Recently, the Jiayuguan Pass Cultural Heritage Protection Activity kicked off in Jiayuguan City, Northwest China’s Gansu Province. With a total investment of 2.03 billion yuan ($417 million), this project marks the largest ever renovation of this 600-year-old structure.
According to the local government, the protection project consists of three main parts: Great Wall protection, construction of the World Cultural Heritage Monitoring Center and construction of the World Cultural Heritage Park.
The main construction items include protection and maintenance of the Great Wall section in Jiayuguan City, repair of the wooden structure and walls of the Jiayuguan Pass, recovery of the decorations, paintings and historic buildings of the Jiayuguan Pass, as well as construction of security facilities.
Jiayuguan Pass, literally "Excellent Valley Pass”, is well known as the western starting point of the Great Wall constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). It used to be the frontier fortress of ancient China as well as an important hub on the Silk Road.