Xian's city wall was constructed during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Its design is based on the imperial city of Chang'an in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). With the opening of the Xian Hanguang Gate Site Museum, the public will gain greater knowledge of this ancient city.

Hanguang Gate is located in the western section of the southern city wall. After Chang'an was built, the middle and west gates to the city were closed and only the east entry remained. Later, during the North Song Dynasty, the eastern entrance was closed. In 1984, archaeological surveys unearthed the Tang Hanguang Gate's granite pillars engraved doorsills and foundation. While the city wall has already been restored, the aforementioned museum commemorating the whole gate site will soon open. The museum will be the first in China dedicated to an ancient city gate. Its exhibition hall will cover an area of nearly 4,000 square meters. It will contain the doorway of the Tang Hanguang Gate. It will also display the section of the city wall made from five layers of packed dirt from five different periods of history. It will also contain the site of the underground culvert for circulating water around the city as well as exhibitions highlighting the history of Chinese walls and specifically Chang'an during the Sui (581-618) and Tang Dynasties.

Historical Significance of the City Wall
The western section of the city wall is the most historically significant. Five layers of packed dirt mixed with lime and glutinous rice extract were used to build and enlarge the wall. The construction and restoration was done during five periods---Sui and Tang; late Tang; Song and Yuan; Ming and Qing as well as modern times. The earliest layer can be traced back to over 1,400 years ago during the Kaihuang Period of the Sui Dynasty.

City Wall's Moat
The moat filled with circulating water is located beneath the city wall at Hanguang Gate and is considered an engineering marvel for its time. It was a big part of Chang'an's water supply network in the Sui and Tang eras. Its structure indicates that water supply network engineering was surprisingly advanced during the 7th century.

The Beginning of the Silk Road
While Chang'an is well known as the starting point of the famous Silk Road, people could hardly imagine that the road actually began right at Hanguang Gate. In the Tang Dynasty, Hongli Si was a government department of the foreign office for reception of foreign guests and adjudication of minority affairs. It was located just inside the Hanguang Gate. Exchanges of trade, culture and learning on the Silk Road were under the purview of this department.

Calligraphy Museum
A thematic museum celebrating Chinese calligraphy is located between the two halls of the new Hanguang Gate Site Museum, which is the First museum special for Chinese calligraphy art. Old city wall and gate, together with profound Chinese art of calligraphy, add more archaic charms to Xian.

 Tips: The museum has been open to the public on 26th, September 2008 and the visitors can spend CNY40 for the ticket to admire the great wall of over 1,400 years ago. The opening hours are between 08:00 and 17:30.