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The main reason for visiting this remote outpost in Gansu (for most tourists)
is a visit to the Fort, that guards the pass (Jiayuguan), that gives this
city its name. This bastion was the last main fortification of the western
end of the Great Wall and is strategically located at a crucial section
for those traveling the Silk Road. This was the last major stop for merchants
and travelers wishing to move on to Dunhuang, the wilder recesses of Xinjiang
and beyond.
Aside from Beijing, Jiayuguan is one of the best places to visit the Great
Wall, especially interesting here for its percipitousness and cold, winding
beauty. The best place near to the city is the Overhanging Great Wall, a
section of both comfortable flat and tiringly oblique surfaces, a mere 8
kilometers from the city center. For those really interested, there is also
a Great Wall Museum in town that provides a fairly comprehensive look at
the history and development of the wall through pictures and documents,
unfortunately all in Chinese. This is still a good way to get a look at
the town, with some great views to be had from the roof of the museum. |
