After buying a Ticket and Passing the Gate -Admission is 60 RMB (or 30 RMB for Students), visitors can either choose to ride directly to the Fortress Gate
JiaYuGuan Great Wall of China - Fortress
(2) JiaYuGuan Fortress - Recreational Lake Area
ChinaReport.comat
The Later established Fortress of Jia Yu Pass of the Ming Dynasty Era saw construction beginning in 1372 AD, at which time careful consideration was given to the relation between the waters of the Spring Lake Oasis and the best location of the Fortress and other integrated defenses. After completion the Spring Lake lay just south of the Fortress and well within the perimeter of Great Wall of China extensions radiating out from the Fortress along the Valley Floor to the South. In this way everyone including the camels and horses inside the Citadel could enjoy abundant water, while no attackers could pollute the water supply or use it to their advantage.
A Satellite image of China and East-Asia, with a super-imposed schematic Map of the location and Path of the Great Wall as constructed during the Reign ofthe Ming Dynasty. Included for reference are City names, geographical features
of landscape, Names and locations of Passes on the Great Wall on the Great Wall of China.
- Mouse over Image -
- Mouse over Image -
Overview Map of JiaYuGuan City and Area 2
A schematic Map Drawing of JiaYuGuan City Prefecture in Gansu giving a complete overview of JiaYuGuan City, the location of the Fortress UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and the constrcution of Great Wall of China Defenses in the immediate vicinity such as the Overhanging Great Wall and No.1 Beacon Tower.
Follow the links to navigate along each individual section of the Last Bastion on the Great Wall, and the attached Recreational Area.
History of JiaYuGuan and the Spring Lake
Throughout the Ages, the Spring Lake Oasis supported a rich agricultural society based at JiaYuGuan. On top of these riches came to fruits of trade on the ever further developing trade routes in the Region.
Thriving on waters derived from nearby Mountain-top Glaciers and deep underground rivers, JiaYu Pass Village was only one of many such villages strung along from East to West. More Westward lay the Lake Oasis and City Kingdom of Loulan at Lop Nur. Then there was the Oasis of Turpan and others.
Don't forget to buy a ticket and pay for your entrance !
The Restored Fortress of JiaYu Guan refelected in the waters of the Spring Lake Oasis in November of 2007 AD. Melting Ice floats on the Lake.
by Electrical Trolley (1 RMB) or head for a Stroll in the Park to eventually wind up at the Fortress.
However, as the YuQuan Hu, or Spring Lake is a vital and important historical part of both the Settlement and Fortress of JiaYuGuan, so those who skip the Lake and get on the Trolley are Missing Out. Not only does the Lake provide for some great views of the Fortress and a much needed cool down opportunity after a Walk through, there are some important stories that go with the Lake as well.
A Small Pavilion rises on the Spring Lake in front of JiaYuGuan Fortress, the Last Bastion in the West on the Great Wall of China.
For the exact history of Human Settlement in the Hexi Corridor intercultural cross-roads and at JiaYu Pass, one has to go back very far in Time, at least some 2000 years to the Han Dynasty and the First Fortified Defenses at the JiaYu Pass, and even further for the first contacts between early civilizations some 4000 years ago.
As the Science of Archeology figures at up to now, the first true intercultural contacts in this region were established after the invention of the wheel combined with the domestication of horses. Although human migration and contacts reach far further back to the dawn of the species, itself.
Beforehand small bands of humans had walked the distance, only to settle and henceforth keep to themselves.
Although one might come under the Impression after the Full Honors arrival at this Modern Mass Tourism Facility and a first sight of the Lake, the Spring Lake is not new to JiaYuGuan at all. Where today visitors flock along the Lake Side and swimmers have their own slide, in the far away past, this very pond was the life-line that first gave rise to the existance of a setllement at JiaYuGuan Pass. This Oasis Lake is the only easily available watersource in the Area. In other words: without this modest and calm Lake there would be no City of JiaYuGuan to begin with !
Todays JiaYuGuan Fortress is a Restored Version of the original Fortress first constructed in 1372 AD at the advent of the Ming Dynasty.
Many 1000's of Years passed until the invention of the horse-drawn carriage (Chariot) made rapid transportation over large distances possible for the first Time in Human History. It was a great tool for war, travel and transport. According to various intriguing finds done further West in the Tarim River Basin, this new Era, estimated around 3500 years ago saw the dawn of the first small scale trade routes in Central Asia stretching into Taklamakan Desert which in time led to large scale cultural and economic exchanges.
Before a remote valley in between of otherwise rugged area's full of impassable mountains, arid deserts, sand storms and other dangers, this human invention, the chariot, first enabled travel along the Tarim River and the flat JiaYu Pass, inspiring truly a new world order.
It would go too Far to discuss all the details of this story, but finally Mankind could travel and Trade more widely. In the next period life-stock, gems, woven items and agricultural tools moved up- and down from West to East and Vice Versa.
Notably, among the first things to be traded was the knowledge of Bronze Melting and the primitive Art of Working.
This Art, beforehand developed in Western Civilizations, but as yet unknown in the Far East, is thought to have spread from Central Asia into China along these Routes. Archeological finds on Mummies of apparent European Descent in the Desert Graves further Westwards strongly suggest such an event.
