A deep tour of 18 gates of Xi'an City Wall

Xi'an City Wall is endowed with profound history, witnessing the city's rapid development, and the eighteen gates are signs of the city, always accompanying the residents. However, do you know the background stories of these gates?

01 Yongning Gate 

Yongning Gate, commonly known as the South Gate, is the oldest gate in Xi'an. It was built in the early Sui Dynasty. Its original name was Anshang Gate, and it was changed into Yongning Gate in the Ming Dynasty. Today's Yongning Gate is a "cultural gate" to welcome tourists from all over the world.

02 Zhuque Gate

Zhuque Gate was originally the South Gate of the imperial city of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty, and Zhuque Avenue in the center of the city is right under the gate. During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, emperors often held celebrations here. When Xi'an city wall was restored in 1985, the heritage of Zhuque Gate in the Ming city wall was excavated.

03 Wumu Gate 

Wumu Gate, commonly known as the Small South Gate, was opened in 1939 and offered the name Wumu Gate in 1974. It is located between the Hanguang Gate and Zhuque Gate of the southern city wall. The Wumu Gate has only one door, with Sifu Street inside and Hongying Road outside.

04 Hanguang Gate 

Hanguang Gate is located southwest of Chang'an Imperial City in the Tang Dynasty. When Han Jian built the new city in the late Tang Dynasty, he closed its middle and west doors and retained the east door. In 1984, when the city wall of Xi'an was renovated, the site of Hanguang Gate was excavated, and the pillar foundation made of granite and the threshold of engraved flowers were found.

05 Anding Gate 

Anding Gate, commonly known as the West Gate, was originally the middle gate in the west part of the imperial city in the Tang Dynasty. When the city wall was expanded in the Ming Dynasty, it was moved slightly to the south, named Anding Gate, implying the prosperity and peace of the western border area. The West Gate Tower in the gate is the most complete ancient fort in China so far.

06 Yuxiang Gate 

Yuxiang Gate was opened in 1928 in memory of general Feng's historical achievements. Yuxiang Gate is one of the relatively old city gates other than the four inherent gates in the four directions of Xi'an City. It is also an important traffic channel in the northwest of the city.

07 Shangwu Gate 

Shangwu Gate, located at the far west of the north city wall, is commonly known as the Small North Gate. It is the youngest of the 18 gates, opened after the founding of new China.

08 Anyuan Gate 

Anyuan Gate, commonly known as the North Gate, was built in Ming Dynasty when the city wall was built. The word "Anyuan" inherits the pacify policy adopted by the Han in the Central Plain for the remote ethnic groups. It is hoped that the remote ethnic groups could submit to unified leadership by the state.

09 Shangde Gate 

Shangde Gate was opened in 1986 on the southwest side of Xi'an Railway Station. It is named after the Shangde Road.

10 Jiefang Gate

Jiefang Gate was originally the central gate of the Republic of China. In 1952, it was temporarily demolished to expand the railway station square. In 2005, it was rebuilt to form a large-span bridge arch gate, which completed the whole Xi'an City Wall.

11 Shangjian Gate

Shangjian Gate is located in the middle of Jiefang Gate and Shangqin Gate, about 200 meters away from Jiefang Gate and less than 200 meters away from Shangqin Gate, so it can be called the "sister gate" of Shangqin Gate.

12 Shangqin Gate

Shangqin Gate is the easternmost gate of the northern city wall. Together with Shangde Gate, Shangwu Gate and Shangjian Gate, they imply the connotation that "good moral character, martial arts and fitness, diligence and frugality".

13 Chaoyang Gate

Chaoyang Gate, the northernmost gate of the east city wall. As this gate faces directly towards the sun in the east, hence the first gate to be touched by the sunlight, so it is named Chaoyang (face the sun) Gate.

14 Zhongshan Gate

Zhongshan Gate, commonly known as the Small East Gate, is named in memory of Dr. Sun Yat Sen.

15 Changle Gate 

Changle Gate, the East Gate of Xi'an City wall, was opened in the Ming Dynasty. Since the capital of the Ming Dynasty was located in the east of Xi'an, the East Gate was named "Changle", implying the happiness that could last for thousands of years.

16 Jianguo Gate 

Jianguo Gate, the easternmost gate of the southern city wall, was opened in 1986. The road that faces towards the gate in the inner city is Jianguo Road, which is a pretty short street. However, it carries profound history. Countless historical celebrities have lived here, and many important institutions have been established here.

17 Heping Gate

Heping Gate, Xi'an Railway Station, and the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda are all on the same north-south axis, and the gate was opened in 1953. In order to express people's aspiration for world peace, it is called Heping (peace) Gate.

18 Wenchang Gate

Wenchang Gate was opened in 1986 on the south side of the Forest of Stone Steles Museum. Historically, the area between Wenchang Gate and Yongning Gate has been the gathering place of national and local cultural and educational institutions since the Tang Dynasty.

The story of the eighteen gates is still going on. Seize the moment and go around the city wall in your leisure time.