After dinner, we went to Lanzhou Railaway Station for a 11-hour train trip from Lanzhou to Jiayuguan. Lanazhou Railway Station is the only passenger railway station in Lanzhou. It is located below the Gaolan Mountain in the south of Chengguan District of Lanzhou, Gansu Province.
We were arranged to take the overnight Train K9661 starting at 08:38pm and arriving at Jiayuguan at 7:46 the next morning covering the total railway length of 770km. Now it was the tourism peak season here in Gansu Province, there were over a dozen of through or passing by trains linking the two important cities on the ancient Silk Road.
The orange coloured train looked much safer and more reliable.
I was waked up by the early morning sunlight creeping into our cabin. What caught my eyes were the passing by Qilian Mountain with snow capped peaks. Yes, the famous mountain would accompany us throughout the trip paralleling the the whole Hexi Corridor.
Qilian Mountain with snow capped peaks
We arrived at Jiayuguan on time. Jiayuguan Railway Station was located 5km south of the city center.
Jiayuguan Railway Station
After disembarking at Jiayuguan Railway Station, going through the city center, we went directly to Jiayuguan Hotel (嘉峪关宾馆) for a familiarization trip. It is a 4 star hotel with 177 rooms modernly equipped and elegantly furnished.
Add: No.01 Xinhua Road, Jiayuguan Tel: 0937 – 6201588 Fax: 0937 – 6227174. We were transferred to Jiayuguan Hotel (嘉峪关宾馆) for a fam trip.
A huge painted Jiayuguan Tourism Map hanging on the wall in the lobby of the hotel aroused my interest. The map clearly showed the layout of Jiayuguan City with the mapping of its rich tourist attractions.
Jiayuguan Downtown – Jiayuguan Airport ( 13km )
Jiayuguan Railway Station ( 5km )
Long Distance Bus Station ( 1.5km )
Jiayuguan Pass ( 4km )
Overhanging Great Wall (Suspension Great Wall ) 12km
The First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall ( 15km )
Wei Jin Underground Brisk Murals ( 18km )
July First Glacier ( 120km )
The Tourist Map of Jiayuguan City
The next activity was the highlight of our fam trip in Jiayuguan, visiting the Jiayuguan Pass. Jiayu Pass ( Jiayuguan Fort ) was the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China. Built 1372, Jiayuguan Fort was was christened as the first and greatest Pass under the Heaven. The pass consisted of three defense lines – an inner city, an outer city and a moat.
The fort was located at the narrowest point of the western section in Hexi Corridor ( 15km wide ) bound by Qilian Mountains and Hei Shan ( Black Mountains ). The fort had a perimeter of 733 meters with an area of more than 33,500 square meters. The total length of the city wall was 733 meters and 11 meters high.
Jiayuguan pass had two gates – East side ( Gate of Enlightenment ) and West side ( Gate of Conciliation ). On each gate there was a building with an inscription of “Jiayuguan” in Chinese written. Each gate had 17 m-high towers with double gates that had been used to trapping invading armies. The south and north sides of the pass were linked to the Great Wall. There was a turret on each corner of the fort.
The West Gate of Conciliation
The unrepaired turret of the fort.
The city wall of the pass.
The horse course way up to the pass
Outside the wall of the pass.
After finishing the tour of Jianyuguan, we moved on to the south of the pass and got to the first beacon tower of Great Wall of China. The first beacon tower was built 1539 by an local military officer stationed in Hexi Corridor.
Now we were driving along the highway from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang at the driving distance of 385km.
Tip 10: Hassle-free Great Wall Guided Tours
Don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route? No worries, We at Tour Beijing have some options for guided tours to Great wall Tours:
Mutianyu Great Wall Group Day Tour
Mutianyu Great Wall Half Day Private Tour
Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
Hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall Tour
Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall West Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Day Tour
Visit Badaling Great Wall by Train
Visit Mutianyu Great Wall by Bus
Hike from Jiankou to Mutianyu Great Wall Tour
Hike from Gubeikou to Jinshanling Great Wall Tour
Hike from Jinshanling to Simatai Great Wall West Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Mutianyu Great Wall Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall and Underground Palace Day Tour
Badaling Great Wall + Forbidden City + Tiananmen Square Day Tour
Further Readings
How to Plan a Trip to Beijing
Top 10 Attractions in Beijing
Top 10 Tourist Scams Beijing
How to Visit Tiananmen Square
How to Visit Forbidden City
How to Visit Temple of Heaven
How to Visit Summer Palace
How to Visit Ming Tombs
How to Visit the Great Wall of China
How to Visit Hutongs
How to Visit Olympic Sites
Top 10 Markets in Beijing
Top 10 Shopping Malls in Beijing
Beijing Shopping
Wangfujing Snack Street
Qianmen Commercial Street
Beijing Huguosi Street
Any questions, just drop a line.
Hi,
Very interesting post.
I’m planning a trip to Jiayuguan and want to visit the Jiayuguan pass.
How did you get at the pass? Are there tours or did you rent a taxi for a round trip?
How long did you stay in Jiayuguan? I’m planning two days/two nights, would that be enough to visit the pass, the overhanging Great Wall and the first beacon?
Would you suggest any other attractions in Jiayuguan?
Thank you!
Hello Rafael,
I visited Jiayuguang on a fam trip organized by the local tour operators. For individual travel, it is not easy. You may go to Jiayuguan from Lanzhou (train and flight), or from Xian ( train or flight). For how to visit Jiayuguan, please visit the 3 links below:
http://www.tour-beijing.com/gansu_tour/
http://www.tour-beijing.com/china_silk_road_tours/xian_silk_road/
http://www.tour-beijing.com/china_silk_road_tours/
Hello,
Thank you for the reply, I’m gonna check the links now.
I’m planning to get to Jiayuguan on a flight from Beijing. Arriving at around 15:00 and leaving to Zanghye next day at 15:00 by train. So, I’m thinking about an estimate on doing the highlights next morning, by taxi. Would that allow me enough time to see everything and be back in town at 14:00?
Regards,
Hello again!
Is this the tour you did?
After breakfast, first visit Jiayuguan Pass. It is the first pass at the west end of the Great Wall of China,6 kilometers southwest of the city of Jiayuguan. Along with Juyongguan and Shanhaiguan, it is one of the main three passes along the Great Wall. The pass is trapezoid-shaped with a perimeter of 733 meters and an area of more than 33,500 square meters.
After lunch move on to Suspension Great Wall, 11 kilometers to the downtown Jiayuguan City, the Suspension Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It gets its name because there is a 231 meter long section, with an obliquity of 45 degrees, built onto a 150m high ridge. From a distance, it looks like a dragon about to extend its body towards the ground.
It looks nice!
hello Rafael,
yes, I did the tour organized by the local travel agency.
Hello Rafael,
Jiayuguan has a longer daytime than Beijing. Just get up early you can make it! Have a great time in Jiayuguan!
Thank you very much. I’ll try to get in touch with the agency!
Best,