As the capital of thirteen dynasties, Xi’an is home to numerous historical relics and landmarks. However, nothing is more impressive than the majestic ancient city wall that greets visitors immediately upon arriving at Xi’an Station. The city wall is the most outstanding representation of Xi’an’s historical grandeur. Its weathered, bluish-green walls continually remind passersby that they are in Xi’an.
The existing city wall of Xi’an was built during the Ming Dynasty, between the seventh and eleventh years of the Hongwu era (1374–1378), and has a history of over 600 years. It is the most complete ancient city wall structure still standing in China today. The wall is rectangular and features four gates: the East Changle Gate, West Anding Gate, South Yongning Gate, and North Anyuan Gate.
The outer side of the wall is equipped with battlements, also known as crenellations, with crenels for archery and observation. The inner side has a lower wall called the “female wall” with no crenels, designed to prevent soldiers from falling during their movements. The main gate tower stands 32 meters tall, extends over 40 meters, and features a hip roof with upturned corners, three tiers of eaves, and a surrounding colonnade, creating an ancient and magnificent appearance.
Travel Information about Xi’an City Wall
Ticket and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: ¥54
Opening Hours:
- Zhongshan Gate: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM
- South Gate: 8:00 AM – 12:00 AM (the following day)
- Wenchang Gate, Pinghua Gate, Shangde Gate, Hanguang Gate, East Gate, West Gate, North Gate:
- May 1 – October 31: 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- November 1 – April 30: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Best Time to Visit
During spring and autumn, the city wall offers pleasant scenery and comfortable weather. If visiting in summer, it’s best to go early in the morning or after sunset.
Geting There
Location: No. 2, South Street, Beilin District, Xi’an
Subway: Take Line 2 to Yongningmen Station.
Attraction Ratings
- Cultural Experience: ★★★★★
- Features: ★★★★★
- Leisure: ★★★★★
- Beauty: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★★
- Excitement: ★★
Useful Tips
City Wall Access: At South Gate, there are two access points for the city wall: the North and South sides. Annual pass holders should enter through the North side of the South Gate for their visit.
Wall Conditions: The city wall has no shade. On sunny days, be sure to use sunscreen. The best time to stroll on the wall is in the summer evenings when it is cooler and you can enjoy the pleasant weather for longer.
Nighttime Lighting: The city wall’s nighttime lighting schedule is as follows:
- Major festivals: Lighting remains on all night.
- Public holidays: Lighting extends until midnight.
- Regular days: Lighting extends until 11:00 PM.
- South Gate area: Regular opening hours are extended until midnight.
Free Admission Day: The city wall is open for free on the 15th of each month. From the 8th to the 13th of each month, Xi’an residents can collect free tickets for the free admission day at the ticket offices at the West Gate and North Gate of the city wall, with a limit of one ticket per person.
Combined Ticket: A combined ticket for the Xi’an City Wall and Xi’an Beilin Museum is available. Visitors who purchase this ticket can access both attractions. The combined ticket is priced at ¥100.
Highlights of Xi’an City Wall
South Gate – The Vermilion Bird Gate
The Vermilion Bird Gate, or Zhuque Gate, is the southern gate of the Tang Dynasty Chang’an Imperial City. Directly beneath it is Chang’an’s most famous thoroughfare, Zhuque Street, which was established in the Sui Dynasty’s Kaihuang era (582 AD). During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, emperors frequently held grand ceremonies here, and it was the main entrance for envoys arriving from the Silk Road, making it a significant architectural landmark of that time.
The gate’s columns are made of marble, and the stone threshold is adorned with elegantly carved floral patterns. The gate’s brickwork and partitions are robust and precise, and the remnants of the walls still reflect the grandeur of their former splendor.
West Gate – The An Ding Gate
The An Ding Gate was constructed during the Ming Dynasty, from the 7th to the 11th year of the Hongwu era (1374–1378). During the Ming Dynasty’s expansion of the city wall, its location was slightly moved south and named An Ding Gate. It features three levels of structures: the city tower, the arrow tower, and the gate tower. The city tower is located inside, the arrow tower in the middle, and the gate tower facing outward. Each tower has arched openings, with the arches measuring 6 meters in height and width.
Between the city tower and the arrow tower is a square moated fort, which serves as an access route in peacetime and a defensive stronghold in wartime. On the north side of the city tower, there is a viewing platform built during a visit by the Japanese Emperor to Xi’an. The West Gate’s arrow tower is the most well-preserved ancient fortress in China to date.
