JiaYuGuan is now a small city; but, at one time it was an important strategic strongpoint. It was the last major fort along the Great Wall and from that point China gave way to the great deserts of the Silk Road.
Today getting to the JiaYuGuan fort is quite easy. From the bus station, next to the train station, bus number four takes the traveler directly to the fort.
The fort, as mentioned is a major strategic point with several defendable gates. It contained a small city in the past and also contained the residence of the area commanding general.
Unlike the Eastern sections of the Great Wall, this area is not packed with tourists. As such, we were relatively free to wander at leisure.
This region also contains the first pier of the Great Wall. Yes, at one time this was the end of the wall. However, the wall here looks different than the heavily restored sections.
Later on a short span was added. This span is identifiable by the “Water Gate” and is often referred to as “The Hanging Wall.”
Be aware, some of the attractions at the First Pier are not available when it is raining. In good weather one crosses the river in a rope seat as it slides along the wire, which crosses the river.
To get to the First Pier and the Hanging Wall one can purchase tickets at the JiaYuGuan fort; in fact, it is part of the fort ticket. However, there is no plan for getting people to the First Pier and the Hanging Wall. As such, after seeing the fort one must go out to the street and haggle with taxi drivers for transportation. Expect this to add about 100RMB.
I was a little disappointed that the taxi driver insisted that I return to the cab within an hour while at the Hanging Wall (yes, I stretched the hour; after all, I hadn’t paid him yet. What was he going to do? Leave?). However, in all this provided an opportunity to see, and walk along, sections of the wall that are off the beaten tourist path.
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