Jiayu Pass

Long ago, people built a big fort.

It is part of the Great Wall. It sits near a dry desert.

Many travelers used this pass. They came from far away lands. They brought goods to trade. This was part of an old road.

The fort has two gates. It also has tall towers. There are wide roads inside.

Some people were sent away through the gate. They had to leave their homes. It was a very sad time for them.

Today, you can still see the walls. They are very old and strong. It is a famous place to visit.

Jiayu Pass is a big fort in China.

It is part of the Great Wall. It sits near the Gobi Desert. The fort was built around the year 1372. This was during the Ming dynasty.

People built it to protect the land. They were afraid of an invasion.

The fort is shaped like a trapezoid. A trapezoid is a shape with four sides. It has two gates. One gate is on the east side. The other is on the west side.

There is a tower on each corner. The walls connect to the Great Wall.

Many travelers used this pass. It was a key part of the Silk Road. Merchants came from far away to trade. But the pass was also a sad place. Some people were sent away through the gate. They were told to leave China forever.

There is a famous legend about the fort. A designer was asked to count the bricks. He said he needed 99,999 bricks. He added one more brick just in case. When the fort was done, one brick was left over. That brick still sits on a gate today.

Jiayu Pass is a very important fortress in China. It sits at the west end of the Ming dynasty Great Wall. This place is located near the city of Jiayuguan in Gansu province. It is one of the main passes of the Great Wall. The pass sits at the narrowest part of the Hexi Corridor.

It was built near an oasis at the edge of the land. This pass was a key spot on the ancient Silk Road. Many merchants and travelers used this path to enter China.

The fort has a very specific shape and design.

It is shaped like a trapezoid. The walls are 6 kilometers long and 7 meters high. The fort has two gates on the east and west sides. There is a building on each gate. A turret sits on every corner of the pass. The north side has wide roads that lead to the top. The fort also has three lines of defense. These include an inner fort, an outer fort, and a moat.

History tells us when this strong place was made.

It was built during the early Ming dynasty. This was around the year 1372. Leaders wanted to make the fort stronger to prevent an invasion. They were worried about a leader named Timur. However, Timur died of old age before he could lead his army to China. There is also a famous legend about the bricks used here. A designer said he needed 99,999 bricks. He added one more brick just in case. One brick was left over and stays on a gate today.

Many interesting things have been found near the pass.

Recent years brought the discovery of 700 ancient tombs. These belong to the Wei and Western Jin dynasties. The tombs are famous in China. People can see photos of them in many museums. The bricks in these tombs show scenes of daily life. They show people picking mulberries or feeding chickens. Some people also found many colorful frescos in the area. These help us learn about how people lived long ago.

Jiayu Pass is known by a very grand name. It is called the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven."

This is different from another pass with a similar name. The pass has a serious history for some people. It was sometimes called the Gate of the Demons. This is because people who were banished were sent through it. They were ordered to leave and never return. Some famous people, like Lin Zexu, were sent away this way. Today, the pass remains a very important piece of history.

Jiayu Pass is a vital frontier fortress in China.

It marks the western end of the Ming dynasty Great Wall. The pass is located near Jiayuguan in Gansu province. It serves as one of the three main passes of the Great Wall. This location was historically significant for trade and defense. Many foreign merchants and envoys used this route. They traveled from Central Asia and West Asia to enter China.

The geography of the pass is very specific. It sits at the narrowest point of the Hexi Corridor. This corridor is a western section of land in China. The fortress is built between two hills. One of these hills dominates the Jiayuguan Pass. The structure was originally built near an oasis. This oasis sat on the extreme western edge of China at the time. This location made the pass a key waypoint for the ancient Silk Road.

The architecture of the fort is quite large and complex.

The fort has a trapezoid shape. It covers an area of more than 30,000 square meters. The perimeter of the structure is 3.5 kilometers. The walls reach a height of 7 meters. There are two main gates on the east and west sides. Each gate features its own building. A tablet at the west gate displays the name "Jiayuguan" in Chinese. The north and south sides connect directly to the Great Wall. Turrets are located on each corner of the pass. The defense system includes an inner fort, an outer fort, and a moat.

History shows that the pass was built during the early Ming dynasty.

Construction began around the year 1372. The fortress was strengthened because leaders feared an invasion. They were worried about a leader named Timur. However, Timur died of old age while leading an army toward China. A famous legend exists regarding the construction of the walls. A designer estimated that 99,999 bricks were needed. He added one more brick to be safe. When the work finished, one brick remained. This single brick is still placed loose on one of the gates today.

Jiayu Pass is known by the grand title "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven."

This is different from the Shanhai Pass. That pass is located at the east end of the Great Wall. Jiayu Pass is considered the most intact ancient military building of the Great Wall. It has a complex reputation in Chinese history. Some called it the "Gate of the Demons" or the "Gate of Sighs." This was because people who were banished from China were sent through it. Many of these people, such as the official Lin Zexu, never returned. They were sent out toward the vast Gobi Desert.

Archaeologists have found many treasures near the site.

Recent excavations discovered 700 ancient tombs. These tombs belong to the Wei and Western Jin dynasties. They date from the years 266 to 420. These tombs are very famous throughout China. Many museums display replicas or photographs of them. The bricks used in these tombs are very detailed. They show domestic scenes like roasting meat or herding horses. They also show people picking mulberries or feeding chickens. These findings help us understand ancient daily life.

Today, the pass remains a major historical site. It connects the military history of the Ming dynasty to the economic history of the Silk Road. The site offers a look at both grand architecture and personal human stories. Visitors can see the massive walls and the intricate tomb details. The area also contains many colorful frescos. While many are not open to the public, they add to the site's importance. Jiayu Pass stands as a monument to China's past defenses and its connections to the wider world.