Xian City Wall

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. The 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. Among which, the south gate serves as the main entrance for ascending the wall.
 

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 are usually held in the south gate square. The South Gate Square is restored and formally open to public on September 6, 2014. Covering an area of around 7.9 acres (32,000 square meters), the U shaped square is divided into three parts, main royal road, secondary royal road and celebration square. Below the square is a large underground parking lot. 

Changle Gate

Yongning Gate

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

The moat is an artificial waterway that encircles the Xi’an City Wall, stretching a total length of 14.6 kilometers (9.07 miles). First dug in the late Tang Dynasty as a 9-meter-wide (30-foot) and 4-meter-deep (13-foot) trench, it served as the first line of defense against invading forces. It was not until the Ming Dynasty that the moat was expanded and filled with water, resulting in the scale we see today.

In the 1950s, urban construction projects led to a section of the moat being buried underground, and the water quality of the remaining waterway also suffered from severe pollution - a genuine pity for this historic site. Fortunately, starting in the early 21st century, concerted efforts have been made to restore the moat. Contamination control and ecological improvement initiatives have been rolled out progressively. To date, the last underground segment of the moat  has been completely reconnected, bringing back the picturesque view of clear water embracing the ancient city.

Tourists and locals practicing Tai Chi

The moat at night

Nowadays, the area surrounding the moat has evolved into a beloved leisure destination for Xi’an locals. Here, one can spot residents indulging in various pastimes: walking their pet birds, taking leisurely strolls, or practicing Tai Chi. What’s more, boat cruises on the moat offer visitors a unique vantage point to admire the grandeur of the Xi’an City Wall. When night falls, the moat and the ancient walls, bathed in soft illumination, complement each other perfectly, creating a truly enchanting scene.
 

Initially, the wall was built with layers of dirt, with the base layer including also lime and glutinous rice extract. Throughout the time the 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 wall and the gate towers. More recently (since 1983) the Shaanxi Provincial Government restored the wall again. The circular City Wall 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 Xi'an.

From 1958 onward, the start of preparedness for war prompted the construction of numerous air-raid shelters within the city wall, inflicting severe damage upon it. In the subsequent two decades, faced with a housing shortage, local residents dismantled bricks from the city wall to build makeshift houses on either side. This led to a squalid and disorderly environment, with garbage accumulating in the moat. As a consequence, the city wall was on the verge of disappearing.

By 1984, the Xi'an City Wall had become an impediment to urban traffic and marred the city's appearance, prompting many people to propose its demolition. This echoed similar fates of city walls in Beijing, Chengdu, Jinan, and other cities, which were successively torn down.

However, Zhang Tiemin, then mayor of Xi'an, recognized the irreplaceable value of the city wall. He emphasized that while demolishing it would be a straightforward task, reconstruction would be an arduous, near-impossible feat. Driven by a strong commitment to cultural heritage preservation, Mayor Zhang spearheaded a city-wide restoration effort.

The project faced significant financial constraints, as the restoration required substantial funding. To overcome this hurdle, the mayor called on citizens and students to volunteer for the reinforcement work. Meanwhile, he encouraged local brick factories around Xi'an to produce specialized bricks for the restoration. The factories responded eagerly, and each fired brick was inscribed with the production date and the factory's name as a lasting tribute to those who contributed to the city wall's revival. These inscribed bricks remain an integral part of the structure today.

Thanks to these collective efforts, the City Wall has been preserved and now stands as a magnificent testament to Xi'an's rich history, continuing to awe visitors with its grandeur.

The Dilapidated City Wall

Citizens Repairing the City Wall

 Around the Chinese New Year holiday each year, the grand Xi’an City Wall Lantern Festival is held to welcome the new year and present colorful lanterns in various styles. The festival 2026 lasts from January 1 to March 22, and will show you large-sized soaring-dragon-shaped lanterns and multiple lanterns based on the Horse, Chinese Zodiac Animal this year. During the festival, wonderful music and dance performances will also be given.

Lantern Corridor on Xi'an City Wall

Admire Lanterns on the Wall at Night

 

Encircling the rectangled city center of Xi'an, it has totally 18 city gates, but they are not all open for visitors. Visitors can ascend the Wall from the South Gate, Small South Gate, East Gate, West Gate, North Gate, Heping Gate, Wenchang Gate and Hanguang Gate. You can choose the nearest city gate according to your location. No matter which gate you choose, you can tour the whole circle of the wall if you like. Here is a hiking itinerary around the wall starting from the South Gate for your reference.

The South Gate Xi'an (Yongning Gate) is the most time-honored and magnificent one among all the city gates. There is bicycles for rental up to the South Gate. So it is popular for visitors to ascend here. If you stay near the Bell Tower, it is recommended that you take a 10 minutes' walk along the South Street to get to the Xi'an City Wall South Gate.

 How to Visit Xi'an City Wall: by bike, on foot...
 8 Amazing Facts about Xi’an City Wall

 
 Xi'an City Wall Tickets Booking

 Nearby Attractions:
 City Wall Park: The park surrounding the wall for a whole circle is the best place for the locals to spend their spare time and for foreigners to feel the true life and folkway in this city.
 Stele Forest: Located inside the Wenchang Gate to the east of the South Gate, it collects steles of different dynasties which offer a feast for Chinese history and calligraphy fans.
 Tang Hanguang Entrance Remains Museum: Located inside the Hanguang Gate to the west of the South Gate, it keeps the precious relics of the City Wall of the Tang Dynasty.
 Ancient Cultural Street of Shuyuanmen: Get inside the South Gate and turn eastward, you'll find this street full of antiques and souvenirs.
 Defu Lane: A quiet path to the west inside the South Gate leads you to the leisure lane with many cafes and bars.

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