Introduction

Dunhuang Yangguan pass is located in Nanhu Village 70 kilometers from Dunhuang City. It was constructed by Emperor Wu to protect the Hang Dynasty from outsiders. The Pass is one of the two most important western passes with the other one located on the western boarder of the Great Wall and is known as the Yumenguan Pass.

Xuan Zang an eminent Buddhist monk arrived at the pass upon his return from India where he had headed for pilgrimage and in search of Buddhist scriptures.  during a period that the Yangguan Pass was a military base and was rich in water and considered an oasis.

The region where Yangguan Pass is located used to have a city full of life and was like an oasis’s but it was submerged by the desert leaving only the remains of the beacon tower of Dundun Hill to what it is up to date.

Major attractions and activities to do on a visit

Inscription corridor

This corridor was built on the beacon tower to appreciate the ancient ruins of Yangguan and from here it is possible to have a birds eye view of the snow mountains, the desert and the natural oasis.

Beacon tower and the ancient ruins

During the construction of the Great Wall they set up beacons every 10 miles away and around the Pass is the Dundun Mountain with the remaining highest beacon at 5 meters high and 8 meters wide after the rest were covered in sand dunes and eroded by forces of nature. There are bits and pieces of the wall with remains of other beacons evident of the past.

Yangguan Museum

A glimpse of the grandeur of the past with over 4000 relics such as jade, weapons, bronze ware, fabrics and ironware this museum is a miniature city representing how the pass was set up when it was operating with an office, a main gate and a barracks settlement for the army. There is also a decorated archway of Han Dynasty, huge engravings and the art of the great mural Youyi Tu

Beach of curios

Located south of the beacon tower is a heaven for treasure hunters believed to be formed after a sandstorm occurred against a caravan that was carrying one of the royal princess’s dowry. It is believed that no one comes out of the small valley empty handed as you will definitely collect something. Back in the days called souvenir hunters would go there treasure hunting.

Experience the exit-entry procedure

This interesting exit procedure earns you immigration papers for leaving the pass carried out in a manner that was used back in the day. Tourists start at the generals office by applying for a passport then after you get authorization you proceed to the gate tower for a check before you are sent off to foreign soil in an ancient ceremony of dancing.