Jiayuguan — Secret of the Dark Wall
Uncover the hidden imperial decree that doomed the builder of the Dark Wall at Jiayuguan Fort. Decode clues across ancient fortifications to expose the curse before it claims another victim.
📱 1 to 10 phones · 1 team per phone · Independent codes
In 1372, as the Ming Dynasty fortified the western frontier against Mongol hordes, architect Yi Ke meticulously calculated 99,999 bricks for the impregnable Jiayuguan Fort—known as the First and Great
Jiayuguan — Secret of the Dark Wall
You are an elite Ming Dynasty imperial scout, tasked with thwarting a conspiracy threatening Jiayuguan Pass, the sentinel of the Silk Road.
You begin your quest at the main entrance of Jiay
Delve into the secrets of the Great Wall of China in Jiayuguan, where the Ming Dynasty erected its most impregnable western outpost in 1372.
The story that haunts this land
Your journey begins at the Guanghua Gate, the east gate of Jiayuguan Pass's inner city. Built in 1372, this gate was an integral part of the Ming fortress's defensive system. The building atop the gate served for guard duty and command, offering you a first perspective on the military organization of this Great Wall of China outpost. Observe the solidity of its structures, designed to withstand invasions and protect the vital trade routes of Gansu.
Continue towards Wenchang Pavilion and the Dingcheng Stone, at the heart of Jiayuguan's walls. The fortress, covering 33,500 m² and 733 m long, comprised three lines of defense: the inner city, the outer city, and a moat. The inner city, trapezoidal in shape, featured walls 11 m high and 640 m long. These massive structures attest to the military ingenuity of the Ming Dynasty and Jiayuguan's strategic importance as 'the impregnable pass under heaven.'
The Overhanging Great Wall (Xuanbi Great Wall) awaits you next. This section of the Great Wall, located approximately 6 km from Jiayuguan city center, was built during the Ming Dynasty as a defensive extension of the fortress. Its audacious position on the ridges allows you to understand the complexity of the region's defense system. It is included in the same ticket as Jiayuguan Pass, offering continuity in your exploration of Gansu's heritage.
Your investigation then leads you to the First Beacon Tower of the Great Wall, 10 km south of Jiayuguan. This earthen tumulus, erected on the edge of the Taolai River gorge, was the first strategic watchtower of the western outpost. Today, it has been developed into an attraction with an exhibition hall, a reconstruction of the Taolai Inn, and Ming barracks, immersing you in the daily life of the soldiers who guarded the Silk Road.
Upon completing your journey in Jiayuguan, you will have explored the fortifications that marked China's western frontier during the Ming Dynasty. You will have uncovered the secrets of military architecture, the history of trade on the Silk Road, and the lives of the empire's guardians. This thematic circuit in Jiayuguan doesn't just offer a visit to monuments; it provides a concrete immersion into the history of this Gansu city, where every stone tells a part of the 'Secret of the Dark Wall' and the vast legacy of the Great Wall of China.
A game, a guided tour and a heritage guide — all in one
You're not just buying an escape game. You're carrying a living guide — historical anecdotes, forgotten legends, key monuments, hidden architecture — unfolding as you go.
At each stop, places ordinary guides miss — secret façades, sculpted crests, alleys steeped in history.
Every riddle is rooted in a real historical fact or local legend. You leave with dozens of stories to tell.
Learn to read buildings — flamboyant Gothic, Baroque, Art Deco — like a real art historian, while having fun.
Walk through the city like a novel's character — every alley becomes a stage, every square a theatre.
A voice walks with you at every step, tells the story of each place, reads clues, adds a cinematic feel.
Keep access to the guide & game for 1 year. Come back any time, share it with friends.
« You will not leave this city the way you entered it. »
How does it work?
Explore the city on foot solving puzzles based on real historical facts. No locked room — the city is your playground.
No app to download. Play directly from your browser. Guided step by step, at your own pace.
One purchase per phone is enough. Play with family, friends or as a couple — everyone participates.
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears and speaks to you in your language. Golden letters magically write themselves on the wall to reveal the puzzle answer.
Stuck? Progressive personalised hints. The character repeats the puzzle on demand — at your own pace.
French, English, German, Spanish, Italian + 27 other languages auto-translated by AI.
Want to go deeper?
