A beacon tower built more than 2,000 years ago is seen at the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. The remaining tower stands 4.7 meters high, with the remnants of the fort, the stable, and an ash heap still visible in its southwest corner. /CGTN
Visitors explore the area believed to be the site of the ancient Yangguan Pass at the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. /CGTN
A view of the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province /CGTN
The entrance of the Yangguan Museum is seen at the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. /CGTN
A statue of Zhang Qian is seen at Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. The Chinese envoy began his expedition to the Western Regions around 2,000 years ago and opened a trade route that later became the Silk Road. /CGTN
A painted wooden figure of Water-Moon Guanyin dating to the Liao and Jin Dynasties (907-1234) is on display at the Yangguan Museum at the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. /CGTN
A replica of an ancient carriage is on display at the Yangguan Museum at the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. /CGTN
A photo shows the exterior of the Yangguan Museum at the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. The museum serves as a cultural exhibition center designed in the style of a Han Dynasty fortress. /CGTN
Visitors explore the Yangguan Scenic Area in Dunhuang, Gansu Province. /CGTN
Located in Dunhuang, Gansu Province, the Yangguan Pass was established around 120 B.C. during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty. It was the westernmost outpost of China at that time. As a critical landmark on the ancient Silk Road, Yangguan has been immortalized in numerous Chinese poems over the centuries.
Although the ancient pass has been buried beneath the sand for over a millennium, visitors can still sense its historical significance through the ruins of the ancient structures and the cultural artifacts exhibited at the Yangguan Museum.