The First Fire Tower of the Great Wall
About seven kilometers south of Jiayuguan City lies the Great Wall's first fire tower, regarded by some as the world's first frustum, or cut-off pyramid. This structure marks the western beginning of the Ming Great Wall.
This frustum was built in the 18th year of the Jiajing Period of the Ming Dynasty (1539). With a flat top, it is a square pyramid, with its length, width, and height each 14 meters. As the result of water erosion over hundreds of years, some parts have been destroyed. Standing alongside a cliff, the frustum shows its age. To preserve the precious relic, the Jiayuguan city government has built a 30-meter-long arched fortification, which creates a secondary structure and functions as an enclosure. Standing on the tower, visitors can experience the grandeur of an ancient civilization while appreciating the marvelous view of the vast Gobi.
signal tower Great Wall of China Great Wall of China
Signal towers were also called beacons, beacon terraces, smoke mounds, mounds, or kiosks. They were used to send military communications: beacon (fires or lanterns) during the night or smoke signals in the daytime; other methods such as raising banners, beating clappers, or firing guns were also used. Signal towers, often built on hilltops for maximum visibility, were self-contained high...
| Admission Fee: |
CNY 21 |
| Opening Hours: |
Whole Day |
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