Xi'an's Ancient City Walls

The city wall is one of Xian's most impressive assets and is a must-see for any visitor. One of the best preserved walled fortifications in China, the city walls have managed to maintain their majesty and form, not dissimilar in appearance to how they would have looked when originally built.

Original parameters of the city wall date back before 100BCE as a fortification for Chang'an, the original name of Xian. The walls we see today were constructed in the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century and sketch for us the original city limits of Xian. Along the walls stand towers and guard posts which would have been used by soldiers to monitor and protect the city of Xian below.

The city walls are a great way to get a bird's eye view of the city and a stroll along their lengths is a great way to feel like a true local. However, the preferred way of mapping the walls is by bicycle. Both well maintained and smoothly flat, the city walls are ideal for a pleasant relaxing cycle and a great way to enhance your experience, with even the option of renting tandems, if you're feeling adventurous!

The Xian city walls are one of the great architectural feats of the Ming Dynasty and their preservation is unlike anything else seen in China. The maintenance of the walls is integral to China with these fortifications currently awaiting UNESCO status.