These two gates formed the westernmost expansion of the Great Wall and represented the fringes of Chinese civilization for centuries.

Yumen Guan (Yùménguān, 玉门关, Jade Gate) and Yang Guan (Yáng guān, 阳关, Sun Gate) were built by Emperor Wudi more than 2000 years ago and protected the Hexi Corridor entrance near Dunhuang from Hun invasions.

After the Han Empire solidified its control over the vital corridor along the Silk Road, the fortresses became trading outposts for jade caravans arriving from Hotan and for silk and tea caravans heading west toward Persia and eventually Rome.

They were know as the "Little Square City," and Han rulers encouraged not only soldiers but also settlers to pick up and move to this frontier fortress - in the hopes of turning a fortress and trading post into a flourishing town.

But Yumenguan and Yangguan never became the town that the Chinese emperors hoped it would become, and after the fall of the Han Dynasty, the wall here and the gates fell into ruins. The fortresses stood empty for centuries, having been largely supplanted by the larger Ming Dynasty fortress of Jiayuguan.

Today a small square fortress and remnants of the Great Wall are still visible.

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