Central Shaanxi

Xi'an City Wall Travel Guide

Ming City Wall · Yongning Gate · Cycling Around the City

The Xi'an City Wall is the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China, with a circumference of about 13.7 kilometers. Riding a bicycle around it takes about two hours. The top of the wall is wide enough for two vehicles to pass side by side, and below the wall is a city-ring park. This wall separates the inside and outside of the city.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonMar–May / Sep–Nov

Suggested stay2–3 hours

Key highlightsYongning Gate · Arrow Tower · Cycling around the city · City Ring Park

CyclingBicycles are available for rent on the wall, the entire route is about 13.7 kilometers

Admission ticketClimbing the wall is charged separately, and renting a vehicle requires a separate deposit.

During the Ming Dynasty, this city wall was rebuilt on the foundation of the Tang Dynasty Chang'an Imperial City. The existing wall stands 12 meters high, with a top width of 12–14 meters and a circumference of 13.7 kilometers. There are four gates on each side: Changle, Yongning, Anding, and Anyuan. Its most special feature is that it "can still be used"—the top of the wall is flat and continuous, allowing you to ride a bike around the city directly, which is an experience hard to get from other ancient city walls.

Highlights

Yongning Gate (South Gate)

The main and most magnificent entrance to climb the wall, complete with arrow tower, gate tower, and barbican. The ancient-style city entry ceremony is held here, and the lights at night look the best. Most people go up the wall from here, so it is recommended to come early in the morning when there are fewer people and the light is clean.

City Wall Cycling

You can rent a bicycle or tandem on the wall, and riding a full circle takes about 100 minutes. It feels cold when it’s windy, and in summer, you can get heavily sunburned, so it’s best to choose the morning or evening. On the northern section, you can see the silhouette of the city tower in the direction of the train station.

City Wall Park

There is a free park around the base of the wall where locals sing Qin opera, play chess, and write ground calligraphy. If you want to see the daily life of Xi'an, this is more authentic than the scenic spots.

Suggested Stays

Half-hour version: Climb the wall at Yongning Gate, walk 200 meters to see the barbican, and then come down.
Two-hour version: Rent a bike and ride half a circle (from the South Gate to the East Gate).
Three-hour version: Complete a full circle, resting at the corner tower along the way.

Local Tips

There is little shade on the wall, so in summer, be sure to bring water and a hat.
Rental requires a deposit and ID, and the return point must be the same as the rental point.
There are multiple entrances to the wall, including Guangming Gate and Wenchang Gate, which are relatively quiet.