Xi’an City Wall

[Photo/IC]

The best-preserved ancient city wall boasting the longest history for walls in the world, the Xi’an City Wall is 13.74 kilometers total length and composed of a series of military installations, including a moat, suspension bridges, sluice buildings, embrasured watchtowers, gate towers, turrets, watchtowers, parapets and crenels.

The Xi’an City Wall was initially built during the Hongwu period (1368-98) of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to match the scale of the capital city of the Sui and Tang dynasties (581-907). Having witnessed vicissitudes over hundreds of years today it has 18 gates and symbolizes the rich cultural and historical background of Xi’an city.