The Gift of the Knowledge of Bronze Working would travel onwards to the East where in the succeeding period Han Chinese Civilizations based in the Yellow River Basin would develop the art of bronze working as never seen before. Although starting out late, the Chinese would become true masters of Bronze Working. Bronzes would become the hallmark of Han Civilizations throughout the Centuries beginning with the Shang Dynasty (1766 BC to 1121 BC) and over the following centuries the Bronze-working Arts in China were developed faster and further than anywhere else in the world.
To be exact, the Bronze Age started in China around 1500 BC. The Birth of First Walled Cities was seen in the fertile Chinese Plains of Shanxi- and Shaanxi Provinces a first version of script appeared and for all practical purposes is was the beginning of recorded history in China --->
Frozen Waters of Spring Lake at JiaYuGuan with an abandoned Lake-view Promenade and Island Pavilion (Photo: November 2007).
- Mouse over Image -
Winter conditions turn the landscape brown and the Lake waters frigid at JiaYuGuan Fortress, JiaYuGuan, Western Gansu Province.
View to the South away from Spring Lake, where large pumps are installed to pump up ground waters that provide for the further (summertime) development of the Lake.
(The Shang Dynasty Era left inscribed sea-shells and bones, evidence for the invention and development of primitive script in this Age).
Whichever way it was, during the earliest days of Civilizations in this Region, the Hexi Corridor and in it the Jia Yu Pass were already a vital conduit of People, Wares and knowledge. It was probably even before the very beginning of the Shang Dynasty Era that the existance of an Oasis Lake here underneath the JiaYu Hill, enabled the easy establishment of encampents on this spot.
A hanging or suspended bridge connects the shore-line with a small island in the Spring Lake Oasis, which has a Pavilion for Leasure.
Over Time, from the encampments arose a tiny agricultural village and a stop-over point on the Road between West and East. Later, much later, it would become JiaYu Guan Oasis, the Western beginnings of the Safety of the Great Wall of China.
Impressive view of the Ming Dynasty Era Fortress of JiaYuGuan and its GuangHua, Eastern Gate atop JiaYu Hill (or Shan).
It was these Oasis and their interconnected trading routes and communications lines that were discovered by the Han Chinese during the Han Dynasty (206 BC -221 AD), after which they were succesfully exploited. Thus, the Han Dynasty saw the emergence of the first True Silk Road. During this Era the JiaYu Pass and Oasis grew into a modest but thriving settlement along vital emerging trade routes with the West.
Trade Caravans were going out with the finest Chinese Silks and returning with Jade and Gems, Seeds, Arms and Horses.
During the Reign of Emperor Wu Di of Han, who expanded the Empire to the Far West Jia Yu Pass village officially became part of the Chinese Empire, Civilization and Culture ruled by the Han. A large Garrison was sent westwards to JiaYu Oasis, where at the Pass near the Spring Lake they would have amply water supply as well as a strategic location well suited for both defense and attack.
While the Lake provided the water for the arduous humans, the importance of JiaYuGuan and the Silk Road grew everlarger. While the garrison prepared to stay on indefinitely, orders were given for the first Defensive Constructions at JiaYu Guan near the Spring Lake, eventually culminating in the continuous lengths of the Great Wall of China of later Ages.
Map of JiaYuGuan Fortress World Cultural Heritage Site and Scenic Zone
A Map Drawing giving a complete overview of the JiaYuGuan Fortress UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site and recreational Area in JaiYuGuan, Gansu Province of China.
Follow the links to navigate along each individual section of the Last Bastion on the Great Wall, and the attached Recreational Area.
The Future of JiaYuGuan and the Spring Lake
The Spring Lake waters have been sprouting from the Earth for Millennia. In the Long Past the Lake provided a vital resource to keep Man, Animal and thus vital trade routes and armies going.
And so it is today.
Although in Modern Times the Spring Lake has become insufficient as the only water resource for the City of around 150 to 200 Thousand souls and JiaYuGuan has diverted the TaoLai River into the Hei Shan Hu Reservoir for more, the Spring Lake recently has returned as a life provider for the economy of JiaYuGuan.
With an influx of Foreign Tourist over the recent years, the Spring Lake, part of a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site, has become the focus of development plans. That is, if it is up to the City in the Future tourists and vacationers can come to JiaYuGuan and loiter on the beach of the Lake where abundant waters will flow up pumped from aquifers deep beneath the desert soil. Hotels are planned conveniently nearby.
However, if this will become a reality and whether it will not turn out to be a Fatah Morgana remains to be
seen. Although JiaYuGuan is not lacking of water just yet, ongoing climate changes in Central Asia, the Taklamakan Desert and the Hexi Corridor combined with drastic over-pumping of groundwater to satisfy agricultural and industrial needs may put ambitions for tourist development to an early halt.
Already, the Spring Lake needs to be replenished regularly.
In the Future, the ongoing over-pumping of waters from the underground aquifer may finally deplete local water levels and completely end the flow of the Lake. And if that is not enough : if global warming trends continue, the nearby Glaciers will melt away, after which for certain, the sprouting Oasis will see its final demise.
A Full Google Earth Supported Map Overview of All Structures of the Great Wall of China from East to West, by DrBen.Net (c) ChinaReport.com and Google.com.
