Yangguan Pass

The site of Yangguan (Yang Pass) is situated in the town of Nanxiang about 70 kilometers southwest of the city of Dunhuang.Yangguan was built along with Yumenguan by Emperor Wudi of the Western Han Dynasty when he opened up the areas west of the Yellow River in Gansu and established the four prefectures of Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, and Dunhuang there. It was a vital strategic point one had to pass through when he traveled westward from Dunhuang to follow the southern route of the Silk Road in Central Asia. Yangguan has long disappeared and what is left of it is little more than a ruined tower, which, standing on a reddish sandstone hill, is 4.7 meters high and 8 meters by 7.5 meters at the base and 8 meters by 6.8 meters at the top. The tower commands a perfect view of the vast area around it. Nothing but traces of the wall foundation of Yangguan are visible between sand dunes. Located south of the tower is a depression about five kilometers square. Known as Gudongtan(Beach of Curios), the place is strewn with broken tiles.