Standing atop any section of the Great Wall of China, one can’t help but feel tiny beside its endless stretch of stone and brick. This sense of boundlessness often sparks a common question: Where does the Great Wall begin? The answer lies in the far west of China, at Jiayuguan Pass in Gansu Province—known as the official western starting point of this world-famous structure.

Jiayuguan Pass: Location and Meaning

Literally translating to “Excellent Valley Pass,” Jiayuguan Pass sits at the narrowest point of the western Hexi Corridor, just 6 kilometers southwest of Jiayuguan City in Gansu Province. This strategic location made it a critical gateway in ancient times: it not only marked the start of the Great Wall’s western defense line but also served as a key stop on the ancient Silk Road, connecting China to Central Asia and beyond. For centuries, it stood as a boundary between the agricultural heartland of China and the vast grasslands of the north and west.

The Legend of the “Extra Brick”

The construction of Jiayuguan Pass began in 1372 during the Ming Dynasty, but it took 168 years to fully complete—a testament to its complex design and grand scale. Like many ancient landmarks, it is wrapped in local legends, the most famous being the story of the “extra brick.”

As the tale goes, when planning the pass’s construction, the officer in charge asked the chief designer to calculate exactly how many bricks would be needed. Fearing the number might be insufficient (a mistake that could lead to severe punishment), the designer added one extra brick to his final count. When the project was finished, to everyone’s surprise, there was indeed one brick left unused. This brick was then placed loosely on top of one of the pass’s gates—a symbol of the designer’s precision and foresight. Today, visitors can still see this legendary brick, a small but beloved detail that adds charm to the historic site.

A Masterpiece of Ancient Military Architecture

Jiayuguan Pass lives up to its reputation as the “First and Greatest Pass Under Heaven.” Its defensive system is a marvel of Ming Dynasty engineering:

• Scale: The pass features a trapezoidal city wall standing 11 meters high, with a total circumference of 733 meters, covering an area of over 33,500 square meters—equivalent to nearly five football fields.
• Defensive Layers: It has three lines of defense: an inner city (the core fortress), an outer city (a buffer zone), and a moat (a deep ditch surrounding the outer walls). This multi-layered design made it nearly impenetrable to enemy attacks.
• Historical Role: Beyond its military function, Jiayuguan Pass played a unique role in ancient Chinese society. It was a major stop for Silk Road merchants, and also served as the starting point for exiles—prisoners and former officials banished to the remote western regions.

The First Beacon Tower: The True “Start”

While the main pass is the most famous part, the exact starting point of the Great Wall at Jiayuguan is a small earthen mound—the remains of the first beacon tower, built in 1539. Originally, this tower stood 14 meters tall (as tall as a four-story building) and was square in shape. Over centuries of erosion and weathering, it has shrunk to a low mound, but its significance remains: it was the first in a network of 39 beacon towers around and inside Jiayuguan Pass.

These towers were critical for military communication. When enemy troops approached, soldiers stationed in the towers would send signals using fire (at night) or smoke (during the day), along with flag-waving. This system allowed warnings to travel hundreds of kilometers in just hours—an ancient “early warning system” that helped protect the border.

Jiayuguan Today: A Thriving Tourist Spot

Today, the Jiayuguan City government works tirelessly to preserve and promote this historic site. Recent efforts include launching a TV competition to showcase the pass’s beauty and history, drawing attention from media outlets across China. As a result, more and more visitors now travel to Jiayuguan to stand at the “start” of the Great Wall, walk its ancient walls, and learn about its rich past.

For anyone curious about where the Great Wall begins, Jiayuguan Pass offers more than just an answer—it provides a chance to step back in time, explore a masterpiece of military engineering, and feel the weight of history in every brick and tower. It is not just a starting point, but a symbol of China’s ancient strength, ingenuity, and connection to the wider world.