Jiayuguan marked the western end of the Great Wall and today it is still a symbol of the western boundaries of China proper. It is located at the end of a strip of land known as the Hexi Corridor. This narrow strip is defined by the Qilian mountain range to the south and the Mazong, Longshou and Heli ranges to the north. In ancient times Jiayuguan was known as the ‘mouth’ of China while the Hexi Corridor was referred to as the ‘throat’ and it still has a frontier feel about it today.

Jiayuguan Fort is one of the quintessential images of western China and was built in 1372 to guard the pass between the snow-capped Qilian Shan and Hei Shan peaks. It is a splendid construction and at the eastern end of the fort are the ‘gates of enlightenment’ over which stand 17m high towers. North of the fort is the Overhanging Wall, thought to have been built in 1539 but heavily restored more recently. Outside of the town are the Wei Jin Tombs which date from between the 3rd and 5th centuries AD. They contain interesting wall paintings depicting various social activities of the time.