Langmu Monastery

In Langmu, in the south of Gansu, there is a monastery which is divided into two parts by the Bailongjiang River, one half belonging to Sichuan and the other to Gansu. It has two Tibetan monasteries and two schools. The Tibetans who live in Langmu Monastery share the living habits in daily life and often also the religious activities. Langmusi is an ideal destination for the backpackers, quiet and picturesque.

It is not only a name for a monastery, but also a name for a township where Buddhist and Islamic believers live a leisurely life style. Langmu monastery is a place where you can experience both Tibetan Buddhism and Islamic culture. Historically Langmu monastery was the center of local religion, culture, economy and politics. Langmu Monastery’s whole name is “Dacang Lamu Gerdeng Monastery”. In the Tibetan language, Dacang means Tigers’ den. According to legend it got this name because there is a big hole which was called the “tiger’s den” where many tigers lived.   Langmu means fairy maiden because many stones in the cave look like pretty girls. So the name “Dacang Langmu” can be translated as "a fairy maiden in the tiger's den".

The two Tibetan monasteries are very famous Gelu monasteries named Kerti Gompa and Serti Gompa. Kerti Gompa is the biggest and most impressive Gelu Monastery in whole Aba area and belongs to Sichuan province since it is located on Sichuan’s side of the river. In 1413, the first Kerti incarnated lama named Kerti Jiangcan, built a small hermitage in Dacang Langmu. In 1713, the second lineage of Kerti incarnated lama named Tala built a small temple. And later the incarnated lama named Quzong established a small temple again in the same location. At present this monastery is composed of five temples, one monastic college and about 650 monks.

Behind the Kerti Monastery there is a gorgeous and sacred gorge. The source of Bailong River is in this beautiful rocky gorge. It is also the location of the famous “Tiger’s den,” as well as the caves of the fairy maidens. In one of the fairy caves there is a natural Tibetan goddess statue called Palden Lhamo. After about 20 or 30 minutes walk through the gorge, you will reach abroad and beautiful grassland.

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Confucian Temple

Located in the southeast part of Wuwei City, the Confucian Temple is actually a temple in memory of Confucius who was a famous educator in the Spring and Autumn Period. It was built in the 4th year (1,439 A.D.) during the period of Zhengtong in the Ming Dynasty (1,368- A.D.-1,644 A.D.), which is actually a magnificent architecture cluster with the title of “the Champion of the Academy in Gansu Province”. The temple has a history of more than 500 years and covers an area of a little over 1,500 square meters and is the largest and best-preserved temple dedicated to Confucius in Gansu Province.

The part on the eastern side is called the Wenchang Temple and is accessed via the Mountain Gate (Shanmen). Here you will find a stage for dramatic performances. On the left and right hand sides of the Temple are the shrines of Master Niu and Master Liu respectively while on the side opposite the entrance is the Chongsheng Shrine or Shrine of Worship. The courtyard with an array of various lush green pine trees has a collection of highly prized and famous stones steles. The most famous of these is the Western Xia (1038-1227AD) Tablet, a listed Chinese national treasure.

The Confucius Temple occupies a central position in the Confucian Temple complex and it is here that offerings are made in honor of Confucius. Other notable structures to be found here are the Dacheng Hall, Hastate Gate (Jimen), Lattice Gate(Lingxingmen), the Bridgeof the "Number One Scholar" (Zhuangyuan Bridge) and the Banchi Pool. These latter features are in the south side of the complex. To the north there is the Sutra pavilion and in the west is the Liangzhou Mansion that houses the Confucian Academy.

The well-preserved and symmetrically aligned historic buildings together with the collection of stone steles and fine collection of scriptures means that Confucian Temple occupies a very important position in the cultural heritage of the Chinese nation as a whole.

Now the temple functions as a museum- Wuwei Museum. There are more than 44,000 culture relics in the temple. There are the Bronze Flying Horse, the Medicine Bamboo slips, the Etiquette Bamboo slips, the wood carvings and the stone inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty in the museum. There are also 7 exhibit halls in the museum, which display the character descriptions and photos, reflecting the history of Wuwei City from the New Stone Age to the Qing Dynasty (1,616 A.D.-1,911 A.D.). There are more and more visitors from all over the world to come here for visiting and researching every year.

