These tombs date from approximately AD 220–420 (the Wei and Western Jin periods) and contain extraordinarily fresh brick wall paintings (some ineptly retouched) depicting scenes from everyday life, from making tea to picking mulberries for silk production. There are thousands of tombs in the desert 20km east of Jiāyùguān, but only one is currently open to visitors, that of a husband and wife.
The small museum is also worth a look and the only area where photos are permitted. A taxi here from central Jiāyùguān will cost around ¥70 so it’s worth paying a little more (¥100) to also visit Yěmáwān Bǎo Yízhǐ (野麻湾堡遗址), a former walled town with dramatically crumbling remains. Nearby are some unrestored sections of the Great Wall dotting farm fields and free to access.
