Almost every city in China had a city wall. Now there are only a few left today. Xi’an City Wall is the best preserved and the largest city wall in China and world. Construction of the city wall began in 1370 in the Ming Dynasty. The massive wall is 12 meter high, 15-18 meter wide at the base, 15 meter wide on the top, 13.7 kilometer long in circumference.
There are bicycles for renting on all four main gates. The fee is 40RMB for one-person bicycles and 80RMB for two-person bicycles for 100 minutes. 300RMB refundabledeposit per bicycle will be collected in advance. Riding it through costs about 2 hours. A trolley ride around on top of the wall is 80RMB-120RMB per person which is less exhaustive and less fun.
The city wall will be lit up at night and the illumistrated wall is less massive but more beautiful than in daylight.
There will be a show demonstrating the Opening Gate Ceremony of Tang Dynasty everyday at 09:30am at suspension bridge square outside of the South Gate. A Warrior Parade show will be on display at 10:30 and 16:30 everyday inside the inner city of South Gate.
There is a small museum inside the city walls at Hanguang Gate, about halfway between the southwest corner and the South Gate, accessible from the top of the city wall itself. Look for a staircase down inside a covered structure. Inside are the unrestored remains of a gatehouse from the Tang Dynasty.
Walking aroud the landscaped parks around the base of the exterior walls and moat and watching local people doing Taichi, singing local opera is also amusing. You can also enjoy a different perspective on the battlements and towers up there.
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