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Kongtong Mountain-----"The Holy Land of Taoism"

Kongtong Mountains is one of the sacred mountains of Taoism. It is located 7.5 miles to the west of Pingliang City in Gansu Province. It is the mythical meeting site between the Huangdi (also known as Yellow Emperor) and Guangchengzi. It is said that an immortal named Guangchengzi once lived in a stone cave in the mountain, and the Yellow Emperor once came here to hear his preaching. So it is said to be one of the birthplaces of Taoism in China. Kongtong Mountain boasts dozens of grotesque peaks. It is covered with dense forests rolling from one steep peak to the other.

Huge mountains stand one after another with vast patches of green forests as their clothes and ethereal mist as their white belt. Kongtong Mountain is abundant in stone caves and houses, many of which are located in the cliffs or dense forest where nobody sets foot. The famous ones include Guangcheng Cave, Zhaoyang Cave, Xuanhe Cave and Kongtong Cave. In addition, Kongtong Mountain is a rich water resource. The Yanzhi River flows from the north. Every spring, peach blossoms fall into the water and float on the current: a lovely sight. At the foot of the mountain, Tanzheng Lake flows calmly like a mirror, and its murmuring water sounds like a Chinese zither, giving the lake its name, Tanzheng Lake (Playing Zither Lake). 

Kongtong Mountain is the holy mountain of three religions: Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. It is said that Taoism temples were being built on the mountain as early as in the Wei (220-265) and Jin (265-420) Dynasties. In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), construction began on Taihe Palace and other attached Taoist buildings. Since then, Taoism has been handed down from one generation to another. Buddhism also flourished in Kongtong Mountain, as evidence of Buddhist rituals can be found in it from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). There are 19 Buddhist temples from the early Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). Today Buddhism and Taoism grow together in a harmonious atmosphere on the mountain, a situation which is unique to Kongtong Mountain. In addition, Kongtong Mountain has cultivated many Confucianism scholars such as Huang Fumi, the talented founder of Chinese Acupuncture. 

Kongtong Mountain is home to various species. There are over 1,000 kinds of plants, many of which are precious medicinal herbs. The famous trees include Chinese pines and cypresses. Some trees are about one thousand years old but still grow vigorously with green boughs covering the sunlight. Over 300 kinds of wild animals live protected on Kongtong Mountain. Among them, the vulture, sparrow-hawk, white crane, and leopard are listed in rosters for the national conservation of wild life. 

As one of the most famous Taoist Fairyland well known for its wonderful scenes, Kongtong has its name“Kongtong”meaning “emptiness, lustration and naturalness” in the doctrine of Taoism religion. Kongtong Mountain is also highlighted as one of important places for health maintenance. Tourists can enjoy the wonderful landscapes, the beautiful trees and flowers, the interesting caves, strange rocks and the running clouds. With precipitous scenery of natural beauty and ancient cultural leftovers in collection, this mountain is worth for both landscape appreciation and cultural relics review.

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Wine Spring (Jiuquan) of the Western Han Dynasty

Jiuquan is located in the middle section of the Gansu Corridor in northwest Gansu Province. It was an important town on the Silk Road and a strategic point in military contests of the past. Today it has become an important hub of communications in western China, linking Xinjiang to the west with other parts of the county by railways and highways. Jiuquan also has rich mineral resources. Its steel production has reached 500,000 tons per year, making it an important steel center in northwest China. 

The main scenic spots in the park are Spring Lake, the wine spring of the Western Han Dynasty, and a large ancient garden architecture complex. Among them, the wine spring of Western Han Dynasty is the highlight to see and has a beautiful story to share. In 121BC of the Western Han Dynasty, the General Huo Qubing from the Han Court won a total victory in the famous Hexi Battle against Huns. In order to celebrate the success, the Emperor Wu awarded him a pot of luscious wine. The General Huo thought the contribution should have come to the whole army. So he poured the wine into the spring and drank it with his soldiers,thus the spring got the beautiful name "Wine Spring".

The southern gate of the park is the main entrance. Its unique appearance is appealing to visitors. It is an arched gateway built by imitating Hanque, a typical monumental architecture erected in pairs outside city gates or complex of buildings to express the awe-inspiring bearing in Han Dynasty. Designed in simple and original manner, the gate shows the profound historical culture and distinctive flavor of the park.

What's more, the park well keeps many stone steles carved by celebrities in Qing Dynasty, such as the stele with four big characters "Da Di Ti Hu" (the essence of the beautiful land) on wrote by the minister Zuo Zongtang. The park has been damaged for several times in history. In 1865, it was nearly deserted during the war. In 1873 after Zuo Zongtang reoccupied the Hexi area, the park got repaired and planted with many kinds of trees. But later in the period of the Republic of China, it was severely destroyed again. In 1943, the commander Yang Deliang spent three years to renovate it after being abandoned for years.

