Han Dynasty Great Wall of Dunhuang - Old Safeguard of Northwestern China & Silk Road

Based on historical records, during the Emperor Wu of Western Han Dynasty (around 127 BC), the Northern tribe Xiongnu (匈奴) often invaded the Hexi Corridor. To secure the border areas, Emperor Wu send generals beat back the Xiongnu and ordered tens of thousands of people to repair the Great Wall of former Qin Dynasty and related defensive projects, which thus removed the threat of Xiongnu’s treat of capital Chang’an (now Xian) and also established a front base to further hit the Xiongnu.

With constant victory of attacking the Xiongnu, Emperor Wu later set up Wuwei and Jiuyuan Prefectures, and started to built the first segment of the Han Dynasty Great Wall from Yongdeng County (middle of Lanzhou, Gansu) to Jinta County (north of Jiuquan, Gansu) along the Hexi Corridor. As the Xiongnu retreated far away, Emperor Wu ordered restoration of Qin Dynasty Great Walls many times afterward. During 111 BC to 108 BC, the second part of Han Dynasty Great Wall was built from Jiuquan to Yumen, and the third sections (Yumen to Lop Nor, Xinjiang) was completed in 101 BC.

Together with later other outer sections, the Han Dynasty Great Wall was the longest Great Wall of China, nearly 10,000 km long, stretching from Yalu River in the east to Tianshan Mountain in Xinjiang. Specifically, the Western Section of Han Dynasty Great Wall was constructed along Hexi Corridor, extending about 1,000 km in Gansu.

Today’s Great Wall of Han Dynasty is a small cultural site in northwest suburb of Dunhuang. The entrance ticket package includes sightseeing of Han Dynasty Great Wall, Yumen Pass (Jade Gate) and Hecangcheng Relic Site (also called Big Pancheng Castle). It’s suggested to pay and take a scenic tourist bus from the north gate, tourist service center of Yumen Pass, visit Hecangcheng Relic site and then to the Great Wall of Han Dynasty, return to the service center in the end. Apart from the introduction from tour guide, you will give a short time to visit the ruins and take pictures upon arrival.

At your first sight, you can see a stone tablet noted “Great Walls of Han Dynasty” standing in front of a small section of rammed earth. It’s the relative complete segment of the current Han Dynasty Great Wall, whose base is about 3 meters wide and the body is more than 3 meters high, the top is about 1 meter wide. It’s hard to describe the desolation and loneliness of the old architecture.

What’s the difference between the Great Wall of Han Dynasty and Ming Dynasty? One main place is the architecture fabric, Ming Dynasty Great Walls are masonry units of bricks and stones while the former Han Dynasty used local materials like branches of plants (e.g. rose willow tree, poplar, reed) as the foundation, layer soil, gravels and seeds rammed above. Every 5 km, there is a beacon tower built at higher place and guarded by soldiers observing the enemy. The Danggu Beacon Tower(当谷燧) is a remaining miniature, that is rectangle in plane and trapezoid from sides. Though only a few remaining mounds you can see about the Great Wall of Han Dynasty, its past history and cultural impact are unique and irreplaceable.

The Great Wall of Han Dynasty is located inside Yumen Pass Scenic Area, and meanwhile, Yumen Pass, Yangguan Pass and Yardang National Geopark are in the same direction, all in the west remote suburb of Dunhuang City. Therefore, after 1 to 2 days of Mogao Caves tour, travelers usually spend 1 more day to visit the west attractions together.

First, drive from Downtown Dunhuang to Yumen Pass, see the ancient pass，understand this World Cultural Heritage’s role in contacting the west regions and later transfer to Han Dynasty Great Wall to recall great achievement and hard work of ancestors. Next, move westward further to Yardang National Geopark to witness nature magic, view different Yardang landform. On your way returning back to Dunhuang City, take a side trip to Yangguan Pass, an important gate way on southern “Silk Road” route.

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