01Historic Walk
Jiayuguan Pass Fortress
嘉峪关关城
All Ages
Admission
CNY 110 for the three-site pass; sightseeing bus extra
Typical Visit
2-3 hours
Quick Facts
Ticket
Free entry with a valid ID; real-name reservation required.
Hours
09:00-17:00; last entry at 16:30.
Transport
No direct metro. Use a taxi, self-drive, or local bus to the Jiayuguan cultural heritage scenic area.
Duration
45-60 minutes
How to Visit
1
Reserve before the day of your visit
Complete a real-name reservation in advance and bring the ID used for the booking. Arrive before 16:30 to allow time for security and identity checks.
Tip:Entry is free, but a real-name reservation and ID verification are still required.
2
Allow time for the museum before outdoor sites
The museum is inside the Jiayuguan cultural heritage scenic area. Allow 45-60 minutes and use the exhibits to understand the wider Great Wall defense system.
Tip:Visiting before outdoor sites makes the later walls, beacon towers, and passes easier to understand.
3
Follow the exhibition sequence slowly
Beyond the large display scenes, the wooden slips, bricks, and administrative exhibits explain how the Great Wall was built, managed, and used.
Tip:The smaller objects and administrative exhibits provide useful context for the frontier system.
4
Keep the galleries comfortable for everyone
Follow the museum's visitor rules and avoid lingering in crowded areas. If one gallery is busy, visit a quieter section first and return later.
Tip:Keep noise low, do not touch exhibits, and avoid blocking narrow passageways for photos.
Highlights
- A museum dedicated to Great Wall history and culture, placing Jiayuguan within the frontier system of the Hexi Corridor.
- The Han Wudi Imperial Edict seven-sided wooden slip, which makes Han-period frontier administration and daily writing tangible.
- Exhibits on construction responsibility and artisan systems behind the Great Wall.
- Displays linking frontier life, Silk Road exchange, and military defense rather than focusing only on pass architecture.
Insider Tips
✦Entry is free, but a real-name reservation and ID verification are still required.
✦Visit before going to outdoor sites so the later walls, beacon towers, and passes make more sense.
✦Keep noise low in the galleries; do not touch exhibits or block narrow passageways for photos.
✦Jiayuguan has strong sun, so bring water and sun protection when continuing on foot outdoors.
More Jiayuguan Attractions
02Historic Walk
Overhanging Great Wall
悬壁长城
Admission
Included with CNY 110 three-site pass; sightseeing bus extra
Typical Visit
1-3 hours
03Historic Walk
First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall
长城第一墩
Admission
Included with CNY 110 three-site pass; sightseeing bus extra
Typical Visit
1-1.5 hours
04City Guide
Xincheng Wei and Jin Mural Tombs
新城魏晋壁画墓
Admission
CNY 31; tickets are purchased on site.
Typical Visit
About 1.5 hours
05City Guide
Jiayuguan City Museum
嘉峪关城市博物馆
Admission
Free entry; bring identification to collect an admission ticket.
Typical Visit
1-1.5 hours
06City Guide
Taolai River Canyon
讨赖河峡谷
Admission
Included with First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall admission; no separate ticket
Typical Visit
1-1.5 hours with the First Beacon Tower