North Gate – The An Yuan Gate
The North Gate, officially named An Yuan Gate, is a relic from the Ming Dynasty. Located on the north-south central axis of Xi’an City, the name “An Yuan” reflects the policy of appeasement towards distant ethnic minorities, aiming for harmonious coexistence. Today, outside the gate, you’ll find the Ring North Road and the Longhai Railway Viaduct, with the road named North Gate Street and the road within the gate referred to as North Avenue.
East Gate – The Chang Le Gate
The East Gate, officially known as Chang Le Gate, has a historical twist to its name. During the late Ming Dynasty, Li Zicheng’s rebel army attacked Xi’an through this gate. Seeing the “Chang Le Gate” plaque hanging above, Li Zicheng remarked to his troops, “If the emperor is to have long happiness, the common people will suffer long.” This incited his troops, who then set fire to and destroyed the gate tower. It wasn’t until the Qing Dynasty that it was rebuilt. Before the Xi’an Incident, General Zhang Xueliang used to train soldiers on the East Gate tower, which is now restored and serves as a memorial site for the Xi’an Incident.
City Wall Park
City Wall Park is a unique, multi-dimensional park centered around the ancient city wall. It combines the Ming Dynasty city wall, the surrounding moat, and the city’s green belt into a cohesive landscape, creating a distinctive charm unique to Xi’an.
The park features a harmonious design, with the moat’s clear, green water blending beautifully with the surrounding greenery. The layout of the park’s rivers and forests complements the city wall, creating a scenic and enjoyable atmosphere. Visitors can find pavilions, sculptures, and poetry stelae tucked among the flowers and plants, providing a relaxed and pleasant experience. Additionally, small boats are available for leisurely cruises on the moat, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the visit.
Secrets of Xi’an City Wall
Horse Face (马面): When you walk along the Ming Dynasty city wall of Xi’an, you will notice protruding segments at regular intervals on the outer side of the tall wall. These are called “Horse Faces” (also known as enemy platforms or battlements). They come in rectangular and semicircular shapes and are named for their appearance, which resembles a horse’s face. The purpose of these protrusions is to eliminate blind spots below the wall and allow defenders to attack enemies from three sides simultaneously. Typically, the width of a horse face ranges from 12 to 20 meters, with a projection of 8 to 12 meters from the wall’s surface, and the distance between them ranges from 20 to 250 meters (usually around 70 meters). This design conforms to the Song Dynasty’s regulations, which state that a horse face should be built every sixty steps, extending at least two yards beyond the city wall and varying in width depending on local conditions. During the cold weapon era, this distance was ideal for effective archery and projectile throwing!
Southwest Corner: The city wall of Xi’an has watchtowers at each of its four corners, known as “corner towers.” If you complete a full circuit around the wall, you will find that only the southwest corner is round, while the other three corners are square. Many long-time locals are unaware of the reason behind this. One story suggests that the southwest corner is located in a seismic zone; if the corner tower were built as a square, it would constantly face structural issues, so it was eventually left in its round shape. Another legend recounts that before the Ming Dynasty construction of the city wall, an elderly woman named Wang in Xi’an was mistreated by her son and daughter-in-law and died of starvation on the street. Upon learning of this, local officials executed the son and daughter-in-law near the southwest corner of the wall. It was believed that the square shape symbolized righteousness and integrity, so the design was preserved to honor the woman’s memory and reflect the moral standards of the time.
Main Tower, Arrow Tower, and Gate Tower: In the era of cold weapons, with limited weaponry and city gates being the only entry and exit points, these areas were crucial for defense. Each of the four city gates in Xi’an—east, west, south, and north—features three levels of towers: the Main Tower, the Arrow Tower, and the Gate Tower. The Gate Tower, located at the outermost position, contains the drawbridge; the Arrow Tower, in the middle, has square openings for archery; and the Main Tower, the innermost structure, serves as the main entrance to the city.
Activities on Xi’an City Wall
Marathon: Every year in the latter half of the year, Xi’an hosts a city wall marathon race. Around 3,000 marathon enthusiasts from home and abroad gather to compete on the ancient city walls. The race starts on the east side of Yongning Gate and covers a distance of 13.7 kilometers. This event has become a grand celebration for marathon fans worldwide.
Photography: The neatly arranged southeastern city corner and the European-style cylindrical southwestern city corner are favorites for photography enthusiasts. The moat area provides excellent angles for capturing stunning shots of the city wall.
