Jiayuguan pass tower

Jiayuguan Pass Tower is located in Jiayuguan City, Gansu Province. As the western starting point of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty, it has a long history. Below is a detailed introduction:

• Initial Construction: In the 5th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1372), Feng Sheng, Duke of Song, chose the narrowest point of the Hexi Corridor to build the earthen city of Jiayuguan on his way back after a victorious campaign. At that time, the pass existed without any towers.

• Expansion and Addition: In the 8th year of the Hongzhi reign of the Ming Dynasty (1495), Li Duancheng, the military defense administrator of Suzhou, presided over the construction of the Jiayuguan Tower on top of the main gate of the West Outer City. In the 19th year of the Hongzhi reign (1506), he built the Guanghua Tower and Rouyuan Tower in the inner city following the style and specifications of the Jiayuguan Tower.

• Completion and Improvement: In the 18th year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1539), Zhai Luan, the Minister, inspected the Hexi region and deemed it necessary to strengthen the defense. He then ordered the addition of watchtowers and corner towers on the pass city, as well as the construction of flanking Great Wall sections and beacon towers to the south and north of the pass. Since then, the scale and layout of Jiayuguan Pass Tower have been basically finalized.

• Modern History: In the 1st year of the Guangxu reign (1875), Zuo Zongtang led 80,000 soldiers from Hunan to set out from Jiayuguan to recover Xinjiang. He personally inscribed the phrase “The First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven” on the Jiayuguan Pass Tower.