Xian City Wall, Ancient City Wall of Xi'an, Shaanxi

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Xian City Wall

Xian City Wall Photos
Xian City Wall International Marathon Photos

When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), captured Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng admonished him that he should 'built 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), creating the modern Xian City Wall. It's the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

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 which extends out from the main wall. All together, there are 98 ramparts on the wall, which were built to defend against the enemy climbing up the wall. 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 5948 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.

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. In Xian, the city 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.

Cycling on Xian City Wall

South Gate, Xian City Wall

Each city gate has three gate towers: Zhenglou, Jianlou and Zhalou. The most outside is Zhalou, which stands away from the City Wall 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 within the wall was called 'Wong Cheng', in which the soldiers stationed. From Wong Cheng, there are sloped horse passages leading to the top of the city wall.

Leisure Time Near Xian City Wall

The Senior Taking Exercise near the Wall

Initially, the wall was built with layers of dirt, with the base layer including also lime and glutinous rice extract. Throughout the time Xian City Wall has been restored three times. In 1568, Zhang Zhi (the government officer of that period) was in charge to rebuild the wall with bricks. In 1781, another officer, Bi Yuan, refitted the city wall and the gate towers. More recently (since 1983) the Shaanxi Provincial Government restored the city wall again. A circular 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 Xian.

A nice suggestion for tourists: Try biking on the City Wall, you will have an enjoyable and interesting experience.

Admission Fee:	CNY 40
Opening Hours:	08:00 to 19:00 (Spring and Summer) 08:30 to 17:00 (Fall and Winter)
Recommended Time for a Visit:	Three hours

Xian City Wall Marathon Participants

Xian City Wall Marathon

2009 Xian City Wall International Marathon
Time: 08:30, Nov.7
Routes:
1. Five Kilometers: Starting from 200 meters to the east of the gate tower of South Gate, via Wenchang Gate – Heping Gate – Jianguo Gate – East Gate, return along the same route from 150 meters to the south of East Gate to the starting point
2. 13.7 Kilometers: Starting from 200 meters to the east of the gate tower of South Gate, via Wenchang Gate – Heping Gate – Jianguo Gate – East Gate – Chaoyang Gate – North Gate – Yuxiang Gate – West Gate – Hanguang Gate, and reach the west of the gate tower of South Gate, the finish line
3. Half Marathon: Starting from 200 meters to the east of the gate tower of South Gate, via Wenchang Gate – Heping Gate – Jianguo Gate – East Gate – Chaoyang Gate – North Gate – Yuxiang Gate, return along the same route from 400 meters to the south of Yuxiang Gate to the east of the gate tower of South Gate, the finish line.
4. 60-meters Family Relay Race: Starting from 50 meters to the west of the gate tower of South Gate, run 13.7 km westward to the finish line
5. 13.7 km Leaders Relay Race: same to 13.7 Kilometers race route

Competition Methods
1. Referred to the latest track competition rules approved by China Track and Field Association
2. All contestants must wear unified number bib and emblem made by the organizing committee.

Related Link: Pingyao City Wall

Travelers' Voices on Xian City Wall

Oct. 26,2009 21:15 Reply

Mr.Evan(China) said:

2009 Xi'an City Wall International Marathon will be launched at 08:30 on Nov.7 at the South Gate of Xian City wall. The competition is divided into individual contest and group contest with totally 10 teams. Individual contest includes 5km, 13.7km and semi-journey runs while group contest includes 60m family run and 13.7km relay race of cadres. Top eight of the ten teams will be awarded with trophies and certificates.

Oct. 26,2009 21:39
Mr.Kenny replied:

How can I enter for the race? Is there an official website or something like that?

Oct. 28,2009 21:48
Mr.ANDY2008(China) replied:

the offical website is as below.
http://www.xamls.cn/

Oct. 28,2009 20:18 Reply

Mr.Lin said:

On November 1, Xian City Wall will be open free to the public. By then, signing and traveling on foot events will be held to promote the protection of the city wall. It is estimated that about 10,000 people will take part in these events.

Sep. 18,2009 17:06 Reply

Mr.Rod(Canada) said:

We will be in Xian for several months. I was wondering, can one jog around the wall? If so, is there any type of pass for repeat access, like a month pass or something of that nature?

Sep. 18,2009 20:21
Ms.ANDY2008 replied:

Hi Mr.Rod,
Everybody can jog on the top of the wall and the tiket is 40 RMB per head. Two years ago, there was a year-access tiket for the local to get on the City Wall, but now there, I am afraid, is no such ticket. To be sure about it, you can consult the administration of the City Wall. But you are entitled to jog in the park near the wall freely.

Aug. 25,2009 14:24 Reply

Mrs.Peggy Sjstsrm(Sweden) said:

We're arriving in Peking on the 15th of September and touring around until the 25th. I often see two different initials for money: RMB and CNY. I don't quite understand what the difference is between these values of Chinese currency.

On another subject, I'm glad to know that the government regulates the behavior of people on the wall! I think it's tragic when selfish, foolish people throw trash around or write and carve things on historical objects! We're looking very forward to our trip to China!

Aug. 25,2009 20:00
Ms.Melissa(cn) replied:

Hi,Sjstsrm. Good question. RMB is short for Chinese Pingyin Renminbi, a way of expressing money in domestic China. CNY is standard saying in International Finance, short for ChiNaYuan. Examples:
CNY (Chinese Yuan), FRF (French Franc), HKD (HongKong Dollar), USD (United States Dollar)......

Aug. 20,2009 10:16 Reply

Mr.Michael(Singapore) said:

It will cost around 20 RMB to rent a bicycle and cycle around the wall for 1 1/2 hour.

Aug. 9,2009 03:41 Reply

Mr.Almantas(lithuania) said:

My flight to Xian is on Sep 16 and an arrival at Xian airport will be at 12:15 pm. The next morning I must fly to another city so I have only one tight day to visit Xian. I'm upset because city wall will close at 17:00 because probably I will not be able to return to the center of the city from the terra cotta museum earlier than 16:30 (with a taxi). I wish there (city wall) would be an extended summer time so it could close at 19:00 PM instead of at 17:00 PM on Sep 16 :) Because it is still 2 hours left till getting dark...

Aug. 9,2009 21:52
Ms.KIRA_ZHAO(China) replied:

it's not too late when you back to city center.you can finish the terra-cotta before 2 pm,then take 1 hour back to city wall.by the way ,take a taxi maybe too expensive.

Apr. 30,2009 05:01 Reply

Ms.Cora said:

In order to strengthen the protection of Xian City Wall, Xian Government has worked out a draft to regulate people's behavior on the wall.

It is explicitly prohibited to carve, paint, put up notices, dump garbage, discharge waste water, drive piles, take bricks or earth, storage inflammable and explosive dangerous goods. Those who behave like the above will be fined up to CNY200.

Moreover, those who fix or span any establishments irrelevant to the city wall protection or blow up, drill and dig the wall will be fined up to CNY 500,000.

Aug. 9,2009 03:40
Mr.Almantas(Lithuania) replied:

Dec. 4,2008 20:56 Reply

Ms.Doris(US) said:

Well, so interesting riding bicycle there. We have rent a bicycle and cycle around the city. Fun...

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