Yang Guan(Yangguan Scenic Area)
阳关景区
based on 60 reviews
No. 17 of Best Things to Do in GansuOpening hours of Yang Guan
Yang Guan attraction highlights
Yang Guan, a 4A-rated attraction located 70 km southwest of Dunhuang city in Gansu province, combines historical relics from the Han and Tang dynasties, desert landscapes, eco-agricultural tours, and the iconic Yang Guan view.
Yang Guan, named for its location south of Yumen Pass, was established during Emperor Wu's reign in the Western Han Dynasty. As a crucial stronghold on the southern Silk Road and a vital gateway for East-West transportation, Yang Guan gained widespread fame. The Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei immortalized it in his timeless verse: "I urge you to drink one more cup of wine, for west of Yang Guan you'll meet no old friends," further enhancing its allure. Today, Yang Guan stands as an integral part of Silk Road culture and one of China's most representative Great Wall heritage sites.
The attraction is rich in historical relics and cultural significance, featuring sites such as the Yangguan Ruins (located at Gudongtan), the Yangguan Beacon Tower (Dundunshan Beacon Tower) ruins, remnants of the Southern Silk Road, the Tang Shouchang City (Han Longle County) ruins, Han Wowa Pool relics, ancient fortress walls, tombs, and kiln sites. These showcase the cultural landscape of the Silk Road, the military heritage of the frontier passes and the Great Wall, and the ethnic traditions of the border regions.
The Yang Guan attraction, constructed within the scenic area, serves as the cultural heart and showcase of the site. Designed as a Han Dynasty-style fortress complex, it features the Two Passes Han Frontier Hall, Silk Road Hall, Ancient Dunhuang Military Culture Exhibition Hall, Han Dynasty-style ceremonial gate, replica Han military barracks, Commandant's Residence, replica Han-era Yang Guan fortress gate, Yang Guan ancient street, and study tour experience hall—all embodying a majestic, rustic aesthetic true to its historical roots.
Yang Guan boasts a rich collection of cultural relics with innovative exhibition designs. These artifacts, along with the surrounding field ruins and historical sites, provide tangible evidence for studying Dunhuang culture, ancient military culture, and the multicultural heritage of the Silk Road frontier regions. They hold significant historical, scientific, and artistic value.
After over two decades of dedicated efforts, Yang Guan has grown into a cultural brand and travel destination with notable recognition and influence. Yang Guan has been designated as a National Second-Class Museum, a Gansu Provincial Cultural Industry Demonstration Base, one of the first Historical Reenactment Project Model Museums, a National Study Travel Base (Camp), a China Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism Destination, a Chinese Poetry Research and Creation Base, a Yang Guan Teaching and Research Base of the China Great Wall Institute, a Jiuquan City Primary and Secondary School Study Travel Demonstration Base, a Jiuquan City Patriotic Education and National Defense Education Base, a Dunhuang City Primary and Secondary School Off-Campus Labor Education Practice Base, and a Yang Guan Intangible Cultural Heritage Protection and Inheritance Base.
Yang Guan offers visitors a range of unique activities, including guided tours (extra charge), themed transportation (horseback riding, camel rides, donkey cart rides), ancient costume rentals, and simulated border-crossing experiences. You can also participate in various educational programs such as archery drills, beacon signal relays, frontier poetry sessions, and Great Wall construction workshops. Step back in time and immerse yourself in Yang Guan's profound historical culture, breathtaking natural landscapes, and authentic local customs.
Yang Guan attraction package details
Yang Guan is a national study travel base dedicated to preserving and promoting China's excellent traditional culture. It offers numerous study courses and activities, allowing visitors to rediscover brilliant culture and inherit national wisdom through listening, observing, participating, experiencing, and feeling. The base provides over 20 study courses and activities, including the Yang Guan beacon fire relay, Great Wall construction, archery range, painted pottery making, rubbing creation, wooden slip production, mural copying, ceramic flute playing, and poetry chanting. To facilitate visitor choices, we've combined different packages. Please purchase your preferred package at the ticket window based on your needs, then redeem different study contents at designated redemption locations within the attraction. Contact: 0937-8833089.
Package for CNY 48: Choose any 2 study programs (options: rubbing making, 20 arrows at the archery range, fire making by friction)
Package for CNY 78: Pottery experience (wheel throwing) + 1 research project (options: rubbing making, fire making by drilling wood, pottery drilling, or 20 arrows at the archery range)
Package for CNY 108: Access pass + mural outline tracing + 1 research activity (options: rubbing creation, fire making by drilling wood, pottery drilling, or 20 arrows at the archery range)
Package for CNY 128: Access pass + mural outline tracing + 2 research activities (options: rubbing creation, fire making by drilling wood, pottery drilling, or 20 arrows at the archery range)
Explore Yang Guan in traditional attire: Costume rental set selling price CNY 58
Premium sightseeing tour: 1 border pass for CNY 30 + 1 set of ancient costume rental + 20 arrows for archery. Selling price: CNY 100
Premium experience tour: 1 CNY 30 border pass + horse or camel ride (choose one) + beacon relay + 1 rubbing copy. Selling price: CNY 160
Immersive ancient costume experience: 1 CNY 30 customs pass + choice of horse or camel ride + 1 set of ancient costume rental + 10 arrows for archery. Selling price: CNY 168
Premium souvenir tour: 1 border pass for CNY 30 + choice between horse or camel riding + 1 Yangguan ocarina + 10 arrows for archery. Selling price: CNY 168
Featured project images:
Costume rental
Rubbing creation
Archery range
Fire making by friction
Beacon signal relay
Pottery drilling
Pottery making
Mural reproduction
CNY 30 passport
CNY 30 passport
Fast pass
Camel riding
Horse riding
Take a donkey cart ride
Other visitors' reviews of Yang Guan
Show More ReviewsThere are so many ancient Chinese poems about "leaving Yangguan Pass and finding no old friends," so I had a strong attachment to this place and changed my itinerary specifically to come here, hoping to witness the splendor of Yangguan. However, it was truly indescribable, to the point that I completely lost expectations for the subsequent Yumenguan scenic area. Overall, it's a scenic area where "nostalgia outweighs the actual scenery," suitable for those with a historical perspective; those simply looking for sightseeing will likely be disappointed. The highlights are clear: the departure ceremony for the travel documents is very ceremonial, with officials in ancient costumes verifying and stamping the documents, creating a strong sense of immersion—arguably the most thoughtful interactive element in the scenic area. Although the Han Dynasty beacon tower ruins are now just rammed earth mounds, standing on the Gobi Desert and looking out, with the wind carrying sand, the desolate feeling of "leaving Yangguan Pass and finding no old friends" immediately comes to life. The sunset at dusk is particularly photogenic. The museum's exhibits of artifacts and historical materials are fairly solid. Visiting the museum first, then the ruins, fills in the historical context and enhances the experience considerably. However, the shortcomings are also prominent: only one genuine ancient ruin remains—a beacon tower—while the rest are mostly later reconstructions of fortified passes and streets, heavily commercialized. The entire scenic area offers almost no shade, making it unbearably sunny in summer and a poor walking experience. Overall, the experience is disappointing. Compared to the sheer volume of original ruins, the value for money is not high; the 50 RMB entrance fee plus the sightseeing bus fee is really not worth it. It's better to explore the surrounding areas of Dunhuang. In my opinion, this is just a personal suggestion. In general, it's worth visiting if you're on the western route of Dunhuang, but not worth making a special trip for. I recommend entering in the evening, renting an audio guide, and focusing on the beacon tower and museum; don't have high expectations for the reconstructions.