguan Gate in the south, Qianmen in the west, Gan'west Gate in the east and Jia'north Gate in the north. Each gate is equipped with various defence systems and guard towers. 4. At the Zhenguan Gate, at the center of the wall, there is an arrow tower which serves as a warning. The Arrow Tower was designed to fire arrows, cannonballs and other projectiles at approaching enemies. 5. A steel bridge connects the two sides of the moat which stretches around the fort. The Iron Gate doesn't actually have a moat on the inner side, allowing easy access from the inner side. 6. In the middle of the wall, there is a museum which contains various artifacts of the city’s defensive features and ancient artifacts from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 7. The Jiayuguan City Wall has become a symbol of national pride for the Chinese people. Every year, there is an event called the Great Wall Festival that celebrates this unique piece of Chinese history. One of the historical monuments of China, it tells the story of a bygone era