Located
seven miles to Jiayuguan City in Gansu Province and four miles to
the northwest of the pass city of Jiayuguan
Pass, the overhanging Great Wall is an important part of the
defensive work of Jiayuguan Pass. It was built in the year of 1539
during the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644).
The wall was built by using local gravels and yellow earth layer
upon layer. Originally, it measured 0.9 miles long. But due to natural
disasters and human destruction, only 820 yards of the present wall
remains with 253 yards climbing onto the north slope of Heishan
Mountain which is 492-feet high and tilted 45 degrees. Take a grand
view, the wall seems to overhang in the sky, hence its name. The
wall is composed of the main path, battlements and three observation
posts. Its imposing appearance and manner are very much like those
of Badaling
Great Wall, so it is reputed as 'the Western Badaling Great
Wall'.
Stand at the top of the wall and scan widely, you will see the
boundless desert extending to the faraway places, with scarce oasis
distributed in. What a desolate and lonely view!