Now the water of the springs in the park tastes sweet and cool in summer and it’s suitable for drinking. And it does not freeze in the winter. Walk around the springs, you will see a mirror-like lake surrounded by artificial hills. The lake is divided into two parts by a huge stone arch bridge. In winters, it is iced over into a nice skating rink. The zoo to the west of the park keeps a variety of animals such as birds, bears, Golden Monkeys, pandas, wild camels and yaks for visitors to see. 

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Giant Buddha Temple

The Giant Buddha Temple (Dafo Temple) in Zhangye city, about 600 kilometers west of Gansu's provincial capital Lanzhou, is named after a statue worshiped inside. The temple, also known as "Wofo Temple" (Sleeping Buddha Temple), is very famous because it contains the biggest indoor sleeping Buddha in all of China. The buddha is 34.5 meter long and its shoulder spans across a width of 7.5 meters. Up to eight people can stand on the ear of the reclining Buddha.

Established in 1098 (Western Xia Dynasty), it was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Due to its extensive history, it is listed as an immovable cultural relic under state protection.Located in the northeast of Zhangye city, Dafo Temple, also known as "Wofo Temple" (Sleeping Buddha Temple) is very famous because it contains the biggest indoor sleeping Buddha in all of China. The buddha is 34.5 meter long and its shoulder spans across a width of 7.5 meters. Established in 1098 (Western Xia Dynasty), it was rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912). Due to its extensive history, it is listed as an immovable cultural relic under state protection.

The existing complex consists of the Giant Buddha Hall, the Buddhist Classics Hall, and a Clay Pagoda. The two-storied Giant Buddha Hall is 33 meters high, 49 meters wide and 24 meters long, with a total area of 1770 square meters. The gold-plated and painted Giant Buddha lies in the Nirvana situation in the middle of the hall. The whole Buddha is 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide between its two shoulders, with feet of 4 meters and ears of 2 meters. The Buddha's calm expression moves visitors. Behind the Buddha are 10 disciples, and in two side halls stand 18 Saintly Warriors. The walls of the hall are covered with colorful murals, which depict episodes from the Mountain-sea Sutra (an ancient Chinese encyclopedia) and from Journey to the West (a celebrated novel written in the Ming Dynasty).

In the Buddhist Classics Hall, there are more than 6000 tomes of lectures, some of which, written in gold and silver, are the rarest and most precious. The Clay Pagoda, one of the Five Elements Pagodas in Zhangye, has 13 stories, on the first and the second stories of which are four miniature pagodas, a feature rarely seen in other pagodas.

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Dadiwan Site

Dadiwan Site lies in Zhangshaodian Village and to the northeast of Qinan County, Tianshui City. With an area of 320,000 sq. meters, it is a Neolithic site belonging showing the relics of the Yangshao Culture. The Gansu archaeological team carried out a six-year excavation project at the site from 1978 to the end of 1983, having unearthed over 200 house sites, 30 kilns and 8,000 pieces of cultural relics. The site reflects how the Chinese ancestors made a living about 4,800 to 7,800 years ago. Its excavation work has shocked Chinese people due to its large scale and rich connotation.

The houses of the early period in Dadiwan Site are mainly half-crypt that assume a round shape with a Dadiwan Sitediameter of 2-3 meters and a fire pit in the middle of the room. The houses in the middle period mainly remained half-crypt structures with enlarged areas. However, people began to build houses on the ground. Processed stones are used to pave the ground, and cement was used to fill in the gaps between the stones. The late-period houses were mainly built on the ground, and there appeared high and grand palaces then.

The unearthed 238 sites of houses are in a large and complicated construction. One house site of the late Yaoshao Culture Period covers an area of 323 square yards. Its floor was painted with patterns of human and animals, which provided very important information of the study of China ancient painting history. The restituted house has a four-framed roof and three doors, and its wooden frame and mud wall structure reflect the development of architectural technology and improvement of productivity.

