Xi'an City Wall - Famous Ancient City Wall in Xi'an, China
Last Update: 9th October 2020
What is the Xi'an City Wall?
Located in downtown Xi'an, the Xi'an City Wall is 12 meters high. The top is 12-14 meters wide, while the bottom is 15-18 meters wide, the outline is closed rectangle, and the circumference is 13.74 kilometers. The existing wall was originally built in 1374 and completed in 1378.
Interested in visiting the Xi'an City Wall during a Xian Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Xi'an City Wall, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.
What to expect at the Xi'an City WallXi'an City Wall features four main well-preserved ancient gates - Changle Gate (East Gate), Yongning Gate (South Gate), Anding Gate (West Gate), and Anyuan Gate (North Gate). These four gates are also the original gates of the ancient city wall. Since the beginning of the Republic of China, a number of city gates have been built for the convenience of access to the ancient city. So far, Xi'an City Wall offers 18 gates.
The existing walls were built in Sui (581 - 618) and Tang (618 - 907) Dynasties. Completely based on the defense strategic system, the thickness of the city wall is taller than the height. It is stable like a mountain. Vehicles can run on the top of the wall. In ancient China, military drills were practiced there as well. |
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The structure of the city wall is composed of enemy tower, the main building in the innermost, arrow watchtower in the middle, sluice gate building in the outermost and corner building at the four corner of the wall out of the wall. The sluice gate building is used to lift the drawbridge, while the arrow watchtower is used to shoot arrows. There are 989 enemy towers on the city wall which were dedicated to kill the enemy who climbed the wall in ancient China.
Best time to visit the Xi'an City Wall
If you are planning to visit Xi’an City Wall for photography purposes, the best time to visit is during sunset. As the South Gate is open from 08:00am around the year, it is impossible to photograph the sunrise on the wall.
The best months to visit the Xi’an City Wall is from March to June and from September to November for it is cool during these months.
The best months to visit the Xi’an City Wall is from March to June and from September to November for it is cool during these months.
How to get to the Xi'an City Wall
There are 8 points for entering the wall - East Gate, South Gate, West Gate, North Gate, Heping Gate, Wenchang Gate, Hanguang Gate and Shangde Gate. Therefore, there are some options.
- Rent a vehicle to the gates mentioned above from Xi’an Train Station or Xi’an airport. This is the quickest and most direct option.
- Take Bus 4, Bus 7, Bus 10, Bus 15, Bus 18, Bus 21, Bus 23, Bus 31, Bus 43, Bus 45, Bus 201, Bus 107 and Bus 202 to West Gate.
- Take Bus 6, Bus 9, Bus 26, Bus 28, Bus 33, Bus 36, Bus 37 and Metro Line 2 to North Gate.Take Bus 11, Bus 12, Bus 16, Bus 23, Bus 26, Bus 31 and Metro Line 2 to South Gate.
- Take Bus 8, Bus 22, Bus 27, Bus 29, Bus 33 and Bus 37 to East Gate.
Additional Xi'an City Wall Travel Advice
- Opening hours: South Gate: 08:00 - 22:00 around the yea; Hanguang Gate: 08:00 - 17:30 around the year; other gates: 08:00 - 18:00 (November 1st - March 31st), 08:00 - 19:00 (May 1st - October 31st )
- Opening the City Ceremony at South Gate: 09:30am at Diaoqiao Square (吊桥广场); Army Array Demonstration: 10:30am and 16:30pm at Nanmen Wengcheng (南门瓮城).
- As at 9th October 2020, entrance pricing to Xi’an City Wall Advice is 54 CNY per person; Children under 1.2m (1.2m not included) are free of charge; Children between1.2m (1.2m included) and 1.4m (1.4m not included) are charged 27 CNY per person; The elder between 65 years old (65 years old included) and 70 years old (70 years old not included) are charged 27 CNY per person; Children under 1.2m (1.2m included)and the elder above 70 years old (70 years old included) are free of charge. For the latest pricing information, please contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com)
- If you are planning to visit in summer, it is suggested that you visit it in the morning or during the sunset.
- If you want to visit during the day in summer, please wear the sunscreen cream and sunglasses.
- You can rent a bicycle on the wall. It takes around 1 hour to cycle the entire wall.
Interested in visiting the Xi'an City Wall on a Tour?
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Xi'an City Wall, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.