Jiayuguan Fort
This is the best-preserved Great Wall pass in existence. Built in 1372, it was the westernmost fort of the Ming Great Wall and is known as the end of the Great Wall.…
Jiayuguan Fort, Jiayuguan
Key facts
- Admission
- Peak season full ticket ¥110; low season full ticket ¥90; sightseeing shuttle ticket ¥10
- Opening hours
- 8：00—20：00
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Getting there
- Near the Jiayuguan Fort scenic area (bus stop)
- Guidebook rating
- 3 / 5
From China Self Guided Travel 2025, page 746. Open in Google Maps
About Jiayuguan Fort
This is the best-preserved Great Wall pass in existence. Built in 1372, it was the westernmost fort of the Ming Great Wall and is known as the end of the Great Wall. It was built to stop remnants of the Yuan dynasty raiding the people of the interior from the west. The fort's north and south walls are 160 metres long, its east and west walls 154 metres, and its walls 10 metres high. It is a large defensive complex made up of an inner city, a barbican, an outer city and a 17-metre-high watchtower. Regrettably, as the sites have been developed, the man-made traces have grown increasingly evident, and the original wild charm has faded.
Tips from the guidebook
- It is recommended to hire a car to visit Jiayuguan Fort, the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall, the Suspended Great Wall, the Xincheng Wei-Jin Tombs and other sights. A car typically costs ¥80–100.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Jiayuguan Fort cost?
Admission to Jiayuguan Fort is Peak season full ticket ¥110; low season full ticket ¥90; sightseeing shuttle ticket ¥10, as listed in the 2025 guidebook. Prices can change; check the official channel before you go.
What are the opening hours of Jiayuguan Fort?
Jiayuguan Fort is open 8：00—20：00.
How do I get to Jiayuguan Fort?
Near the Jiayuguan Fort scenic area (bus stop)
How long should I spend at Jiayuguan Fort?
Plan on 2–3 hours for Jiayuguan Fort.
Where is Jiayuguan Fort?
Jiayuguan Fort is in Jiayuguan, Gansu Province, in the Northwest of China.
More places in Jiayuguan
Great Wall Museum
Here you can gain a systematic and comprehensive understanding of Great Wall culture. The exhibition is divided into four sections: "Great Walls of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods," "Great Walls of the Qin and Han Dynasties," "Great Walls of the Northern Wei, Sui, Tang, Liao and Jin Dynasties" and "The Ming Great Wall." Three thousand years of Great Wall construction are presented through charts, models, text panels and colour images, giving visitors an overall and visual understanding of Great Wall culture in a short time.
Free · 0.5–1 hour
First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall
Standing 8.3 metres high, the tower rises from a cliff nearly 80 metres above the Taolai River. It is rightly called the most perilous beacon tower under heaven.
1–2 hours
Xuanbi Great Wall
Known as the Xuanbi (Hanging Wall) Great Wall because of its steep slope, it is sold together with the ticket to the Jiayuguan Pass gate tower. It looks majestic, but it is a later reconstruction; the original Great Wall here no longer exists.
1–2 hours
Youji General's Mansion
This was the place where the Youji (guerrilla) generals who guarded Jiayuguan during the Ming and Qing dynasties handled military affairs and government business. The front courtyard centres on the council hall and highlights scenes of generals and civil and military officials commanding defences against invaders and issuing official documents. The back courtyard vividly recreates the daily life of the general and his family.
1 hour