"Jiayuguan Pass" a Jiayuguan Travel Page by l_joo

For those interested in desert China, this is definitely a good destination. This page is about a tourist attraction in Gansu Province called Jiayuguan Pass, to see the ‘non-bricks’ Great Wall that built by the ancient emperors. A fresh new developing industrial city producing iron and steel. The location is in the middle of Hexi Corridor, Gansu.

Scenery value
Top class visual enjoyment for looking at such beautiful scenery. Extremely less inhabitants and less pollution. The long straight road we went through only saw each 10 to 15 minutes a car drove past or a peasant waving hand at our driver. Our eyes only see an extensive horizon of rough rockbound landscape covered with snows. Some part has loose short trees cultivated but majority still empty yet natural uncontaminated.

What to see?
If you never saw desert dry land, this is the place to see China’s western visages of bleak winter. Many attractions and ruins of olden days. Definitely worth a visit.

Our mini bus
January is so cold and so beautiful, a good time to visit. We hopped on a mini bus with 14 seats but nearly 18 passengers overloading together with our big packs. Peasants bring along their crops. A big surprise is the driver is a non-smoking young man. He glued a big tag in the front by highlighting ‘no smoking inside the bus.’

On bus smokers
The non-smoking driver went off for toilet. Within minutes, I can sense somebody lighted up a cigarette starting to blow. I turned over my face and then I point my finger at the tag “it says no smoking inside the bus.” That man pretends he did not see me, however he quickly suck in one deeper inhale and threw it out. Minutes later, another man in smart outlook did the same again. I still turn back my head and say “it says no smoking inside the bus.” This smart looking man repeated what the earlier man did by sucking harder before throw it out. The condition of that moment was like I am the one who offended the order. Whatever it is, China is full of funs for tourists but careful, don’t corrupt with them.

Women selling spices and groceries
This street is amazing, full of local goods and crops. We saunter a while to buy some unknown foods as dinner from the street. They are also selling tropical goldfish, but I think those goldfish must be feeling extremely cold at less than 5 Celsius.

Electronic bicycles
City dwellers riding this kind of products on the road. Roads are clean in Jiayuguan, very flat too without hilly or slopes. To ride an electronic bicycle shouldn’t be any problem.

Our taxi driver
You don’t have to worry about visiting the Great Wall or other attractions. The moment you appeared in the hotel, taxi fellows will start following you. I paid 60 yuan for 3 major spots. So don’t worry.

Chinese liquors
This is a shop that sells local brewed liquors. The blue price tag says 5 yuan for Sorghum. I regret I didn't try it. As an alternative, we go for ice cream, a big box of Jiayuguan made ice cream.

Cleanest city
In the railway station of Jiayuguan. We saw a proud complimentary award for their efforts in winning the cleanest city. Yes, this city is looking clean mostly due to less population.

Accommodations
The moment I visit was year 2002. I don’t know whether they still insist on that kind of aliens system. Same as other cities of China, only if they possessed a special certification otherwise aliens are not allowed to stay. We found only one hotel to accept us, look into my tips for further details.