Visiting Xi’an calls for a tour of the Ancient City Wall. First built in the Sui and Tang dynasties and expanded in the Ming Dynasty, the wall stretches 13.74 kilometers and is China’s largest and best-preserved ancient city wall. Standing atop it, you can see old-town traditional buildings and modern high-rises side by side, forming an ancient-modern landscape. Built in the 3rd year of the Ming Hongwu reign and finished in 8 years, it has a history of over 600 years. First-time visitors need to know entrance locations, ticket prices, walking or cycling options, and basic on-wall facilities. This guide will explain all details one by one.
Transportation to the Ancient City Wall from the Airport or Railway Stations
After arriving at Xi’an Xianyang International Airport, it is about 50 kilometers away from the city center. The following three ways are the most commonly used:
- Metro Line 14: Take metro from airport to Xi’an North Station (≈40min), transfer to Line 2 to Yongning Gate Station, walk 350m from Exit D1 to South Gate. Total fare: 9 CNY. Fastest and most cost-effective.
- Airport Shuttle Bus: There are multiple routes to different directions of the urban area. The most commonly used one is the route to Bell Tower Hotel, with a fare of 25 CNY and a journey of about one hour, suitable for passengers staying near Bell Tower or South Gate.
- Taxi: The fare is about 100 to 150 CNY, and the journey takes about 50 minutes, suitable for groups of four people or passengers arriving late at night.
After arriving in the urban area, it is very convenient to go to the city wall. Take Metro Line 2 and get off at Yongning Gate Station, exit from Exit A1 or D1, and walk along the signs for about five minutes to reach South Gate Square. You can directly tell the taxi driver to go to “Yongning Gate” or “South Gate Cultural Square”. If you arrive at Xi’an Railway Station by train, it takes about ten minutes to walk to the North Gate (Anyuan Gate) entrance; if you arrive at Xi’an North Railway Station, you can directly transfer to Metro Line 2. After arriving at Xi’an North Railway Station by high-speed train from other cities in China, you can also transfer to the metro to the Ancient City Wall in the above way.
Yongning Gate, South Gate of Xi’an City Wall
Ticket Prices and Preferential Policies of the Ancient City Wall
The ticket price for climbing the city wall is 54 CNY for full-price adult tickets, 27 CNY for half-price tickets with valid student ID, free for seniors over 65 years old and children under 1.2 meters tall. Free and half-price tickets need to be exchanged for paper tickets at the on-site ticket window with valid documents.
Two points to note about ticket purchase:
- Online ticket purchase saves time: Select the date and complete payment in advance through the official website, get the QR code and scan it directly at the entrance to enter without queuing for ticket exchange.
- Combined ticket is more cost-effective: City Wall & Stele Forest Museum combo ticket: 100 CNY (saves 20 CNY vs separate tickets). Ideal for same-day visits.
The on-site ticket windows have long queuing times during peak seasons, so online ticket purchase is preferred. Note that tickets are valid on the day of purchase, and you need to buy tickets again if you exit and re-enter.
Guide to Choosing Entrance Gates of the Ancient City Wall
There are eighteen gates along the wall, among which 17 entrance gates are open to tourists. Choosing a suitable entrance gate can save time and energy. The following are the recommended main entrance gates:
- Yongning Gate (South Gate): The top choice for tourists, directly accessible by Metro Line 2. The gate facilities are the most complete, including an urn city, arrow tower and gate tower, and it is open until 22:00 at night.
- Changle Gate (East Gate): Accessible by Metro Line 6, with fewer visitors, suitable for tourists coming from the eastern area. Walking south after entering from here can avoid crowds near the South Gate.
- Anding Gate (West Gate): Accessible by Metro Line 6, with a moat cruise project nearby, suitable for tourists who want to take a cruise first and then climb the wall.
- Anyuan Gate (North Gate): Accessible by Metro Line 2, close to Xi’an Railway Station, suitable for passengers who climb the wall directly after arriving by train.
- Hanguang Gate: There is a Tang Dynasty Gate Site Museum inside, where you can visit the rammed earth relics and water culverts of the Tang Dynasty city wall, suitable for tourists interested in history.
It is convenient to take a taxi to any entrance gate, with a fare of about 15 to 25 CNY within the urban area. Traffic jams may occur near the South Gate in the evening, so it is recommended to reserve 15 minutes in advance. If you enter from Hanguang Gate, you can also visit the City Wall Museum without an extra ticket.