The Dadiwan Site is rich in cultural relics and its layering of various cultures is clear and long-lasting. It is among the few Neolithic sites with a systemic chronicle sequence in east Gansu and the upper reaches of the Wei River, which plays a key role in archaeological study. In addition, Dadiwan Site also unearthed a large amount of art treasures and implements of production such as stone wares, earthen wares, mussel decorations, stone knives, stone axes and potteries and kilns used for storing articles, which has lead scientists to believe that people in that remote period had already lived a settled life with farming as their major production activity.

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Yumenguan Pass of Great Wall

Yumen Pass, or Jade Gate, is the name of a pass in Gansu Province of China. It is located 56 miles northwest to Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, at the western end of Hexi Corridor. It was the crucial gateway from central China to the western regions. In ancient times, this was a pass through which the Silk Road passed, and was the one road connecting Central Asia and China, the former called the Western Regions. Just to the south was the Yangguan pass, which was also an important point on the Silk Road. On June 22, 2014, it was successfully added to the World Heritage List.

In the early Han Dynasty, the Huns ceaselessly invaded the Han's area. At first, the weak Han rulers attempted to marry the daughters of imperial families to the Huns' leaders, in hope of gaining temporary peace. When Emperor Wu rose to power, he immediately gave up this cowardly policy by launching fierce counterattacks on a large scale. Finally, the Hun's troops were driven back. In order to strengthen the stability of the western frontier, this wise emperor ordered Yumenguan and Yangguan Passes to be set up along the Hexi Corridor. Henceforth, these two passes, like two royal soldiers, honorably began to guard the western gate for their motherland.

In the past, the beautiful jade was transported to the inner China through this pass via the Silk Road, which gave its name, Yumenguan, or "Jade-Gate Pass" in English. At that time, Yumenguan Pass served mainly as a post station for businessmen, military generals and ambassadors. It has witnessed the prosperity of business transactions along the Silk Road. The silk peculiar to inner China was transported to the western region in an endless stream. Cultural aspects of western China such as music and religion were introduced to central China at the same time. It is said that the grapes, pomegranates and walnuts now growing in central China were originally from the western area.

Two thousand years later, the light ringing sound of busy camel trains has disappeared. The cry of sellers in the markets is completely gone. Yumenguan Pass of Great Wall has lost its historic function. It is only a rectangular castle standing in the Gobi desert. It covers an area of over 232 square miles, measuring 27 yards long, 29 yards wide and 32 feet high. The pass was built of rammed yellow earth and has two gates - the west gate and the north gate. There is a walkway measuring 1.4 yards wide on the top. Nuqiang (a jagged parapet on the wall) was set there too. In the southeast corner lies the "Ma Dao" (Horse Ramp), by which people and horses could gain access to the top of the wall.

Today the Yumenguan pass being only a part of the cultural heritage of China, lost its strategic importance, but became one of the main attractions of tourist routes along the Silk Road. And climbing to the top of the pass, you can see the relics of the Great Wall and beacon towers scattered sparsely in the desert, creating an atmosphere of recalling the past.

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Overhanging Great Wall

Belonging to Jiayuguan military defense system, the Overhanging Great Wall is situated on the northern slope of the Heishan Mountain (Black Mountain) in the north of Shiguanxia Canyon, around 11 kilometers (6.83 miles) from downtown Jiayuguan City and 6.5 kilometers (4.03 miles) from Jiayuguan Pass. It is an important part of the defensive work of Jiayuguan Pass. It was built in the year 1539 during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) in order to strengthen the defensive capability of the Jiayuguan area.

Originally this section was 1.5km in length, but it was shortened to the current 750m due to frequent battles by armies to conquer the fort. The existing wall was rebuilt in 1987. The Overhanging Wall gets its name because there is a 231 meter long section, with an obliquity of 45 degrees, built onto a 150m high ridge. Built on the eastern slope of Mt. Heishan (Black Mountain) the wall is not visible to anyone looking from west to east. From a distance, it is said to resemble a dragon about to extend its body towards the ground.

The wall was built by using local gravel and yellow earth, layer upon layer, and consists of the main path, battlements and threeobservation posts. Originally, it measured 0.9 miles long. However, due to natural disasters and human destruction, only 820 yards of the wall remains, with 253 yards climbing onto the north slope of Heishan Mountain, which is 492-feet high and tilted 45 degrees. Its imposing appearance and manner are very much like those of Badaling Great Wall in Beijing, so it is reputed as 'the Western Badaling Great Wall'.

