Xi’an City Wall

Xi’an City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well as being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

History & Facts

When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), captured Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng admonished him that he should build high walls, store abundant food supplies and take time to be an Emperor, so that he could fortify the city and unify the other states. After the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang followed his advice and began to enlarge the wall built initially during the old Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), forming today’s scale of Xi'an City Wall.

After the extension, the wall now stands 12 meters (40 feet) tall, 12-14 meters (40-46 feet) wide at the top and 15-18 meters (50-60 feet) thick at the bottom. It covers 13.7 kilometers (8.5 miles) in length with a deep moat surrounding it. Every 120 meters, there is a rampart that extends out from the main wall. Altogether, there are 98 ramparts, which were built to defend against the enemy climbing up. Each rampart has a sentry building, in which the soldiers could protect the entire wall without exposing themselves to the enemy. Besides, the distance between every two ramparts is just within the range of an arrow shot from either side, so that they could shoot the enemy, who wanted to attack the city, from the side. On the outer side of the city wall, there are 5,948 crenellations, namely battlements. The soldiers can outlook and shoot at the enemy. On the inner side, parapets were built to protect the soldiers from falling off.

City Gates

Since the ancient weapons did not have the power to break through a wall and the only way for an enemy to enter the city was by attacking the gate of the city wall. This is why complicated gate structures were built within the wall. The wall includes four gates and they are respectively named as Changle (meaning eternal joy) in the east, Anding (harmony peace) in the west, Yongning (eternal peace) in the south and Anyuan (forever harmony) in the north.

The south gate, Yongning, is the most beautifully decorated one. It is very near to the Bell Tower, center of the city. Important greeting ceremonies organized by the Provincial Government are usually held in the South Gate Square. The South Gate Square was restored and formally opened to public on September 6, 2014. Covering an area of around 7.9 acres (32,000 square meters), the U-shaped square is divided into three parts, main royal road, secondary royal road and celebration square. Below the square is a large underground parking lot. Meanwhile, two museums inside the barbican and the archery tower of the South Gate are also open to the public. Tourists who visit the wall can enjoy a free visit to these two museums.

Each city gate has three gate towers: Zhenglou, Jianlou and Zhalou. The most outside is Zhalou, which stands away and is opposite to Zhenglou. It was used to raise and lower the suspension bridge. Jianlou with small windows in the front and flanks was used as a defensive outpost. Zhenglou, in the inner, is the main entrance to the city. The wall connects Jianlou and Zhenglou Towers. The area between them was called ‘Wong Cheng’, in which the soldiers were stationed. From Wong Cheng, there are sloped horse passages leading to the top of the wall.

Construction

Initially, the city wall was built with layers of dirt, with the base layer including lime and glutinous rice extract. Throughout the time the wall has been restored three times. In 1568, Zhang Zhi (the government officer of that period) was in charge of rebuilding the wall with bricks. In 1781, another officer, Bi Yuan, refitted the wall and the gate towers. More recently (since 1983) the Shaanxi Provincial Government restored the wall again. The circular City Wall Park has been built along the high wall and the deep moat. The thriving trees and flowers decorate the classical Chinese architecture of the wall, adding additional beauty to the city of Xi'an.

Travel Tips for Ascending the Wall

Encircling the rectangled city center of Xi'an, it has a total of 18 city gates, but they are not all open to visitors. Visitors can ascend the Wall from the South Gate, Small South Gate, East Gate, West Gate, North Gate, Heping Gate, Wenchang Gate and Hanguang Gate. You can choose the nearest city gate according to your location. No matter which gate you choose, you can tour the whole circle of the wall if you like. Here is a hiking itinerary around the wall starting from the South Gate for your reference.

The South Gate (Yongning Gate) is the most time-honored and magnificent one among all the city gates. There are bicycles for rental up to the South Gate. So it is popular for visitors to ascend here. If you stay near the Bell Tower, it is recommended that you take a 10-minute walk along the South Street to get to the South Gate.

How to get there

Getting to four major gates:

To the South Gate: Take metro line 2 to Yongningmen Station; bus no.6, 11, 12, 23, 46, 215, 239, 258, 600, 603, 608, 910, K600…and arrive at South Gate Station.

To the East Gate: Take bus no.8, 22, 27, 29, 33, 37, 43, 45, 102, 203, 218, 235, 252, 300, 527, 602, 604, or 903…and arrive at East Gate Station.

To the North Gate: Take metro line 2 to Anyuanmen Station; bus no.6, 26, 28, 33, 37, 39, 117, 205, 208, 214, 229, 236, or 511…and arrive at North Gate Station.

To the West Gate: Take bus no.4, 10, 15, 23, 31, 201, 205, 206, 215, 221, 222, 223, 300, 407, 504, 611 or 701…and arrive at West Gate Station.

Xi'an City Wall Bike Ride:

Try biking on the Wall, you will have an enjoyable and interesting experience. To cycle around the wall for a whole circle takes 2 hours at a medium speed. The deposit is CNY 200 for a single bicycle and CNY 300 for a tandem bicycle. A single bicycle costs CNY 45 for 2 hours. The tandem bicycle costs CNY 90 for 2 hours.
You will have to pay an extra charge if you cycle for more than 2 hours. An extra 10 minutes costs CNY 5 for a single bicycle, and CNY 10 for a tandem bicycle. Bicycles should be returned at the South Gate before 22:00 if you don't return them before 19:00 at the other three gates.

Sightseeing battery car:

The ordinary sightseeing battery car costs CNY 80 for a circle ride while the luxurious one costs CNY 120. One can also visit the wall by sections. The ordinary type costs CNY 20 between two stops. The luxurious type costs CNY 30.
Route: South Gate – West Gate – North Gate – East Gate
* Business Hours for bicycle rental and sightseeing battery car: 
8:00 – 20:00 (South Gate); 8:15 – 18:00 (West Gate, North Gate and East Gate)

Bus Tours (South Line):

The double-decker sightseeing bus runs from the Suspension Bridge Square. It provides a panorama view of the city, covering many famous attractions including the City Wall.
Route: South Gate - West Park of the City Wall - West Gate - West Street - Bell Tower - East Gate - South Gate
Service: drinking water/juice, guide
Fare: CNY 68 (valid in 24 hours from your first boarding); CNY 98 (including the wall admission ticket)
Hours: Mar-Oct: every hour from 9:00 to 17:00, while the last bus at 19:30; Nov - next Feb: every two hours from 9:00 to 17:00.
Duration: 1.5 hours

Ticket Price & Opening Hours

Nearby Attractions:

City Wall Park: The park surrounding the wall for a whole circle is the best place for the locals to spend their spare time and for foreigners to feel the true life and folkway in this city.

Forest of Stone Steles Museum: Located inside the Wenchang Gate to the east of the South Gate, it collects steles of different dynasties which offer a feast for Chinese history and calligraphy fans.

Tang Hanguang Entrance Remains Museum: Located inside the Hanguang Gate to the west of the South Gate, it keeps the precious relics of the City Wall of the Tang Dynasty.

Ancient Cultural Street of Shuyuanmen: Get inside the South Gate and turn eastward, you'll find this street full of antiques and souvenirs.

Defu Lane: A quiet path to the west inside the South Gate leads you to the leisure lane with many cafes and bars.