Day 49: Yang Guan Pass

This Pass marked the entry point onto the Silk Road, and as such was used as a Visa point to enter China.

The museum there contained another comprehensive story of the Silk Road and many more relics found there. There was a display of plants introduced from China to the rest of the world which surprised me: it showed the grape, broadbean, carrot, and flax though far different from the New Zealand variety) amongst others. Another display showed a number of famous (ancient) Dunhuang people. Entertainment has clearly been a strength of Dunhuang for many years, the list including: Sui Cheng, Musician; Suo Jing, Calligrapher; and Zhou Fei, Artist. The list also included Song Qian, Educator; Gau Yu, Confucionist; and Gan Yin, Geographer.

In the spirit of the Pass being the gateway, we were each issued a mock passport with our own name handwritten by a calligrapher; and we were duly processed as we departed.

Counter to yesterday's display of defence against attack, outside the museum was a collection of fighting machines: a catapult, a battering ram, a similar device for tearing through walls, and a portable ladder. Whether those on display functioned could not be trialled, but it was exciting to see the other side of the barrage!