Places tied to your adventure — optional entries, totally up to you · per person
The Route
8 stages through the city
The gameplay: AR, camera, hidden clues
At each stop, open your phone camera: an augmented reality character appears on the façade and speaks your language. Hunt the clue — it materializes as golden letters on the real wall or floats in front of you. When you find it, the phone vibrates, an AR chest opens and reveals your answer fragment. 8 stops, 8 clues to find with the camera, 1 final code.
The stops on your route are a surprise. You'll discover them one by one, guided by your phone, starting from the meeting point.
How does it work with a group?
One phone = one team. Pick the number at checkout (1 to 10).
Solo, or a group sharing the screen. One team, one code.
Family, couple, or 2-3 teams competing. Each phone has its own code and its own score.
Friends, bachelor/bachelorette, small office outing — each their own code, each plays at their own pace. Tiered pricing then €6 flat per phone from the 6th.
- ✓All codes are independent — play at the same time OR separately, each team advances at its own pace.
- ✓Leaderboard between your teams + global game leaderboard — each score appears in the public ranking.
- ✓More than 10 phones or need a personalized quest? Discover custom tours.
Ready to live this adventure?
Get my code · 12€No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒 Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
Practical info
Why this route?
Ming Fortifications
Explore the defensive architecture of the Great Wall's largest fort.
Secret Decree
Unravel an encrypted message hidden by a disgraced general.
Desert Frontier
Navigate through the austere landscapes that were the last stop for exiles.
The past is a labyrinth of secrets, the Great Wall is its key.
Unravel the threads of an imperial conspiracy hidden in the stones of Jiayuguan.
9 features nobody else has
OddballTrip combines gamified play, augmented reality and AI. All our competitors deliver 1 or 2 of these angles. We deliver all 5.
AR treasure chest
A golden chest floats in front of the monument. Tap → opening animation → reveals a secret message.
AR narrator character
Point your phone at the façade: a knight, witch, monk, sailor, detective or ghost appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language with their dedicated ElevenLabs voice (each character has their own unique voice) — your living guide.
Magic golden letters
At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's the puzzle answer. An unforgettable visual effect.
Written + audio narration
Every puzzle available as text AND voice-over: read at your own pace or listen eyes-free while walking. Great in groups and for accessibility.
360° radar + vibration
A mini-radar shows the target even behind you, and the phone vibrates when you aim in the right direction.
Heritage storytelling
Every puzzle weaves in real historical facts (architecture, era, anecdotes). You learn by playing — like a gamified audioguide.
Progressive AI hints
3 levels of AI-generated help: vibe → where to look → answer format. You're never stuck.
AR selfie memento
At the end of the game, capture a selfie with OddballTrip banner + mascot, shareable on Instagram, TikTok.
Zero app to install
PWA technology: open the link, it plays in your browser. Same quality as an app, no App Store hassle.
Frequently asked questions
Q01Do I need to download an app?
No, never. You get a link, you click, it plays in your browser. That's the point of a PWA: same as an app, without the hassle.
Q02Does it work offline?
GPS yes (handled by your phone). Maps yes (tiles cached). AI and hints need an intermittent 4G connection.
Q03How long does a game take?
1 h 30 to 2 h 30 depending on your pace. The timer runs but only for the leaderboard — you play at your own tempo.
Q04What happens if I'm stuck?
You get 3 levels of hints per puzzle (increasing penalty). If truly stuck, you can skip the step (45-min penalty but you keep going).
Q05What's the age range?
From 12 without an adult, from 6 with an adult reading puzzles. Works for families, couples, friend groups, companies.
Q06What if my city isn't in the catalogue?
Pre-register or contact us — we'll email you as soon as your city is live.
Q07What is augmented reality exactly?
Point your phone at the façade: a historical character appears full-screen and speaks to you in your language. At the puzzle climax, golden letters magically write themselves on the real wall — that's your answer. After each puzzle solved, a treasure chest floats in front of you. Seeing is believing.
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Your turn to play
Delve into the secrets of the Great Wall of China in Jiayuguan, where the Ming Dynasty erected its most impregnable western outpost in 1372.
1 purchase = 1 phone. Play several on the same device.
No calendar booking. Code sent immediately by email.
🔒Secure payment · Code in 5 min · Free cancellation
🪙+24 TripCoins granted with your booking
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