City Wall of Xian

Chang'an of ancient times is the Xian of modern times. Xian located in north western China. This city had reigned as the capital of China for more than a 1000 years. It had been ruled by a series of dynasties beginning with the Qing dynasty. It came under Communist rule a short time before the Second World War. Xian is a major tourist hub. The City Wall of Xian is major tourist attraction in Xian.

The City Wall of Xian is open to visitors in spring and summer, and autumn and winter. Admission fees are charged but, it is quite nominal. The Bell Tower is located nearby. This wall was erected during the Ming dynasty during the reign of emperor Zhu Yuanzhang. The original wall was constructed during the Tang dynasty, the Ming emperor Zhu Yuanzhang, extended the already existing structure. To this day, it is one of the best preserved of such city walls.

The City Wall of Xian covers a distance of 13.7 km, it is about 40 feet in height and 40-46 feet wide at the top, and about 50-60 feet thick towards the base. The structure is remarkably sturdy. There are 98 ramparts at intervals of 120 meters on the wall. These were constructed with the aim of keeping attackers and intruders, at bay. The City Wall of Xian is further protected by a boat, that runs the full length of the wall. Biking on the City Wall of Xian, is very popular with tourists and locals.