Along the steps of the Overhanging Great Wall, you can start from the foot of Mt. Heishan to reach the top of the mountain. Walking along the stairs leading to the city walls, you will find that some parts are flat as plain, while others steep as a precipice. From the top of the Wall you may get a bird's eye view of the desert stretching before you, the oasis of Jiayuguan in the near ground, and the snow-capped mountains far away in the distance.

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Yangguan Museum

Yangguan is a one of the two most important passes protecting Dunhuang from invasion from the west (the other pass is Yumen Pass). It was once an important artery of transportation in Han dynasty and it was flourished. However, there today are hardly any walls in sight, the only visible sections being the foundations of some of the walls. To memory the civilization and prosperity, there built a museum. Yangguan museum located at the Yangguan Cultural Relics Tourist Area of Nanhu Village in Dunhuang, Gansu province. It is a modernized and new-pattern museum integrated with museum, cultural relic protection and research as well as the tourist attraction. In 2003, Yangguan Museum was opened.

This museum covers nearly 100,000 square meters and is generally comprised of many architectural-style buildings of Han Dynasty. The total building area is 16,000 square meters. In museum, travelers can see the Yangguan Ancient Street, Troop Camp, Fabricated Yang Pass, Jiaowei Mansion(Troop Leader Mansion) and the Statue of Wang Wei.

Additionally, the large-scale Bronze-Made Image of Zhang Qian(the opener of silk road in Han Dynasty), fresco themed with Friendship of Silk Road and basso-relievo masterpiece named Campaign Image and so on are available. The highlighted two themed exhibitions are Display of Double Passes of Han Dynasty and Display of Silk Road. Both of them systematically exhibit the historical appearance of Yang Pass and Yumeng Pass, two parts of ancient great wall, as well as the true feature of the Silk Road.

It is a living history of Yangguan Pass's ups and downs that also shows the construction style of the Han Dynasty. The distinguishing feature of Yangguan Pass Museum is that you not only see ancient items in a way that gives you a sense of life at that time, but you also have the opportunity to experience riding and shooting. In addition, Nanhu Village has the largest vineyards of its province and the newly built national desert forest park gives a new fresh feeling in contrast to the historical site. So come to Yangguan Pass, uncover her thousand mysterious veils, taste the full-bodied grape wine and enjoy the syntheses of desert, oases, and forest.

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Yangguan Pass of Great Wall (Yangguan)

Yangguan, or Yangguan Pass, is a mountain pass that was fortified by Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty and used as an outpost in the colonial dominions adjacent to ancient China. It is located approximately 70 kilometres (43 mi) southwest of Dunhuang, in the Gansu territory to the west of the Shaanxi province in the far Northwest China, which was in ancient times the westernmost administrative center of China. It was established as a frontier defense post, as well as a developed place in China's remote western frontier; Emperor Wu encouraged Chinese to settle there. Today Yangguan is located in Nanhu Village, along the Hexi Corridor.

Yangguan is one of China's two most important western passes, the other being Yumenguan. In Chinese, yang means "sunny" and is also used to mean "south" (the sunny side of a hill being the southern side). Because Yangguan lies to the south of the Yumenguan Pass, it derived its name. Together with Yumenguan Pass, it was an important site on the Silk Road. 

Many Chinese get to know this important pass mainly from the poem Farewell to Yuaner to Take Office in Anxi, written by Wang Wei, a famous poet in Tang Dynasty. From the last two lines "Oh, my friend, I sincerely entreat you to have another cup of wine; you will see no more friends west out of the Yangguan Pass.", we can see the Yanguan Pass has always been the place of desolation and sadness since ancient times. In the Song (960 - 1279) and Ming (1368 - 1644) Dynasty, because of the decline of the Silk Road, it was generally forgotten by people.

For years and years, the flowing dunes have eroded this pass into a broken beacon tower, standing alone in the boundless desert. It measures 15.4 feet high and 8.7 yards wide. Around the relic, you cannot even see the dismantled walls, because they were all eroded by the wind and buried under earth. South to the pass, there is a "Curio Beach". It is a small valley where you can find lots of dynasties' tiles, coins, weapons, and decorations.

Today's Yangguan Pass is not only a historic place of recalling the remote past, but also a hometown of tasty grapes. Come here, appreciate the beauty of vicissitudes of the Great Wall, enjoy the natural view combined by oasis, desert and snow peaks, and taste the juicy fruits. You may often find ancient relics such as bricks, pottery pieces, coins, arrows, bronze decorations, seals and living utensils ranging from the Han to the Song dynasty in the sand dunes nearby.

