Overhanging Great Wall,Jiayuguan

The Overhanging Great Wall was an extension of the Great Walls starting at the Jiayuguan Pass prorogating a long distance to the north becoming an integral part of the ancient defense system of the Jiayuguan Pass. The construction of the wall commenced in 1539 and underwent restoration in 1987. It was made from compounds of gravel and loess. At present only 750 meters of the original 1,500 meters of the wall remains standing in the desert. After the restoration there are now three signal-fire towers, one of which is right in the middle while the other two are on each end of the Great Wall.

It is quite a challenge for the visitors to climb up the top of the Great Wall even with 400-stairways built to ease climbing. But it is all worthwhile once you are on the top looking afar into the amazing desert. It is such peculiar scenery of far-flung desert stretching to the horizon decorated by scattered oases. Yet the isolation from the civilization and the abominable weather have made the locals struggled to live there from generation to generation.