The Great Wall served the ancient Silk Road that formed an artery of trade and cultural exchange between east and west, the Jiayuguan Pass was a solemn and splendid landmark.
Its construction cost a great deal in terms of manpower and material resources. The work gave rise to a number of strange and sometimes beautiful stories, legends that have come down to us over the centuries.
On the arid plain between the Qilian and Mazong mountain ranges stands the western terminus of the 6400km (4000 miles) Great Wall. 2200 years ago, one of Qin Emperor's major projects was connecting the fortifications along China's northern frontier into one more or less continuous wall. The wall as it existed then only extended as far west as eastern Gansu province.
About 75 years later, the Han emperor Wudi embarked on a series of aggressive military campaigns and diplomatic maneuvers to combat the nomadic XiongNu empire, China's great rival to the north, and expand Chinese influence on the Silk Road into Central Asia. As a result, a series of fortified garrison towns were established along the Hexi corridor in Gansu and well into modern day Xinjiang
The most remote of these garrisons were eventually abandon to sink into the oblivion of the region's vast deserts and throughout much of Chinese history the actual border of the empire remained somewhat ambiguous, shifting with the rise and fall of the each successive dynasty's fortunes. The current imposing structure at JiaYu Guan was not built until 1372 after the Ming Dynasty had driven the Mongols out of China proper.
During the construction of the Jiayuguan Pass, huge blocks of stone, each measuring two meters (6.6 feet) in length and 0.5 meters (1.6 feet) in width and 0.3 meters (1.0 feet) thick were in great demand. Builders cut the crude stones in the mountain; however they were so heavy that there was no means to transport them over a long distance.
By the arrival of winter, the workers had built a path from the mountaintop to the Jiayuguan Pass. They poured water on this path, which quickly froze. They put the large blocks of stone on the icy path, sliding the stones along it. In this manner they got the stones to the work site on time.
This clever ruse saved much time and the construction work was not delayed. To give thanks for the divine help, the workers built a temple near the Jiayuguan Pass. The temple then became the place where the succeeding workers went to pay respect to their heavenly protector.
Then the Wen Cheng Ge was built to worship the Literary God; A theater is also put up for entertain all the people in trade or business in and out of the pass.
Inner city has two, it also called court city.
The court city or called Tramp city is also known as the Strongest Fortress Under Heaven, Jiayuguan has been praised as an unconquerable fortification, or none can rivals it.
For all the praise accorded it, Jiayuguan in fact is a fortress of limited magnitude. Its inner walls are only 640 meters in circumference, with an enclosed compound of a bare 25,000 square meters. It is not only smaller than Shanhaiguan but inferior in size to Juyongguan, Zijingguan, Gubeikou and even some of the minor strong holds along the Great Wall.
In its overall layout Jiayuguan performs the dual purpose of attack and defence being a battle worthy complex consisting of inner walls, middle walls, outer walls and moats, plus the Great Wall and a series of beacon towers connected to it.
Inner city is also the core city. It has two separate towers that located on both ends.
Beyond the southern, northern and western sides of the inner walls stand the outer walls, also built of compressed earth, whose southern and northern parts are joined on the western end to the shielding wall.
At present, the General's office is the only building inside the conpound. It is located in the center of the inner city. The General who lived here had a great deal of responsibility to guard the west gate of China.
The outer walls are 3.8 meters high and l,000 meters in total length.
In the northeastern corner of the outer encirclement is a lock gate, also mounted with a gate tower, that gave passage to the road through the fortress in ancient times. Traveling documents were required for passage. Only senior officials were allowed to enter the inner walls, while low-ranking officials and civilians could only pass through the alley between the outer and inner walls. The gate was open during fixed hours to allow passage.
The beacon towers on hilltops often played a key role in military communication in ancient war times.
Once the enemy pressed towards the border, the signal from the beacon tower would be sent by beacon (fires or lanterns) during the night or by smoke signals in the daytime
As the main component of the fortress, the inner walls are 640 meters around, 156 meters long on the eastern side, 164 on the west and 160 meters on both north and south, making the enclosed compound a trapezium. Built of compressed earth and mud bricks, the walls are 9 meters high, their tops lined on the outer edge with parapets that are 1.7 meters high and perforated with observation apertures.
The outer walls are surrounded by moats of about two meters in width and depth. The moats are flanked on the outside by an earthen dyke about one meter high.
One of the best ways to enjoy the world wonder is to drive along the wall on the Gobi desert. There are some techniques that drivers can experience and have fun with. The best time to do so is either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The nature lighting can create various wonderful formats of the Great Wall.
All kinds of wall building techniques and materials including things like a lime, clay and rice flour mortar which is stronger than brick are displayed in the Great Wall museum. It is just walking distance from the Jiayuguan post.
The last part of Jiayuguan is main west gate of china. It is also the border line between china and the west. Unlike the other dynasties in china, the great wall in Qin Dynasty is not only for military defense system, it also created many opportunities for trades between east and west. It is the main post of the old silk road.
By tradition, soldiers and businessman who went out of this post will drink three bowls of wine to show the respect to family and friends. During a long journey to the west, they traded tea, china and silk and brought back products from Europe and Middle East as well.