China | Xian

Xian Ancient City Wall

China Discovery Tour

Xian | China

06 Jan 2020 | Mon

Day 10 of 18

  • Xian Muslim Quarter
  • Xian Ancient City Wall
  • Lunch | Restaurant Near Big Wild Goose Pagoda
  • Da Cien Temple & Big Wild Goose Pagoda
  • Flight | Xian to Zhangjiajie
  • Meet Zhangjiajie Tour Guide (Wendy) & Driver
  • Pullman Zhangjiajie Hotel

Xian Ancient City Wall

There are few ancient cities in the world that have been as well-preserved as Xian. The ancient city wall is one of the most impressive features of this city. Stretching 14 kilometers around the old city, the wall was built in the 14th century to protect the city from invaders. Today, the wall is a popular spot for tourists to walk or ride bikes. It is also a great place to get a panoramic view of Xian.

South Gate of Xian Ancient City Wall

This ancient wall is the largest of its kind in the world, and you can explore it by walking or biking. Walking the entire length of the wall takes about 12 hours, but it’s a great way to see all the different aspects of the wall up close. You’ll also get a chance to see some of the city’s landmarks from atop the wall.

Biking is a great option if you want to cover more ground in less time. You can rent bikes at the wall or from many hotels and hostels in Xian, and there are plenty of places to stop and rest along the way. No matter how you choose to explore it, the Ancient City Wall is a must-see when visiting Xian.

One of Many Colorful Lantern Displays Set Up for Chinese New Year

We were lucky to be visiting right before the Chinese New Year, so we got to see several large colorful lantern displays set up for the celebration. They were designed to be lit up at night, which I’m sure is quite beautiful.

The fortifications of Xi’an, also known as Xi’an City Wall, in Xi’an, represent one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls. It was built under the rule of the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a military defense system. It exhibits the “complete features of the rampart architecture of feudal society”. It has been refurbished many times since it was built in the 14th century, thrice at intervals of about 200 years in the later half of the 1500s and 1700s, and in recent years in 1983. The wall encloses an area of about 14 square kilometres (5.4 sq mi).

The Xi’an City Wall is on the tentative list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites under the title “City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties”. Since 2008, it is also on the list of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of the People’s Republic of China. Since March 1961, the Xi’an City Wall is a heritage National Historical and Cultural Unit.

– Wikipedia Fortifications of Xi’an

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