Jiayuguan Pass - The Silk Road

Jiayuguan Pass was the starting point of the ancient Great Wall built during the Ming Dynasty from 1368 to 1644. It was crucial for protecting the northwestern region of China due to its location at the narrowest part of the Hexi Corridor. This area had served as an important defense since the Han Dynasty, which lasted from 202 BC to 220 AD. After Jiayuguan Pass was built, the Ming Dynasty army used it to keep nomadic groups from invading inner China. Additionally, Jiayuguan Pass was a key stop on the Silk Road. Travelers and traders came from Europe and Central Asia to enter China, while goods from China were sent to those regions. This trade also allowed for cultural exchanges, including religion, art, and customs. Despite some damage from natural events and wars, Jiayuguan Pass remains the best-preserved ancient military structure. Several restoration efforts have been made to maintain the fort, towers, and walls. Visitors can still see many original features of this historic site.

I left Turpan at 04:00 am, joining the delightful 'Chinese Brothers' from Guangdong in a chartered mini van to travel along the Hexi Corridor. It was a minus 25 C temperature that Bitter Winter morning and the driver had to place a lighted flame torch next to the engine block for 15 minutes, just to get it warmed up. The journey with the Brothers was fun and hilarious, and eventhough I spoke very little Mandarin then, all of them could speak Cantonese so we had a blast.

Dennis Ho ... at Gansu, 1995