Xi'an City Wall
Major Historical And Cultural Site Protected At The National Level; National 5A Tourist Attraction · Xi'an, Shaanxi
The most complete city wall surviving in China: a 13.7-kilometre rectangle of grey brick ramparts around the old centre of Xi'an, about 12 metres high and wide enough on top for a two-lane road, ringed by a moat and parkland. Built from 1370 under the first Ming emperor on the foundations of the Tang imperial city, it keeps its gate towers, archery towers, corner towers and 98 ramparts. Riding a rented bicycle around the full circuit is the classic Xi'an experience, with views over the Bell Tower, the Muslim Quarter rooftops and the modern city beyond. At Yongning (South) Gate a Tang-style welcome ceremony greets visitors twice a day, and at Chinese New Year the ramparts fill with giant lanterns. The wall is lit at night and the main gates stay open until 22:00.
Yongning Gate (South Gate), South Street, Beilin District, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
Daily. South, Wenchang, Wumu, Zhongshan and Jianguo gates 8:00-22:00; other gates 8:00-20:00. Bike returns at any point until about 19:00, then South Gate only.