Xi’an City Wall Park, built in 1983, encircles the 13.74-kilometer-long (8.5 miles) City Wall, and consists of three parts: the 640-year-old city wall built over 650 years ago, the moat, and forest belts. With a width from about 30 to 200 meters (33 to 220 yards), the park covers a large area containing gardens, pavilions, sculptures, steles, and fitness equipment.
With the perfect combination of the ancient city wall and scenic beauty, the park itself has become a popular place to view the Wall, enjoy natural views, and experience local life. Parkways stretch to each city gate, allowing people to conveniently enter from a number of directions.
The most eye-catching feature of the park is undoubtedly the Xi’an City Wall, and the close-up upward perspective from the park just makes the Wall look much more magnificent. Remember to photograph the protruding ramparts with a watchtower, because the perspective from the park helps you admire it more thoroughly.
View of City Wall from the Park
2. Immerse Yourself in Locals’ Lives
Xi’an City Wall Park is the best place to experience local people’s lives at a slower pace.
Play Sword Dance at City Wall Park
Play Tai Chi as Morning Exercise
In the early morning, elderly people play Tai Chi to build a strong physique, and outside the Small South Gate / Wumu Gate of the park, a bustling morning market gathers Xi’an street food stalls run by friendly vendors.
Fan Dance, a Popular Activity in the Park
Play Table Tennis Happily
In the following daytime, watching people playing Chinese chess, joining people in bumping into trees with backs for fitness, and playing table tennis and badminton are all fun ways to spend leisure. One more amazing thing you probably cannot enjoy in other parks is that you can pay about 1 dollar, and get a new haircut at the foot of the City Wall.
Sing Shaanxi Opera at the Foot of City Wall
Play Erhu, Chinese Instrument
In the evening, people in different styles of clothes dance to music in various formations. Besides, you can hear active people playing the traditional Chinese instrument Erhu and loudly singing Shaanxi Opera.
3. Take a Sightseeing Boat on the Moat
When you take the boat in the park and move stably and rapidly forward on the moat, you will gain a special view on the water surface to admire the Wall, the only round city wall corner, and the swaying willow branches in the wind. At night, passing through the golden Moon Bridge by boat illuminated with blue light is definitely an unparalleled experience.
Moat in Xi'an City Wall Park
Boat Cruise on City Wall Moat
4. Unwind in Moat-side Restaurants & Bars
On the moat bank west to the Moon Bridge, there is a line of chic restaurants and bars, in which you can have a feast and take a drop to either soothing or dynamic music, but also enjoy nice river scenery featuring green trees, and admire the great City Wall behind.
To visit the park, the region around South Gate is the best recommended, because, firstly, it contains a complete defensive system of Xi’an City Wall from the outermost moat to the innermost main tower. When night falls, the majestic drawbridge tower, arrow-shooting tower, and main tower are illuminated, forming an iconic scene in Xi’an City.
South Gate of Xi'an City Wall
Pine and pomegranate gardens are also highlights in this region. In the west part of the region, evergreen pine trees symbolizing longevity in Chinese culture line the moat. The Pomegranate Garden is on the east side of South Gate, and every June, the flaming-red pomegranate flowers, also the city flower of Xi’an, are in their prime.
2. Southwest City Wall Corner to Yuxiang Gate in Park’s West Part
Moon Bridge of the Park at Night
This site is probably the most diverse one by virtue of so many attractive views. Among all four corners of City Wall, only the southwest one is round, and the best place to view and photograph it is the riverbank around it.
Walking northward from the corner, you will be amazed by the Moon Bridge and the Dream Lake Garden. The Moon Bridge over the moat is named after the light illuminated on the bridge arch and its reflection on the water surface. The Dream Lake Garden is renowned for the clear pool and is recognized as a “gold necklace around the City Wall”.
3. Wenchang Gate to Chaoyang Gate, Southeast Part of the Park
Admire Plum Blossoms in the Park in Winter
This route features the harmonious integration between the ancient City Wall and natural scenery. It would be a wonderful experience to wander along the parkway, and find the high brick Wall is on one side, and flourishing flowers and trees are on the other side.
A rich variety of plants grow here: Between February and May, flowers including red plum blossoms, winter jasmines, magnolias, cherry blossoms, and peonies come out one after another. While, from late October to November, golden gingko leaves and red maple leaves here become the most fantastic scenery of the park.
Admission Fee and Opening Hours of Xi’an City Wall Park
(1) Take Line 2 to Yongningmen / Yongning Gate Station, get out from Exit A2 or D2, and you will see the Wall. Walk to it, and you’ll get to the south part of the park. Or take the same line to Anyuanmen / Anyuan Gate Station, get out from Exit B or C, and walk to the north part of the park.
(2) Take Line 6 to Andingmen / Anding Gate Station, get out from Exit B, and walk to the west part of the park; Take Line 6 to Changlemen / Changle Gate Station, get out from Exit A1, and walk to the east part of the park.
By Bus
Since bus stations are all around the approximately rectangular park, it’s quite convenient to get to the park by bus. The following only lists a part of bus lines. (1) Bus routes passing by the South Gate: No. 11, 184, 216, 311, 512, 616... (2) Bus routes passing by the West Gate: No. 10, 205, 300, 407, 701, 900... (3) Bus routes passing by the East Gate: No. 22, 33, 139, 218, 527, 709... (4) Bus routes passing by the North Gate: No. 104, 138, 228, 229, 266, and 608. Xi'an Bus / Metro Search
Xi'an Bus / Metro Search
Videos of the Local Activities at Xian City Wall Park:
