Discover Xi’an City Wall in China Silk Road Tour: Rich History and Beauty
The Xi’an City Wall, also called the fortifications of Xi’an, is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China, and is considered so significant that it is one of the earliest cultural relics to be protected by the Chinese government. If you’re going to China and doing a tour of the Silk Road, you must definitely see these famous walls! They have survived the ‘good old days’ and ‘bad ones’ as Xi’an has grown and changed, which makes them historic and valuable and has an amazing collection of antiques for lovers of antiquities.
Xi’an City Wall Facts: Essential Travel Information
- Address: 2 South Street, Beilin District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China
- Type: Historical landmarks, historic sites, and ancient ruins
- Best Timw to Visit: Spring and fall.
- Suggested Visiting Time: two to three hours
- Opening Hours: 8:00 to 22:00 for South Gate, 8:00 to 17:30 for Hanguang Gate, and 8:00 to 18:00 for other gates
- Tickets: 54 yuan
History of the Xi’an City Wall
When Was the Xian City Wall Built
When you are starting a Silk road trip of a lifetime, you certainly will feel that Xi’an City Wall serves as an awe-inspiring representation of the route’s lasting heritage. The Xi’an City Wall we are seeing today was constructed from the Hongwu year 7 to year 11 of Ming Dynasty (1374-1378). It was built on the model of the Tang Dynasty’s Chang’an City, the imperial city of the time. This Ming city wall actually dates back to the predecessor of Tang Chang’an City, the 6th century Sui Daxing City.
A Building Went Through Multiple Reconstructions
The Xi’an City Wall is one of the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in China. It holds great importance and is a top cultural treasure that China protects. If you travel to China for Silk Road tours, visiting this wall is a must. Over the years, Xi’an has changed, and the wall has witnessed both good and bad times. This history adds to its value and makes it fascinating for people who are interested in antiques.
Architectural Highlights of the Xi’an City Wall
A Complete Architecture System
The Xi’an City Wall is a rectangular enclosed fortification surrounded by a circle of tall walls, but the wall is by no means the only component. As an ancient city’s defense system, the Xi’an City Wall also includes the moat on the outside and the inner ring road, among others. In addition, the city gates, gate towers, barbicans, outer barbicans, sluice towers, drawbridges, arrow towers, bastions, watchtowers, and corner towers together form a complete city wall architectural system.
Xi’an City Wall Length & Size
This part of town, within the ancient city wall, is lovingly referred to by locals as the “Old City District,” covering 11.32 square kilometers. Smack dab in the center of it all lies the iconic Xi’an Bell and Drum Towers. The wall itself is a sight to be seen, coming in at a staggering 12 meters high. It’s quite thick too, at 12 to 14 meters wide at the top and 15 to 18 meters wide at the base.
Different Gates of the City Wall
The Xi’an City Wall features four main gates: Changle Gate (East Gate), Yongning Gate (South Gate), Anding Gate (West Gate), and Anyuan Gate (North Gate).
- Changle Gate: The easternmost gate of Xi’an City Wall. “Changle” means forever joyous and forever prosperous.
- Yongning Gate: The oldest city gate in Xi’an and longest in use. Today, Yongning Gate, the south gate of Xi’an city wall, welcomes visitors from all over the world.
- Anding Gate: Commonly known as the West Gate, it was the central gate on the west side of the Tang Dynasty imperial city.
- Anyuan Gate: It was built as the northern gate when the city wall was built during the Ming Dynasty.
These 4 gates are the original gates of the ancient city wall of Xi’an. But to make it easier to go in and out of the ancient city, some new gates have been added. Now Xi’an City Wall has 18 gates.
A Wall for Defensive Purpose
The defensive capability of the ancient City Wall in Xi’an is extremely robust, fully centered around a “defense” strategic system. The wall is thicker than it is high so the whole thing is solid as a rock. The top is 12-14 meters wide so you can drive a vehicle and do military drills.
The city wall design takes into account all defensive needs such as arrow towers, sluice towers and main gate towers etc. The main gate tower is 32 meters high and 40 meters long. It has hip and gable roof design with upturned eaves on the 4 corners and triple tiered roof structure. The ground floor is surrounded by a colonnade and it has an ancient and charming feel that is really cool.
Best Ways to Visit Xian City Wall
Cycling
Visitors can cycle around the entire city wall to experience its charm. As part of your Silk road travel, cycling atop the Xi’an City Wall is a unique way to experience the ancient route’s legacy. Cycling around the Xi’an City Wall takes about 75 to 100 minutes. East Gate, West Gate, North Gate, South Gate East, and South Gate West are the five bike rental and return locations located within. You can rent and return bikes at any of these places.
Walking
If cycling’s not your jam, how about walking the wall instead? It is a great way to absorb the beauty spread around on both sides while entail a smooth relaxing path in a Xian city wall tour.
How long does it take to walk the Xian City Wall
Walking along the wall will take much longer time than cycling – at least four hours.
A visit to the Xi’an City Wall Museum
For history buffs, the Xi’an City Wall Museum situated at the south gate of the wall is a must-visit. It is a storehouse of information on the wall’s history and the role it played in the city’s developmental journey.
Sightseeing
You shouldn’t leave without catching a view of Xi’an from the top of the wall. It is what makes your Silk Road trip complete. Xi’an City Wall is most beautiful at night when the lights of the city form a dazzling garland.
Must-try Things on a Xi’an City Wall Tour
- Take beautiful photos in Chinese Hanfu: Dressed in traditional Chinese Hanfu and taking photos are a precious experience you must not miss when visiting the city wall. This has become one of the must-do for visitors traveling to Xi’an. The combination of Hanfu and the ancient city wall is like a time travel, as if descending from the heaven to the mortal world.
- Visit the Museum: On the wall, there is the Hanguang Gate Museum, you can see the fillings of the city wall from different eras, including Tang, Song, Ming, Qing dynasties, and the Republic of China period. It’s a must-see.
Best Time to Visit Xi’an City Wall
Spring and autumn are the best times to visit Xian since the city has a pleasant temperature. Summers are hot and winters are cold; nevertheless, Xi’an has unique beauty especially the ancient city wall after a snowfall.
How to get to Xi’an City Wall
- By bus: The Xi’an City Wall has eight entrances: East Gate, South Gate, West Gate, North Gate, Peace Gate, Wenchang Gate, Hanguang Gate and Shangde Gate. Visitors can get to Xi’an City Wall via bus routes 22, 23, 27, 29, 33, 37 47, 602, 612, and 704.
- By subway: Yongningmen Station is where you get off Subway Line 2. Come to the South Gate Ceremonial Square after leaving A1 or D1, where you can walk up the city wall of Xian.
Helpful Travel Tips
- The Xi’an City Wall has eight access points for climbing, and you can choose the nearest gate to ascend the wall.
- The best way to explore the old city wall is to rent a bicycle, which costs 40 yuan for a tandem bike and 20 yuan for a single bike for an hour and a half.
- The scenery is most beautiful at dusk.
- The city wall is about 13.9 kilometers long, so if you plan to walk, be prepared.
Nearby Attractions
- The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda: Also called the Great Compassion Temple Pagoda. It is found in the Great Compassion Temple on the southern edge of Xi’an. It’s a great example of Buddhist architecture from the Tang Dynasty in China.
- The Shaanxi History Museum: It contains 370,000 cultural relics, with beautifully made Shang and Zhou bronze ware, many terracotta figurines, famous Han and Tang gold and silverware and the only Tang Dynasty tomb murals.
