Atlas of China
Jiayuguan 嘉峪关Jiāyùguān
The Ming Great Wall's western fortress, and the steel town that grew beside it
About Jiayuguan
Jiayuguan takes its name from Jiayu Pass, the fortress at the western end of the Ming Great Wall; the modern city grew from the late 1950s around the Jiuquan Iron and Steel works, which smelts ore from the Qilian Mountains, and became a city in 1965. In the Gobi towards Jiuquan, painted bricks in Wei–Jin tombs of the 3rd to 5th centuries show farming, herding and feasting in the Hexi Corridor. The newer town has East Lake park and a Fantawild theme park.
Featured places in Jiayuguan
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Jiayuguan Pass 嘉峪关
The Great Wall's mighty western fortress, framed by the snowy Qilian Mountains
Listed sites in Jiayuguan
4 sites in Jiayuguan are on the official lists. Those with a page of their own link to it; the rest open as cards on the map.
- East Lake Ecological Park, Jiayuguan 东湖 4A scenic area · on the map
A large park in Jiayuguan's southern district, built from 2002 to 2006 as the centrepiece of the new part of the city, covering 165 ha with a 56 ha artificial lake, a 640 m ribbon stream, a central square, waterfall walks, pavilions, bridges and about 90 ha of planted woodland and lawns. - Fantawild Adventure Jiayuguan 嘉峪关方特欢乐世界 4A scenic area · on the map
A theme park of the Chinese Fantawild chain, opened in 2015 on Fangte Avenue in Jiayuguan's southern district, with twenty-odd rides, dark rides and shows built around Chinese stories and 4D and interactive effects, among them a flying-theatre ride, a snow-mountain adventure, a magic-castle show, a log flume and Boonie Bears attractions. - Zixuan Winery Estate 紫轩葡萄酒庄园 4A scenic area · on the map
The winery estate of Gansu Zixuan Wine, part of the JISCO (Jiuquan Iron and Steel) group, on the airport road north-east of Jiayuguan, covering about 65 ha. - Wei–Jin Tombs, Jiayuguan 嘉峪关魏晋墓 National heritage site · on the map
A large cemetery of brick tombs from the Wei and Jin periods (3rd–5th centuries) in the Gobi between Jiayuguan and Jiuquan, known as the 'underground gallery' for its painted bricks.
Getting to Jiayuguan
Train, flight and driving times from the cities most visitors come from, with stations, fares and how many run a day; each opens the full comparison.
- Ürümqi 乌鲁木齐 high-speed train 6 h 6 min, 20 a day, from ¥336; one nonstop flight a day, 2 h 5 min in the air
Trips with Jiayuguan
- The Silk Road by train: Xi’an to Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi 11 days · Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi
On the map
Open Jiayuguan on the illustrated map to see its outline, its places and listed sites together, and to add them to a trip.
Open Jiayuguan on the map