Jiayuguan Pass: Three Places at the Great Wall’s Western End
Plan a visit to Jiayuguan Fort, the First Beacon and the Overhanging Great Wall, the three sights at the western end of the Ming Great Wall.
Photo: Heliao / Unsplash
Contents
Jiayuguan is three places, not one: the fort itself, the First Beacon on the river and the Overhanging Great Wall on the mountain. Together they make up the scenic area at the western end of the Ming Great Wall.[1] Pick the one that fits what you came to see, or combine them if you have the day.
Choose the landscape you want to see
| Your main interest | Place to prioritize | What makes it different |
|---|---|---|
| Fortress architecture | Jiayuguan Fort | The central complex and its layered defenses[2] |
| Wall and river landscape | First Beacon | The southern wall reaching the Taolai River[2] |
| Wall and mountain landscape | Overhanging Great Wall | The northern wall following Black Mountain ridges[2] |
For a short visit, choose the place that fits your interest and give it time.
Start with Jiayuguan Fort if you want to understand how the pass worked. It is a fortress within a fortress: an inner city, an outer city, a barbican and a moat, so that anyone attacking met one line of defense after another. The gate tower above the barbican carries the plaque "First Pass Under Heaven", and beyond the westernmost gate the desert and gravel plain begin. Camel caravans walk past the walls at sunset, and in summer 2024 the fort opened for evening visits with laser projection and staged performances.[2]
The First Beacon is south of the fort. The wall runs a few kilometers to the Taolai River, fed by Qilian snowmelt, and ends in the westernmost beacon tower of the Ming wall, on a cliff 56 m above the north bank.[2][1] North of the fort the wall reaches Shiguan Gorge at the foot of Black Mountain and splits to climb the ridges on both sides. The steep terrain gave the Overhanging Great Wall its name.[2]
Things to Do
Offers are only loaded from GetYourGuide after you click. GetYourGuide can then process your IP address and set cookies. Privacy Policy
GetYourGuide partner offers. GoAsia may earn a commission if you book through these offers. Check whether tickets or transfers are included, and follow the attraction's official booking and admission rules.
Place the pass in its wider history
The Great Wall was built continuously from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD and ends at Jiayuguan in Gansu, according to UNESCO.[3] The fort is more than 650 years old,[2] and it was part of China's first World Heritage list in 1987.[1] At the fort, look for the nested walls and gate defenses; at the two outlying areas, the river edge and mountain ridges show why the pass sat exactly here, at the end of the Hexi Corridor.
For a broader route through Gansu and the Hexi Corridor, continue with our China travel guide.
Sources and background
Numbers in the text such as [1] refer to these sources.
- [1] Gansu Provincial Government portal: Jiayuguan City. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- [2] Gansu Provincial Cultural Expo Bureau / Xinhua News Agency: Jiayuguan fortress and its gate towers. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
- [3] UNESCO World Heritage Centre: The Great Wall. Retrieved October 24, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jiayuguan Fort, the First Beacon and the Overhanging Great Wall make up the scenic area.
The inner city, outer city, barbican and moat, built as layered defenses. The gate tower above the barbican carries the plaque "First Pass Under Heaven".
South of the fort, where the Ming wall ends at the Taolai River in the westernmost beacon tower of the wall.
The wall north of the fort, where it reaches Shiguan Gorge at the foot of Black Mountain and climbs the ridges on both sides.
UNESCO names Jiayuguan in Gansu as the western end of the Great Wall, which was built continuously from the 3rd century BC to the 17th century AD.
