Jiayuguan Half-Day Tour: Traverse a Millennium, Explore the Mysteries of the Great Wall

🌄Bidding a reluctant farewell to the morning in Dunhuang, I boarded the train to Jiayuguan City, looking forward to embarking on a journey full of history and culture, a reverse trip along the Hexi Corridor. The train arrived on time at 11:07 AM, and we quickly organized our luggage to start an exciting half-day tour. 🎫The Jiayuguan Pass scenic area joint ticket covers three major attractions: the Pass City, the Overhanging Great Wall, and the First Beacon Tower, all for just 55 yuan during the off-season. Plus, with an additional 12 yuan for the shuttle bus to the First Beacon, you can enjoy this ancient and mysterious land to the fullest. 🚕The three attractions are quite far apart, and public transportation is inconvenient, so chartering a car became our best choice. Sitting in the car, the scenery outside the window was picturesque. As the wheels rolled on, we were about to step into the river of history. 📍First stop: The First Beacon of the Great Wall. Here lies a sunken-style First Beacon of the Great Wall Historical and Cultural Experience Hall, divided into a Cultural Hall and a Natural Hall. Although pressed for time and unable to visit in depth, standing on the glass viewing platform and looking out over the Talai River Gorge and the First Beacon atop the cliffs, we still felt the shock and tranquility. 📍Next, we headed to the Overhanging Great Wall. With just over four hundred steps, the mountain is steep, and each step seemed like a challenge to the limit. Climbing to the highest beacon, we overlooked the surrounding magnificent scenery. The stone statues and descriptive texts of famous historical figures from the Hexi region at the foot of the Great Wall, although we couldn't stay to watch, still made us feel the weight and depth of this land. 📍The last stop: Jiayuguan Pass City. The massive scale of this ancient military defense system was astounding. Walking along the city walls, we felt the weight and vicissitudes of history. Although we missed the well pavilion and the famous 'one brick', the discoveries in the photos delighted us. The rich collection of the Jiayuguan Great Wall Museum gave us a deeper understanding of the history and culture of this land. 🌃As the sun set, we concluded our half-day tour. After tasting the delicious Jiayuguan barbecue in the city, the driver took us to Jiuquan. Although the half-day tour was rushed, we all felt it was very rewarding. If there was more time, perhaps a full-day chartered tour would be more leisurely, allowing us to feel the charm of this land more deeply. 🍁This trip to Jiayuguan made us feel the weight of history and the depth of culture. Looking forward to the next trip, to set foot on this charming land once again.