Located in the city center, Xian Ancient City Wall and the corresponding towers, arrows, bell tower and drum tower are national key protected cultural relics. The City Wall is the most complete city wall that has survived in China, one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world and has important historical value, artistic value and scientific value.

The city wall was built in the year of 1370 by the First Emperor of Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang. Under the basis of the Tang City Wall with the purpose of defense, the City Wall consists of the city moat, the suspension bridge, various observation towers, battlements, turrets, parapets, crenels and so on. After the extension from 1980s, it has a new look, which is 12 meters high and 15 meters wide with 13.74 kilometers round the circumference of the wall.

Main Gates of the City Wall
Encircling the rectangled city center of Xian, totally there are 18 city gates in ancient time including the South Gate, Zhuque Gate, Lesser South Gate, Hanguang Gate, West Gate, Yuxiang Gate, North Gate, Shangde Gate, Zhongshan Gate, East Gate, Jianguo Gate, Heping Gate and Wenchang Gate, etc. And each city gate has three gate towers: Zhenglou, Jianlou and Zhalou.  Now on the City Wall there includes four gates: Changle Gate (eternal joy) in the east, Anding Gate (harmony peace) in the west, Yongning Gate (eternal peace) in the south and Anyuan Gate (forever harmony) in the north.

Among the four gates on the City Wall, the South Gate also known as Yongning Gate is the most beautifully decorated and the most time-honored and magnificent one. Built in the year of 582 in Sui Dynasty, the gate is among the oldest gates of the Ancient City Wall. As one of the three southern gates closed to east, it was designated to be the main south gate at the end of Tang Dynasty an finally got the current "Yongning Gate" in Ming Dynasty. Also there newly restored the South Gate Square which was opened to public on September 6, 2014. The square is a U shaped square covering an area of 32,000 square meters. Walking on the square enjoy the view of the city center is really relaxed. And if you like, you could rent a bicycle from the South Gate and zip around the wall in about an hour.

With 700 years of history, as the landmark of Xian, the Ancient City Wall is a must-see during your tour in Xian.