Lantern Festival: During the Spring Festival each year, Xi’an’s Lantern Festival is held along the stretch from the South Gate to the Peace Gate. This event is a grand showcase of traditional Chinese lantern displays, with various palace lanterns illuminating the ancient walls, creating a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the Han and Tang dynasties. The festival also features folk arts such as puppet shows, shadow plays, Qin opera performances, paper-cutting, and dry boat rowing, making it a memorable experience.
Access Points: The Xi’an City Wall has eight entry points: East Changle Gate, South Yongning Gate, West Anding Gate, North Anyuan Gate, Hanguang Gate, Wenchang Gate, Pinghua Gate, and Shangde Gate. Visitors can choose the nearest gate to enter. Among these, South Gate is the main entrance to Xi’an and is the most popular choice for tourists.
Bicycling on City Wall: Walking the entire length of the ancient city wall can be exhausting and is not recommended. Instead, consider renting a bicycle from South Gate to ride around the city wall, or take an electric car or rickshaw. Bicycle rental services are available at the East, South, West, and North Gates, with returns accepted at any of these gates. Additionally, these gates offer sightseeing car services, where you can take an electric tour vehicle around the city wall, with the full circuit taking approximately 50 minutes. At Hanguang Gate, you can also visit the Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum.
Performance: The performance Dream of the Tang Dynasty: Grand Welcome Ceremony runs from April 1 to the end of October, with shows every Thursday to Sunday evening from 8:30 PM to 9:00 PM. During the Golden Weeks of May and October, there are two performances each night. Ticket price is ¥260.
Other Gates of Xi’an City Wall
Hanguang Gate: Known as “Eighteen Gates, Hanguang is Unique,” this gate was originally built during the Sui and Tang dynasties. Located slightly west of the southern city wall, it is the most well-preserved relic of the ancient Chang’an city from these periods.
Wumou Gate: Positioned between Hanguang Gate and Zhuque Gate on the southern city wall, Wumou Gate, also known as Little South Gate, was constructed during the Republican era in 1926 to commemorate the revolutionary martyr Jiang Wumou. It features a single gate opening, with Sifu Street inside and Hongying Road outside.
Wenchang Gate: Located south of the Beilin Museum, Wenchang Gate was opened in 1986. It houses the Kuixing Tower, the only facility on the city wall not related to military defense. Kuixing, also known as “Kuixing” or “Kuisu,” is one of the twenty-eight constellations in ancient Chinese astronomy and is believed to influence literary success. The tower was built to honor this deity.
Peace Gate: Opened in 1953, Peace Gate is situated between Wenchang Gate and Jianguo Gate on the southern city wall. It symbolizes the Chinese people’s desire for world peace after years of conflict. Inside the gate is Peace Road, and outside is Yanta Road. Peace Gate aligns with the railway station, Dachi Market, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
Yuxiang Gate: Located north of the western city gate, Yuxiang Gate was established during the Republican era by Shaanxi Provincial Chairman Song Zheyuan to commemorate General Feng Yuxiang. The gate is named Yuxiang in honor of Feng.
Shangwu Gate: This is the westernmost gate on the northern wall. Together with Shangde Gate, Shangqin Gate, and Shangjian Gate, it represents Confucian values of “good character, martial arts, and frugality.” Inside the gate is Northwest Third Road, and outside is Gongnong Road.
Shangde Gate: Positioned west of the Liberation Gate on the northern wall, Shangde Gate, along with Shangwu Gate, Shangqin Gate, and Shangjian Gate, symbolizes Confucian ideals. Inside the gate is Shangde Road, and outside is the West Roundabout of the railway station.
Shangjian Gate: Located between Liberation Gate and Shangqin Gate on the northern wall, Shangjian Gate, alongside Shangde Gate, Shangwu Gate, and Shangqin Gate, signifies Confucian virtues. Inside the gate is Shangjian Road, and outside is the East Roundabout of the railway station.
Shangqin Gate: The easternmost gate on the northern wall, Shangqin Gate, along with Shangde Gate, Shangwu Gate, and Shangjian Gate, embodies Confucian principles. Inside the gate is Shangqin Road, and outside it intersects with North Ring Road.
Chaoyang Gate: The northernmost gate on the eastern wall, Chaoyang Gate is the first to see the sunrise each day, hence its name. Inside the gate is East Fifth Road, and outside is Changle Road.
Zhongshan Gate: Also known as Little East Gate, Zhongshan Gate is located between Chaoyang Gate and Changle Gate on the eastern wall. It was opened in early 1926 at the initiative of Feng Yuxiang to honor Sun Yat-sen. Inside the gate is East New Street, and it intersects with East Ring Road.