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Juyan Fortress of Great Wall

Built in 102 BC in the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220), relics of Juyan Fortress of the Chinese Great Wall were scattered along the two banks Of the Ejina River in Jinta countyin Gansu Province, and to the north of Jinsi Tunao (The Place's Name In Mongolian) in inner Mongolia. In ancient times, the land where this Fortress Stood was called Juyan, so the fortress was named after the land – Juyan Fortress. The remains Of the Juyan fortress of the Great Wall measure about 350 Km (217 Miles) from northeast to southwest, much of which have been blown off by wind or buried by sand.

Today there are about 170 sites of the Great Wall including barriers, walls, fortresses and beacon towers. They were all built in accordance with local conditions. Some of them were built of grey mud bricks and some were piled up by rocks or stone plates. The distance between two beacon towers varies from 1,300 meters (1,422 yards) to 2,000 meters (2,187 yards). In some places, a river was used as a natural barrier.

Juyan Fortress is famous for the over 30,000 wooden slips recording events of the Han Dynasty unearthed around it. The weather here is dry and windy, and the rainfall is low, which is a good condition for the preservation of cultural relics underground. The amount makes the area No.1 for wooden slips discovered in China. It is beyond comparison around the world. What's more important, they have recorded all aspects of culture, economics, military history, technology and politics in the Han Dynasty, which have significant historical, scientific and cultural relic value.

Most of the Juyan Han wooden slips are Great Wall garrison files from between the last years of the Wudi Reign (157BC – 141BC) of the Western Han Dynasty to the middle of the Eastern Han Dynasty. A small portion of the wooden slips are books, historical calendars and personal letters. The content involves the garrison, border defense, combat service, administrative system and the lives of soldiers' families.

For example, a script composed of 17 pieces of wooden slips described the alarm system of the strategic passes in the Han Dynasty, in which it described in detail what duties each pass should perform in military communication. For example, the number and the sort of the signal fires and the transmitting methods varied with the number and intentions of the Huns, and with changes in weather and the timing of attacks. In addition, the ways to correct errors were recorded comprehensively in the wooden script.

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Jiayuguan Pass (Jiayuguan)

Jiayu Pass or Jiayuguan is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China, near the city of Jiayuguan in Gansu province. Along with Juyong Pass and Shanhai Pass, it is one of the main passes of the Great Wall. The pass is located at the narrowest point of the western section of the Hexi Corridor, 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) southwest of the city of Jiayuguan in Gansu. The structure lies between two hills, one of which is called Jiayuguan Pass. It was built near an oasis that was then on the extreme western edge of China.

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.The Jiayuguan Pass was constructed as far back as 1372.

According to legend, when Jiayuguan was being planned, the official in charge asked the designer to estimate the exact number of bricks required and the designer gave him a number. The official questioned his judgment, asking him if that would be enough, so the designer added one brick. When Jiayuguan was finished, there was one brick left over, which was placed loose on one of the gates where it remains today. It was actually left at the site and has become famous among the tourists visiting the area.

The pass is constructed in three concentric layers: the central area is made up of an inner city, containing the largest of the pass' buildings; an outer city section, surrounded by a large wall dotted with watchtowers, turrets, and high-terrace pavilions; and finally, for purposes of defense, a moat. All of these features combined to make it a daunting prospect for any would-be attackers.

Jiayuguan PassEncompassing an area of 25,000 square meters (six acres), the inner city is trapezoid-shaped. It is enclosed by the city wall which runs for 640 meters (2,100 feet) and reaches a height of up to 11 meters (36 feet). The inner city has both east and west gates, known as the Guanghua and Rouyuan respectively. Each of the city gates is also protected by its own smaller guard tower. The tower defending the west gate is known as Luo City. From it hangs a plaque with characters that read: "The Greatest Pass under Heaven".

In the inner city are some tourist spots including Youji Jiangjun (an official title)'s Mansion, Wenchang Hall and Jing Pavilion. Found outside the fort's east gate are the Guandi Temple, a series of grand archways and a theater tower. On the west side stands a grand stele housed in a pavilion. The four Chinese characters found etched on its surface - 'Tian', 'Xia', 'Xiong' and 'Guan' - were written by Li Tingchen, a Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) commander. Around Jiayuguan there are many historic sites such as the Mogao Grottoes. The Mogao Grottoes is 3 hours drive from Jiayuguan Pass. Many frescos were found in the areas around Jiayuguan.

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