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Inner Mongolia undertakes Great Wall repair

BEIJING  -- The most extensive preservation project for the "Great Wall" has been launched by the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

May 11, 2008
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Fundraisers walk to Beijing on Great Wall

Singer and actress Olivia Newton-John and her partner John Easterling (L) walk along the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall of China in Hebei province, April 7, 2008 at the start of the "Great Walk to Beijing", which she initiated to raise funds to build the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre in Melbourne, Australia. International stars and cancer survivors will walk 228 km along the Great Wall of China for 23 days.

 April 07, 2008
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Japanese delegation climbs the Great Wall

Members of a Japanese youths delegation pose for a group photo on the Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, March 13, 2008. The 1,000-strong delegation is on a week-long friendly visit to China.

March 14, 2008
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Jiayu Pass (Jia-yu-guan)

Jiayu Pass (Jia-yu-guan)

Jiayu Pass is the first important pass at the west end of the Ming Great Wall. Jiayuguan City named after the pass is just located 6 northeast. Jiayu Pass is nestled in the middle of the narrowest part of the valley. Strategically built on a highland, the wall stretches 7 km northward to connect Heishan (Black Hill) Overhanging Great Wall, and extends 7 km southward to the No. 1 Beacon Tower.

First built in1372 (Ming Dynasty), the pass experienced 168 years of construction (1372-1539) until its completion. An interesting legend tells, when Jiayuguan was being planned, the officer in charge asked the designer to estimate the exact number of bricks required and the designer gave him a number. The general doubted the designer’s judgment, asking him if that would be enough, so the designer added one brick. When Jiayuguan was finished, there was only one brick left free, which was placed loose on one of the gates where it remains today.

Jiayu Pass (Jia-yu-guan)

The pass is trapezoid-shaped with a perimeter of 733 meters and an area of more than 33,500 square meters. The total length of the city wall is 733 meters and the height is 11 meters.

There are two gates: one on the east side of the pass, and the other on the west side. On each gate there is a building. An inscription of "Jiayuguan" in Chinese is written on a tablet at the building at the west gate. The south and north sides of the pass are connected to the Great Wall. There is a turret on each corner of the pass. On the north side, inside the two gates, there are wide roads leading to the top of the pass. Jiayuguan consists of three defense lines: an inner city, an outer city and a moat.

Among the passes on the Great Wall, Jiayuguan is the most intact surviving ancient military building. The pass is also known by the name the "First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven",which is not to be confused with the "First Pass under Heaven"), a different pass located at the east end of the Great Wall near Qinhuangdao, Hebei.

The pass was the most significant defense system to keep away the “barbarians” coming from west, and an indispensable station at the ancient Silk Road. In history, Jiayuguan has a somewhat fearsome reputation because many ex-officials being ousted from court were ordered to leave from here, and there was very little chance to come back.

Transportation:

Jiayuguan has a civil airport, but every few flights available. That is why the airport was once closed until June 2006. Only Beijing, Xian and Lanzhou has very limited flight connections with the city. Most tourist choose to take train from Xian or Lanzhou, then proceed to Dunhuang (Mogao Grotto) and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The official site of Jiayuguan Tourism Administration:
http://www.jygcc.com.cn/english/web/index.htm

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