How to Visit Xi’an City Wall
To visit the 13.74-kilometer-long (8.5 miles) Xi’an City Wall, it’s suggested to enter from its South Gate. Up there, the best touring way is by bike. In addition to the City Wall itself, the surrounding morning market and park are also worth a visit.
The Xi’an City Wall has totally 18 gates, but not every gate serves as an entrance to the wall.
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| City Wall Arrow Tower |
How to Enter Xi’an City Wall?
Xi’an City Wall Entrances:
| North and South Entrances of South Gate / Yongning Gate | North Gate / Anyuan Gate |
| West Gate / Anding Gate | East Gate / Changle Gate |
| Shangde Gate | Hanguang Gate |
| Wenchang Gate | Yuxiang Gate |
| Heping Gate | Jianguo Gate |
| Wumu Gate / Small South Gate | Shangwu Gate / Small North Gate |
| Zhongshan Gate / Small East Gate | Southwest Wall Corner |
| Northwest Wall Corner | Northeast Wall Corner |
Notes:
1. The above are open for both entry and exit from 08:00 to 22:00.
2. For exit from 22:00 to 08:00, one can use north entrance of South Gate, East Gate, West Gate, North Gate, and Zhongshan Gate / Small East Gate.
South Gate is the Best-suggested Entrance.
Among all these entrances, South Gate is the most recommended as the starting point of your Xi’an City Wall tour. It is one of the four main gates of the Wall, with the most complete system of fortifications. Besides, this gate enjoys a good position, convenient to be arrived by public transport. Also, there are quite a lot of attractions nearby, including the Bell Tower and the Stele Forest, which you can visit together.
How to Get to Xi’an City Wall South Gate?
The most convenient way is to take Metro Line 2, get off at Yongningmen Station, get out from Exit A1 or D1, and walk northward for about 4 minutes to get to the gate.
How to Tour around Xi’an City Wall?
1. By Bike
Cycling is seen as the most efficient way to tour around Xi’an City Wall, and a total of 9 bicycle rental spots can be found up there. By bicycle, you can explore more buildings of the wall and also admire more scenery on both sides within a limited time. Besides, riding on the ancient wall with a history of more than 640 years is truly an extraordinary experience.
See more: Cycling on the City Wall
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2. On Foot
You can also choose to take a stroll on City Wall, and just remember to pick a section you like instead of spending 4 hours walking on the entire wall. The following routes are for your reference:
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| Visiting City Wall at Dusk |
Route 1: South Gate – westward to Hanguang Gate
Highlights: Fortifications; Bell Tower Photographic Spot; Heaven Avenue; and Tang Hanguang Gate Museum.
Distance: 1.5 km (0.9 mi)
Time needed: 30 minutes
Route 2: South Gate – eastward to Wenchang Gate
Highlights: Fortifications; Bell Tower Photographic Spot; Kuixing Building; and Stele Forest near Wenchang Gate.
Distance: 1 km (0.6 mi)
Time needed: 20 minutes
Route 3: South Gate – eastward and then northward to Zhongshan Gate
Highlights: Fortifications; Bell Tower Photographic Spot; Kuixing Building; Southeast Wall Corner; and Yongxingfang Food Street near Zhongshan Gate.
Distance: 4.5 km (2.8 mi)
Time needed: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Route 4: Hanguang Gate – eastward to Wenchang Gate
Highlights: Tang Hanguang Gate Museum; Heaven Avenue; Bell Tower Photographic Spot; Fortifications; Kuixing Building; and Stele Forest near Wenchang Gate.
Distance: 2.5 km (1.5 mi)
Time needed: 50 minutes
Route 5: Hanguang Gate – westward and then northward to Northwest Wall Corner
Highlights: Tang Hanguang Gate Museum; Southwest Wall Corner - the only round City Wall corner; Barbican of West Gate; and Guangren Temple near Northwest Wall Corner.
