Yangguan Pass, with a history of over 2000 years, is
located 70kms southwest of Dunhuang city. Early in 114
B.C. in the Han dynasty, in order to resist the Huns
(Xiongnu) and manage the West Region, emperor of the
Han dynasty established Yangguan Pass and Yumenguan
Pass as well as Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan and Dunhuang
counties. As the main access to West Region and an important
conjunction on the south route of the Silk Road, Yangguan
Pass was a military stronghold in ancient times. Since
the Han dynasty, a large number of forces have been
stationed here.
After the Song dynasty, quicksand devoured the ever-refulgent
pass. Today, the Yangguan Pass was replaced by boundless
sands and only several beacon towers, fairly broken,
stand at a height of 4.7 meters in the distance.
You may often find ancient relics such as bricks, pottery
pieces, coins, arrows, bronze decorations, seals and
living utensils ranging from the Han to the Song dynasty
in the sand dunes nearby. Round and thin white and black
stone pieces may also be found.
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