Location: Jiayuguan City is located in the northwest of Gansu Province, the center of Hexi Corridor. It is 776 km (482 miles) from Lanzhou and 450 km (about 280 miles) from Dunhuang.
Neighbouring Area: Inner Mongolia, Qinghai and Xinjiang
Physical Features: The altitude of the city is between 1,412 and 2,722 meters (4,632 - 8,930 feet). The city is located in an area where the Gobi desert meets the Qilian Shan mountain range while to the northeast and southeast the arid land has a number of oases.
Area: 2,935 sq km (approximately 1,133 sq mi)
Population: 170,000 (2004 statistics)
Nationalities: Han, Hui, Tibetan, Dongxiang, Yugur, Bonan, Kazak, Tu, Salar, Manchu, and Mongolian
Zip Code: 735100
Area Code: 0937
Mountains: Qilian Mountain & Heishan Mountain.
River: Taolai River
History: It was an important fortress in ancient times. Over 2,000 years ago in the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD), it became an important communication hub along the ancient Silk Road. During the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644), the westernmost end of the Great Wall was constructed here. In 1372, the city was named after the Jiayuguan Pass of the Great Wall.
Products: The luminescent cup, Jade Carving, Camel Hair Painting & Inkstone.
Photos: Jiayuguan Great Wall Photos
Climate Feature: Temperate continental desert climate. The average annual temperature is 6.7 - 7.7 ℃ (44.1 - 45.9 ℉). January is the coldest month and the lowest temperature is -28.6 ℃ (-19.5 ℉), while July is the hottest month and the highest temperature is 38 ℃ (100.4 ℉).
Best Time to Visit: May to October. The Jiayuguan International Gliding Festival is held in mid July annually; October is the best time to climb the Qiyi Glacier.
Transportation:
Air: Jiayuguan Airport is located about 9 km (5.6 miles) northeast of the city. There are regular flights to and from Beijing, Xian and Shanghai. Shuttle buses run between the city and the airport. Taxi fare from the city to the airport is about CNY 60.
Jiayuguan Railway Station: located on the West Yinbing Road 5 km (3.1 miles) southwest of the city center. Regular trains run to/from Beijing, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dunhuang, Hangzhou, Jiuquan, Lanzhou, Shanghai, Urumqi and Xian.
Jiayuguan Long-distance Bus Station: located at the junction of Middle Shengli Road and West Lanxin Road. There are daily coaches to Lanzhou, Wuwei, Jinchang, Zhangye, Yumen, Urumqi, etc.
Getting From Lanzhou: It takes 7 to 12 hours from Lanzhou to the city by train, and the tickets ranges between CNY 51 and 103 for hard seat, CNY 113 and 191 for hard sleeper. Visitors can also go to the Lanzhou Long-distance Bus Station next to the railway station to take the coaches to Jiayuguan; it takes about 10 hours, and costs CNY 110.
Getting From Dunhuang: Traveling by train from Dunhuang takes 4 to 5 hours, and the ticket for a hard seat is between CNY 23 and 54, and that for a hard sleeper is CNY 108. The long-distance buses depart at 11:30 and 14:30 every day; the whole journey takes around 5 hours and coats about CNY 66.
Transportation in the City: the city is not large, so almost all the attractions can be reached by taxi at a reasonable price; buses are also available in the city, and you can find all the buses terminals in the railway station.
Travel Tips:
Shopping: you can find souvenirs and local specialties in the Friendship Store at No. 1 North Xinhua Road, which is the city's most famous shopping mall where the quality of the goods is desirable. You can also try to find some 'treasures' at the small outlets along the streets.
Food: you can find many delicious local snacks at the food streets at the Zhenxing Market or the Jingtie Road. Recommended local food: stretched noodles, wonton, casserole, gluten, roasted mutton leg, stewed mutton, Instant-boiled Mutton etc.
During your trip:
a. The temperatures vary considerably between the day and night, so you may need to take a warm coat with you;
b. The sunshine is strong, so a pair of sun-glasses is quite necessary;
c. It is dry and windy in the area, so a scarf is very useful for ladies.