Distance: 3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Time needed: 1 hour
Best Things to Do on and around Xi’an City Wall
1. Learn Fortifications of City Wall at Yongning Gate
Among four main gates of the City Wall, South Gate region gathers the most complete defensive buildings including a moat as the first defensive line, a drawbridge and its control tower, a crescent-shaped enclosure, an arrow-shooting tower for attacking enemies from a superior position, a barbican for trapping enemies, and a main tower for observation and command.
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| Drawbridge Tower of South Gate |
2. Admire Distinct City Views inside and outside the Wall
While you are on the City Wall, the most attracting part could be the striking difference between city views on two sides. If you look inside, quaint buildings like the Bell Tower and narrow stone paved alleys seem to bring you back to the ancient times. Look outside, rows of high-rise buildings show a totally different cityscape, modern and stylish. The sharp contrast can hardly be seen elsewhere in the world.
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3. Visit Xi’an Tang Hanguang Gate Museum
This museum features relics of the Hanguang Gate Passage, City Wall remains with projected characters marking names and periods of rammed-earth layers, and also a relic of a water culvert that had been used in Sui (581-618) and Tang (619-907) Dynasties. What’s more, this museum is constructed inside the wall body, so there is no need to leave the City Wall and you can directly enter it from the Wall.
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4. Immerse into Locals’ Life at Vibrant Morning Market at Small South Gate
When the sun just rises, the hustle and bustle of locals’ daily life has begun. Here, vendors arrange their vegetable and fruit stalls neatly at the City Wall foot and shout loudly to attract buyers, and locals make a bargain with them for a better price. What a lively scene! You can further taste various Xi’an local delicacies such as Fried Twisted Dough Soaked in Oil-tea and Glutinous Rice with Chinese Dates at touching prices.
5. Learn to Play Tai Chi in City Wall Park
Areas around the City Wall, including the long moat and lush greenery compose the large and attractive City Wall Park. Antique ships move back and forth on the moat. Beautiful flowers in the park bloom season by season, and banks are lined with lush willow trees. Every morning, many elderly people come here to do exercise, like playing Tai Chi. It’s wonderful to join them and have fun.
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| Morning Exercise in City Wall Park |
6. Enjoy Coffee and Delicious Food beside the City Wall
Cafes and restaurants on two sides of the wall make it possible to satisfy your eyes and taste buds at the same time. Sitting on the traditional-style roof of the café, the City Wall seems to be within the reach, as if you were really sitting on the wall and enjoy your leisure time. During dinner time, you can admire stunning sunset over the City Wall while having tasty food.
How Long to Spend at Xi’an City Wall?
Most visitors spend about 1 to 3 hours visiting Xi’an City Wall.
1. For visiting all the buildings in the South Gate area, it’s suggested to spend about 30 minutes.
2. As for a walking tour, about an hour is needed.
3. To cycle a whole circuit on the wall, it takes about 2 to 3 hours.
4. To view relics in Tang Hanguang Gate Museum, you need about 30 minutes.
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Best Time to Visit Xi’an City Wall
Throughout the year, the best times to visit the wall are spring from March to May and autumn from September to November, when the weather is relatively pleasant and perfect for a several-hour-long tour around and on the wall. In hot summer, it’s better to avoid the scorching midday period with strong UV radiation. In cold winter, the noon period is actually the best time by virtue of relatively warm weather.
During the day, the morning period from Tuesday to Sunday is more recommended because of two welcome performances at 9:00 and 9:30 respectively at the South Gate. After, tourists will be welcomed to enter the city as distinguished guests.
Is a Wheelchair Accessible to Xi’an City Wall?
Yes. The best entrance to Xi’an City Wall for wheelchair users is the Hanguang Gate with an elevator, and it’s the only gate with an elevator.
Any Sightseeing Vehicles for Visiting Xi’an City Wall?
Currently, to protect the ancient City Wall, no sightseeing vehicle is accessible. The only way to save energy is to rent a bike and cycle on the wall.
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- Last updated on Sep. 03, 2025 by Alex Jin -