As the traffic hub of the ancient "Silk Road" and the starting point of the Great Wall in the west, Jiayuguan has been renowned as one of the most important Pass and “battlefield” in the western frontier since the ancient time. It has been recorded in the ancient Chinese poems, myths, chronicles, generation after generation. This is the intersection of China's Silk Road culture and the Great Wall culture, known as the "key to the border". Here, you can see the continuous great wall, the magnificent pass city, the exquisite ancient murals, and the magical natural scenery.
The miraculous desert landscape and architectures in Jiayuguan form an “ancient city”, Jiayuguan in the modern times. There are lots of attractions to see, including the Jiayuguan Pass, Xuanbi Great Wall, the first Strategic Post, Wei-Jin Tombs, etc.>>Learn More about Jiayuguan Attractions
Jiayuguan pass built in the Ming Dynasty is the most spectacular fortress along the Great Wall with both an inner “city” and an outer city, as well as a moat. You can take a distant view of the outer city and Qilian Mountain afar. There is also a Great Wall Museum in the scenic area introducing the history of Jiayuguan Great Wall.
16km from Jiayuguan city, Xuanbi Great Wall or the hanging Great Wall, built in the Ming Dynasty, is named for its precipitous terrain and in the north of Jiayuguan Pass. The scenic area includes the ancient Silk Road cultural corridor, and the wall here is similar to the Badaling Great Wall and you can see the vast land outside the pass.
The First Strategic Post is the starting point of the ancient Great Wall. It was a beacon tower. Now only one mound is left there. The scenic spot includes the Taolai River slide, the hanging bridge where you can view the stunning canyon, a museum and multiple sculptures of "army field in the ancient time".
18km away from Jiayuguan City, the Wei-Jin Tombs are actually about 1000 tombs built in Wei and Jin Dynasties. The scenic area includes a museum and 3 underground tombs representing the master’s courtyard, living room and bedroom which he had prepared for the afterlife. The highlight of the tomb is its numerous vivid murals.
As the start point of the great wall, Jiayuguan owns not only the fortress but also a section of steep Great Wall which is well-preserved. It takes about one or two hours to have a hike and you can also go to the Great Wall Museum in Jiayuguan Pass to learn more about it.
There are 3 major museums in Jiayuguan, namely the Great Wall Museum in Jiayuguan Pass Scenic area, Jiayuguan Museum in the downtown area and the historical and cultural experience museum of the first beacon tower of the Great Wall by the Taolai River. If you are a museum and a great wall fan, do not miss them!
The sunrise and sunset around the Jiayuguan Pass area and the Xuanbi Great Wall offer great scenery, which attract lots of visitors and photographer to capture the beauty. Besides, you can also go to the Taolai river and record the great canyon there.
Surrounded by mountains and deserts, Jiayuguan belongs to a typical continental desert climate. It is dry and cool in summer, cold in winter. The annual average temperature is relatively low, arranging between 6.7 ℃ and 7.7 ℃, and the annual sunshine time is about 3,000 hours. It is dry all year round and the annual average precipitation is 85.3 mm, and the evaporation is 2149 mm. The frost-free period of the whole year is about 130 days.
The best time to visit Jiayuguan is from May to October. Spring is still a little bit chilly. Summer is cool and the temperature varies a lot in the morning and evening and the ultraviolet rays are strong. In autumn, you should not miss the beautiful sunrise and sunset at Jiayuguan pass. Though the winter is quite chilly, the snowscape on the Great Wall is very stunning.
Jiayuguan Airport is located in the northeast of Jiayuguan City, about 12km away from it. So far, Jiayuguan Airport operates flights to almost every scenic city in Gansu Province and non-stop flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, and Xian, etc. There are airport shuttle buses to the downtown area and the bus fee is about CNY 15, and the duration is about half an hour.
There are mainly three train stations in Jiayuguan, namely Jiayuguan Railway Station, Jiayuguan South Railway Station, and Lvhua Railway Station. For Jiayuguan Railway Station located in the downtown area, it operates mostly normal trains to Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, Chongqing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Kunming, Zhengzhou, Fuzhou, Lanzhou, Urumchi, Aksu, etc. Jiayuguan South Railway Station runs Bullet D trains and some Z trains to Lanzhou, Shanghai, Urumchi, Xining, Jinan, etc. For Lvhua Railway Station, it only operates trains to Tiejinshan Station.
Jiayuguan Bus Station has direct buses from Jiayuguan to many cities in Gansu and the neighboring province, such as Lanzhou, Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Jinchang, Zhangye, Hami, Urumchi, Yumen, etc.
Jiayuguan, a vital outpost on the ancient Silk Road, offers a range of accommodations to welcome travelers, providing options that cater to various comfort levels and budgets. As a smaller inland city in northwestern China, Jiayuguan’s accommodation standards may not match the high-end options found in major cities like Beijing or Shanghai. However, there are several comfortable and affordable choices available. The city has a limited number of four- and five-star hotels, with most accommodations being economical or mid-range, offering a good balance of comfort and value.
Most travelers prefer staying in Jiayuguan’s downtown area, where accommodations are conveniently located near dining, shopping, and transportation options. From downtown, visitors can reach most of the city’s main attractions within a short drive or taxi ride, typically taking less than half an hour.
To help you better plan and make a trip to Jiayuguan, we offered lots of maps about Jiayuguan’s location, attractions, transportation, etc. All the maps we collected are updated, downloadable and printable.
>> Learn More about Jiayuguan Maps
Jiayuguan Attractions Map
Jiayuguan Pass Tourist Map
Besides Zhangye, there are some other destinations in Gansu well worth your visit. Transfer to the following destinations and explore Gansu natural and cultural sites - Dunhuang, Zhangye, Lanzhou, Jiuquan. Discover now!
We have helped many global travelers enjoy their memorable wonderful trips to Gansu for the past few years. Among them, Marcin and his friends traveled with us and spent 13-Day to explore the Silk Road from Lanzhou to Kashgar, visiting Zhangye, Jiayuhuan, Dunhuang... in Gansu province, and shared us their special travel story! Travel with China Discovery to create your great China trip memories!
All itineraries and side trips can be customized privately, so please feel free to contact with our travel consultants if you have this kind of need.
Memorable trip to discover three most glorious destinations in Zhangye, Jiayuguan and Dunhuang - diverse experience, enjoyable pace, budget price!
Strongly recommended for those who want to experience the ancient Silk Road culture and enjoy spectacular diverse landforms.
Explore the most of popular attractions and activities in Dunhuang. Catch a deep insight of about Dunhuang's history and culture in the Mogao Grottoes.
From the stunning Qinghai Lake to the rainbow mountains Zhangye Danxia Landform, to the most beautiful desert in China - Badain Jaran Desert, this trip brings you the best visual feast in China.
A thorough tour to discover the Gansu highlights from Lanzhou, via Xiahe, Zhangye Danxia Landform, Jiayuguan, to Dunhuang.
Brief highlights of Ancient Silk Road - travel from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang like the ancient caravans of merchants and travelers from far Europe and Middle Asia.
Make an in-depth Silk Road discovery in Gansu, explore top cultural relics and natural wonders - Dunhuang and Maijishan Grottoes, Zhangye Danxia Rainbow Mountains, Jiayguan Pass of the Great Wall...
It is a classic itinerary which has diverse landscape and many cultural experiences. Both your eyes and mind will be refreshed.
“Very good experience”
“WONDERFUL 25 DAYS IN CHINA - PRIVATE TOUR”
“Awesome China tour from northeast to southwest”
2,050+ Reviews
