Yumenguan Great Wall

Situated 75km northwest of Dunhuang, the Yumen Guan(Jade Gate) Pass was a strategic pass on the ancient Silk Road. It was so named because the jade of Hotan in nowaday's Xinjiang region was transported to central China through this pass. It is was also known as "Small Square City". According to the Chinese legends, Small Square City of the Gansu province was situated in a very complex terrain.It was surrounded by swamps, valleys and forests.

Traders had to pass through this place to transport jade and other precious stones. It was often that traders with their caravans lost their way here. To mark the area a jade was stuck on the gate which guided the traders during the night. With this guide, caravans passing this post never got lost. From then on, the Small Square City was changed into Yumenguan Pass (Jade Gate Pass). Today, there is not much left and the only visible architecture there is the dirt tower. Wilderness dominates the area.