Xi’an City Wall

What is the Xi’an City Wall?

The Xi’an City Wall (西安城墙) is a complete ring of fortifications, 13.74 km long, around the old city centre. It is 12 m high and 12–14 m wide on top — wide enough for bikes and electric carts to pass each other. The wall you see was built under the first Ming emperor and largely finished by 1378; English Wikipedia dates the start to 1370, Chinese Wikipedia to 1374.

Its roots go deeper. The west and south sides sit on the base of the Tang-dynasty imperial city wall, from the days when Xi’an was Chang’an, the capital. That is why the excavated remains of a Tang gate are preserved inside the wall at Hanguang Gate. The earth rampart was faced with brick in 1568, repaired many times since, and given a major restoration from the 1980s.

Ramparts jut out roughly every 120 m along the outer face, a tower stands at each corner, and a moat runs around the outside with a park along the water. Of the four original gates — Changle (east), Anding (west), Yongning (south) and Anyuan (north) — the south one is the grandest. There are 18 gates today; many were cut for roads in the 20th century.

YesGo’s take: this is the best way to see Xi’an from above, and one of very few Chinese cities where the old wall survives as a complete loop. Even travellers who skip museums should give it a couple of hours.

Xi’an City Wall tickets: price and booking

An adult ticket is ¥54 — every guide we opened gives the same price. Students and ages 6–18 pay ¥27; children under 1.2 m and visitors aged 65 and over go free with ID, though Wanderin China suggests confirming the senior discount at the gate. The moat park around the wall is free; you only pay to go up.

Tickets are real-name. Buy one with your passport number in the WeChat mini-program “西安城墙景区” (Xi’an City Wall Scenic Area) or at the ticket offices of the South, East, West and North gates — either way, carry the original passport. One guide says foreign passport holders who buy online collect a paper voucher at the window. Ignore touts selling tickets outside.

Paying: Alipay and WeChat Pay linked to a foreign Visa or Mastercard work for tickets, bikes and the deposit; carry some cash yuan as a backup. One guide says foreign cards are accepted directly only at the South Gate counter.

Opening hours by gate and season

We could not open an official timetable, but guides agree that the South Gate opens about 8:00–22:00 every day, with no closing day. The east, west and north gates close earlier — at 18:00, 19:00 or 20:00, depending on the guide.

There is a seasonal twist. Wanderin China lists the South Gate as 8:00–22:00 from March to October and 8:00–20:00 from November to February, while China Bound even gives 23:00. In late autumn and winter, plan around a 20:00 close and check the mini-program on the day.

Bikes, per Travel China Guide, go out from 8:00 to 21:00 and can be returned until 22:00. After 22:00 you can only exit through five gates, including the South, North, West and East gates.

Bike, walk or electric cart?

• Bike — the classic way: the full 13.74 km loop takes 1.5–2 hours with stops. A single bike is ¥45 for three hours, a tandem ¥90. The ¥100 deposit comes back if the bike is undamaged and on time.
• Overtime costs ¥5 per 10 minutes (¥10 on a tandem). Travel China Guide counts nine rental points; you can return at any of them, though one guide says after 20:00 bikes must go back to the South Gate.
• The surface is old paving stone and the ride is bumpy. A tandem is easier with a child or if you rarely cycle. Wanderin China says under-12s can’t ride a single bike and riders over 65 get tandems only.
• Electric cart — reportedly about ¥80 for the full loop with hop-on stops, or about ¥30 for one stretch between neighbouring gates. A good option if cycling isn’t for you.
• On foot — the full loop takes 3.5–4 hours, so most people walk one stretch: from the South Gate to the south-west corner tower and back takes about an hour.

Which gate should you use?

The wall is a near-rectangle around old Xi’an, with the Bell Tower at its centre. The four main streets run from the tower to the four main gates. The South Gate sits by Yongningmen station; the North Gate (Anyuanmen) by Anyuanmen station.

On a first visit, use the South Gate: it has the grandest barbican and gate towers, the main bike station, the longest hours and a straight line back to the centre. If you’re staying by the Muslim Quarter, the West Gate (Andingmen) is closer; the East Gate (Changlemen) suits the eastern side of town.

Up top, navigation is easy: the loop is closed, corner towers mark the turns, and each gate has stairs down and a rental point. If the full loop feels too long, ride halfway and come down at the opposite gate.

The wall at night: lights and the South Gate ceremony

After dark the wall is floodlit, red lanterns glow on the gate towers and the moat reflects the lights. The best window is the hour before sunset and the half-hour after: start in the afternoon, ride the loop and finish at the South Gate as the lights come on. In winter, remember one guide puts the last entry at 20:00.

In winter and early spring a lantern festival for Chinese New Year fills the wall and the gates with giant light sculptures. Tickets on those days are reportedly higher than usual.

At the South Gate, a staged Tang-style welcoming ceremony is held for groups and delegations. Guides also mention a short guard performance in the morning and a paid evening show in the barbican; schedules change, so check the mini-program.

Ways to do the wall compared

Prices are unofficial, from guides (Travel China Guide, Wanderin China, chinafortravelers, Intotravelchina); check at the counter.

Is the Xi’an City Wall worth it?

Yes, especially by bike: in two hours you see the whole of old Xi’an — tiled roofs inside, the modern city outside and the moat park below. On a first day in Xi’an, nothing explains the city’s layout better.

Skip the midday heat in summer: there’s no shade and the paving wears you out. Short on time? Don’t force the full loop — walk an hour along the south side and come down. And in late autumn and winter, don’t leave it for late evening: the gates may close earlier than you expect.

Historic Xi’an compared

Historic sights in Xi’an rated by YesGo. Tap a column header to sort.

Nearby and on your route

39

Bell and Drum Towers

Xi’an, China

1 h · ¥30 per tower, ¥50 for both · 15 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Bell and Drum Towers

42

Muslim Quarter

Xi’an, China

1 h 30 min · Free, open 24 hours · 20 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Muslim Quarter

44

Great Mosque of Xi’an

Xi’an, China

45 min · ¥25, ¥15 in winter; Muslims free · 21 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Great Mosque of Xi’an

41

Small Wild Goose Pagoda

Xi’an, China

1 h · Free, advance booking with passport · 25 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Small Wild Goose Pagoda

How to do it right

• Rent your bike at the South Gate: it has the main station and the longest hours.
• Note the time when you get your bike — every extra 10 minutes is charged.
• In late autumn and winter, assume the last way up is around 20:00.
• If the full loop is too much, ride halfway and come down at the opposite gate.
• With a child, a tandem is easier than two single bikes.
• Be back at the South Gate for sunset: lanterns over the barbican make the best shot.
• The moat park around the wall is free — a pleasant evening walk after your ride.

Questions