Three Ways to Visit the Ancient City Wall
After climbing the wall, you can choose the following three ways according to your time and physical strength:
Cycling
There are nine bicycle rental stations on the wall. A single bike costs 45 CNY for 3 hours, and a tandem bike costs 90 CNY for 3 hours. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to cycle around the wall. Note that the brick and stone road surface of the wall is not completely flat, and there will be bumps when cycling, so it is recommended to control the speed. Bicycles have no baskets, and personal items should be carried on the body.
Walking
It is recommended to walk west from the South Gate to Hanguang Gate, about 1.5 kilometers, taking about 30 minutes. Along the way, you can visit the South Gate Tower, Zhuque Gate, Hanguang Gate and the Tang Dynasty city wall relics. Walking allows you to observe details such as the firing year inscriptions on the bricks and stones.
Electric Sightseeing Car
There are stops at the main entrance gates, tickets are available on demand, the fare is about 80 CNY for a full circle around the wall, the journey takes about 50 minutes, with simple explanations on the car, suitable for tourists with limited physical strength or who do not want to ride a bike.
Cycling on the Ancient City Wall
Practical Tips and Photography Suggestions for Visiting the Ancient City Wall
The following is practical information during the visit:
Sun Protection and Clothing
There is no sunshade facility on the top of the wall, with strong sunshine in summer and strong wind in winter. It is recommended to wear a hat, apply sunscreen, and wear a long-sleeved thin coat. Shoes should be comfortable sports shoes or flat shoes, because the brick and stone road surface is not completely flat.
Drinking Water and Food
There are stalls selling water and snacks every 1 to 2 kilometers on the wall, but the prices are high, a bottle of ordinary mineral water costs about 5 CNY. It is recommended to bring your own drinking water, and some rest areas provide free water dispensers for refills. It is recommended to eat in restaurants in Shuncheng Alley after getting off the wall, with reasonable prices and rich choices.
Best Visiting Time
There are fewer tourists from 8:00 to 10:00 in the morning, and the light is suitable. 16:00 to before sunset is the best time for taking photos, with warm sunshine shining on the wall for a good effect. It is not recommended to visit from 12:00 to 15:00 at noon due to strong sunshine.
Recommended Shooting Locations
The small square in front of the South Gate Tower can take a complete picture of the tower and gate; the southeast corner can capture the corner tower and the traditional buildings of Shuncheng Alley together; the southwest corner has the best shooting effect during sunset. It is also worth taking photos after the tower lights are on at night, but only the South Gate is open for climbing at night.
Safety Precautions
There is no guardrail outside the wall crenellation, and climbing over is extremely dangerous. Ensure children stay away from the edge of the crenellation when traveling with them. Rented bicycles must be returned to the original place, confirm the location of the return station before getting off the wall to avoid additional scheduling fees.
Quick Guide to Accommodation and Catering Around the Ancient City Wall
You can refer to the following information when arranging accommodation and catering near the wall:
Accommodation Suggestions
It is most convenient to choose hotels near the South Gate. Budget hotels cost about 150 to 250 CNY per night, mid-to-high-end hotels cost about 400 to 800 CNY per night, and some rooms can directly see the night view of the wall. The South Gate is convenient to the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter. If you prefer a quieter environment, you can choose accommodation near the East Gate or West Gate, with relatively lower prices.
Catering Recommendations
Shuncheng Alley is distributed with a large number of restaurants along the inner side of the wall, offering a variety of choices such as roujiamo, cold noodles, lamb paomo, barbecue and pasta. A bowl of noodles in an ordinary shop costs about 15 CNY, and the per capita consumption of restaurants in shopping malls outside the South Gate is about 40 to 50 CNY. There are also cafes and Western-style light meals available on the street outside the South Gate.
Key Preparation Points for Visiting the Ancient City Wall
Several preparations need to be made in advance for visiting the Ancient City Wall. Confirm the location of the entrance gate, and give priority to entering from the South Gate (Yongning Gate). Buy tickets online through official channels to avoid on-site queuing. Decide to cycle or walk according to your physical strength: cycling around the wall takes about 1.5 to 2 hours, suitable for tourists who want to quickly visit the whole picture; walking from the South Gate to Hanguang Gate takes about 30 minutes, suitable for carefully watching architectural details. Bring at least one bottle of drinking water and take sun protection measures. The best time for taking photos is from 16:00 to before sunset, and the two recommended shooting spots are the South Gate Tower and the southeast corner. Only the South Gate is open for night visits, so pay attention to the time. Arrange your trip according to the above information, and you can successfully complete the visit to the Ancient City Wall. If you plan to stay on the wall for more than two hours, it is recommended to rent a bicycle to improve efficiency. After getting off the wall, you can go to Shuncheng Alley for dining, where restaurants have long business hours.
