Xinhuanet.com released a set of aerial photos of The Jiayuguan Pass,

The sun shines on the Jiayuguan Tower in the early morning of midsummer.

The towers are gilded,

Bring us to experience the unique beauty of Jiayuguan  Pass~

(Photograph: Cheng Lin)

Jiayuguan Pass

        In 1961, the Ming Dynasty Great Wall at Jiayuguan was listed as one of the first national key cultural relics protection units.
        In 1987, Jiayuguan was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

        It was initially built in 1373 during Ming dynasty and enjoys a history of over 600 years. Jiayuguan Pass is the western end of Ming Great Wall as well as the most magnificent and best-preserved pass among over 1000 passes along the Great Wall of Ming dynasty. It is sandwiched between the two high mountains, which achieved its reputation as“the Impregnable Pass under Heaven” and it took 168 years to build this strategic outpost.

        Jiayuguan Pass was built at the narrowest point of Hexi Corridor. It is not only of great strategic importance but also a must pass to the west along the ancient Silk Road.

        Jiayuguan is a multi-tier defensive works, made up of Neicheng-the inner city, Wengcheng-the barbican entrance to the wall, Luocheng-the outer round defensive wall, Waicheng- the outer city and the moat. Its western outer defensive wall extends southward to the bank of Taolai River at the foot of Qilian Mountain and its northern end links with a hidden wall going halfway up to Heishan Mountain. Thus a complete military defensive system was formed and seemingly if one man guards the pass, no one can pass.