Jiaguyuan 30.9.13

We were off the train at 6.15am and driven to the hotel where we had breakfast.  Then onto another bus to be driven to Jiaguyuan Fort and Museum.  The fort is being restored and is a mighty structure built during the Ming Dynasty.  It is at the most western point of the Great Wall and known as "the most impregnable pass under heaven".  It was the last major stronghold of the empire to the west and remains an impressive and formidable sight. I climbed all over it and walked a short way into the Gobi Desert.  The museum was excellent.  Then onto the western end of the Great Wall.  We were too tired to walk very far as it was quite warm.  The wall here is made of mud and straw (only materials available on the edge of the desert) not the stone of the wall near Beijing.  After a late lunch we took a stroll into the town which is most unprepossessing.  Bought 3 bottles of water and got some laundry done when we returned to the hotel.  It was returned a couple of hours later all beautifully washed and folded.  Very efficient.  Lovely big hotel.  Some of us had dinner in the hotel restaurant and shared a sponge cake provided by Frank to celebrate Willie's birthday.

Sitting on the western end of the Great Wall at Jiaguyuan

 

Diorama in the museum of the generals discussing strategies

 

Bactrian camels in the desert outside the fort.  Note the two humps

 

Fort view giving some indication of height of walls as gateway is about 15 feet high

 

A view of fort and people climbing the steps

 

Courtyard of fort