The Great Wall of man and nature

Nowhere in the Hexi Corridor does a traveler feel closer to those who came before him than at Yumen Pass. Located about 90 kilometers northwest of Dunhuang, it marks the corridor's westernmost end — a threshold laden with both historical and emotional weight.

For those departing, this was the final farewell to familiar soil, a place for lingering glances before vanishing into the unknown. For those arriving, it was a gateway of hope — the desert and its hardships behind them, and ahead, the vibrant trading hub of Dunhuang, beckoning like a promise fulfilled.

Once surrounded on three sides by water — a strategic choice for its location — the pass now consists of only a rectangular fortress with crumbling rammed-earth walls that blend seamlessly into the surrounding Gobi.