On day two, we traveled an hour outside of Dun Huang to visit Jade Gate Pass. For one hour this was all the scenery we saw. It’s interesting visiting an oasis town. Inside the town, there are tall, green trees and a lovely lake. Outside of the city, there is sand. SO MUCH SAND!
This pass was really a fort located in between two mountains. Later, Jade Gate Pass was referred to as the main gate to the Silk Road. Travelers would come to this fort to get permission to go abroad or enter into China. Visiting Jade Gate Pass was like getting your passport!
While there, our Anthropology professor told us many people find pottery pieces dating back to the Han Dynasty. And guess what, I found a piece! I can’t wait to show people once I return home!
We next visited the Han Dynasty Great Wall. This wall is nothing like the famous Great Wall because it is only 1 to 1.6 meters tall (in it’s prime it was 2 meters tall).
I found it interesting to see that China loves to build walls! However, these are actually effective in keeping men riding horses out- considering that the horses cannot climb over the walls as humans can.
Next stop, sand dunes!
One response to “Day Two- Jade Gate Pass and Han Dynasty Great Wall”
Dear Eva. I am putting together an educational website about ancient trade and I was wondering if I could use your photo of the Jade Gate Pass. I will give you complete credit, though I don’t know your last name. The site as it is now is http://www.CrossingTheOceanSea.com. I want to include your photo on the page about the Silk Road. Thanks Mary Ames Mitchell