嘉峪关市

Why this place

Jiayuguan is where the Ming Great Wall ends — the westernmost gate, a fortress standing alone in the Gobi with desert and snow mountains behind it. It is the most evocative wall site in China, precisely because there is nothing else around it.

What to see

• The Jiayuguan fortress — the 'First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven', the western end of the Ming wall
• The Overhanging Wall and the wall's dusty remains running into the desert
• The Wei-Jin tomb murals, in the desert north of the city
• The Qilian Mountains to the south, snow-covered most of the year

What to eat

• Gansu northwest cooking: lamb, noodles and the local 'jiachang' dishes
• Jiayuguan is known for its 'zhong' dishes and its dried fruit

Best time

May–October

Practical tips

• Combine Jiayuguan with the Dunhuang Mogao Caves — they are on the same rail line and usually done as one trip