Eleven kilometers (6.83 miles) to the downtown Jiayuguan City and 6.5 kilometers (4.03 miles) from Jiayuguan Pass, the Overhanging Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Work began on it in 1539, and was completed in the following year. It was built using layer upon layer of stone and yellow earth. In subsequent years, the wall has dwindled from its original length of 1.5 kilometers (0.93 miles) to its current 750 meters (2, 460 feet).

   

The Overhanging Great Wall is an extended part of the Jiayuguan Pass, and was once an important component in the medieval military defense system. Winding through the Gobi dessert to the steep Black Mountain (Hei Shan), the wall appears to hang over the cliff and block the vital pass of Shiguan Xiakou, which is how it got its name. It is similar in appearance to the grand Padaling Great Wall in Beijing, and is therefore also known as the Western Pedaling.

The Overhanging Great Wall was reconstructed in 1987, with sidesteps added to allow visitors to climb the Wall.