Xi'an City area is located in the central area of ​​Xi'an, rectangular, wall 12 meters high, 18 m wide at the bottom, top width of 15 m, 2590 m long east wall, west wall 2631.2 m long, south wall 3441.6 m long, 3,241 m long north wall The total Zhou Chang 11.9 kilometers. There are four gates: Changle Gate East, West Andingmen, South Yongning Gate, North Gate Anyuan. Xi'an city wall is based on the Tang Imperial City built. Entirely around the "defense" strategy system, the thickness is greater than the height of the walls, solid as a mountain, sports cars and top of the wall can be drilled. Existing walls built in the Ming Hong Wu seven to eleven years (1374-1378), has been 600 years of history, is one of the most famous late medieval wall construction in Chinese history, China is the most complete ancient city wall of the building.

Long before the establishment of the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang after the capture of Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng told him to be "high walls, and wide grain, slow kings." Zhu Yuanzhang adopted these recommendations. When the national unity, he ordered all prefectures widespread fortification. Zhu Yuanzhang thought "the world mountains and rivers, Wei Qin medium to solid risk." Xi'an ancient city wall was built in the city's boom, presided over by the British military governor Pu, Tang imperial expansion up on the basis of the old city.

Xi'an city wall 12 meters high, after the expansion of the Ming Dynasty, top width of 12-14 meters, 15-18 meters wide at the bottom. Michaux walls every 120 sets an enemy, protruding outside the walls, a top wall and city level. It is designed for shooting enemy climb the wall of the set. Half the distance between the enemy units, is well within the effective range of the bow, to facilitate shooting enemy siege from the side. On the walls there are enemy units 98, it is built on top of the watch tower garrison.

Ancient weapons behind, the gate is the only means of access, so here is the painstaking efforts of the feudal rulers defense priorities. Xi'an east, west, south, north four gates, respectively, the floor is, watchtower, gate building triple gates. In the outermost gate building, its role is to lift bridge, watchtower in front and on both sides with a square window, for archery. The floor is in the innermost, is the city's main entrance. Between the watchtower and the floor is connected with a wall, called the Urn, is stationed themselves place. There is also leading to the city Urn head Ma, no slow on the stairs, easy horses up and down. The city also has a horse at Road 11. The four corners of the walls are prominent corner table outside the city. In addition to the southwest corner is rounded, the corner may be maintained undisturbed Imperial Tang, the other is square. Repair a corner bench enemy units more than the tall turret, show here an important role in the war.

On the wall outside of the building has battlements, also called crib wall, a total of 5984, the forts, the archery and Outlook. Low wall called the woman inside wall, no forts to prevent falling when plying soldiers. The original Xi'an city wall entirely made of layered loess ramming, the bottom with soil, mix lime juice and rice pounding, extremely hard. Later, in turn entire walls of the inner and outer walls and top lined with brick. The top of the walls at intervals of 40-60 meters there is a green-brick structure with a sink for drainage, the long-term protection of the ancient city wall of Xi'an has played a very important role. The city is surrounded by a moat wide and deep, with a positive can always ups and downs on the suspension bridge at the gate. A raised drawbridge, the path out of the city will be truncated.

History background

The walls of the ancient Chinese city of traditional defense facilities. Dating back 6,000 years ago Banpo see Banpo people dig moat around the residence, in order to guard against wild animals and outside tribal attacks. If the Banpo village regarded as the city's first bud, deep groove is then equivalent to the walls of the facility. Until the construction of the wall after people technological invention, the walls of the city while accompanied by natural birth, it became a significant symbol of the ancient city. According to the annals record; "whale fortification to Wei Jun, Guo made to Habitat, this castle is the beginning." This is about the late dating back about 4,500 years ago, primitive society. As the ancient capital of Xi'an, the ancient building a wall on several occasions. Most of them were buried in the dust of history. But we still see the city wall dating back to the 6th century Sui Dynasty.

Xi'an city wall of the Ming Dynasty in the early years of the Imperial City is the basis of Chang'an City and on building up since the Tang Dynasty frequent wars, suffered a lot of damage. God Bless the late Tang Dynasty (AD 904), stationed Chang Yu Guojun Jiedushi Han Jian, because the original big city is not easy to defend, so to Chang'an City we had a building and renovation. Give up a building and renovation of Chang'an outer city and Miyagi, only to be alterations to the Imperial City, closed the Imperial City Suzaku, Anfu, Engi three, Northern Xuanwumen for defense, but did not expand on the city wall or alterations.

After over five generations of the Later Tang Dynasty, Later Jin, Later Han, after thoughtful Song and Yuan dynasties, the city's name and organizational transformation times, it still has, but the scale of the city wall but no change. Xian Feng Yuan Yuan Dynasty called the city, it is a city of northwest. Hongwu years (AD 1369) in March, the Great General Xu Da led his army from crossing into Shanxi, Shaanxi, Yuan defender seeing them, occupied the Xu Da Feng Yuan City. Soon, the Ming court Bong yuan Road, Xi'an government, Xi'an, which is named for the beginning.

Walls built

Xi'an city wall of the Ming Dynasty was a large and sophisticated military defense systems, but also our most complete an ancient castle. Xi'an ancient castle shows the wisdom of working people in ancient China, but also we study the history of the Ming Dynasty, military and construction provides a rare kind of information. 1961 Xi'an city wall was included in the national reconstruction cultural relics protection units, ushered in the east of the rally. In 1983, the municipal government in conjunction with the overall planning of the municipal building, invested 10 million yuan, began to build around the city park. Today, the drainage system on the wall is complete, the enemy units and forts gradually restored. Heihe water was near the pool and Xing East Lake, the introduction of the moat, like a silver chain around the walls. After both sides form a moat around the city forest tree planting. Flower beds, lawns all over the walls below. From the west gate to the East Gate, it has built Pine, Garden, Megranate, Cherry Park, Kibi really Park, Han Guang Court, maze, Yuan ladder, bridge, south gate on the city and other tourist attractions.

Xian Ming Zhu Yuanzhang attached great importance to the position. Undetermined location in the capital before, courtier also repeatedly suggested that the use of Guanzhong situation, capital Xi'an. Zhu Yuanzhang specially sent Prince visited Xi'an, capital of viewing things. Later, Zhu Yuanzhang's second son Zhu Shuang turn called the King of Qin. Entirely around the "defense" strategy system, the thickness is greater than the height of the walls, solid as a mountain, sports cars and top of the wall can be drilled. Including walls moat, drawbridge, gate building, watchtower, is building, turret, watch tower, parapet, crenel and a series of military facilities.

At that time, the Ming fortification atmosphere is very popular, and now hold China down the walls of many cities and towns, most of that time built so far in the folk still circulating: "Han mound Tangta pig (Zhu) circle," the saying goes. Thus, in the Hong Wu years (AD 1374) officially fortification to Hong Wu eleven years (1378) completed. Repaired Xi'an city wall, east wall 2590 meters long, the Western Wall in length 2631.2 meters, south wall 3441.1 meters long, 3241 meters long north wall, Zhou Chang 13.75 km, is a rectangular shape, 12 meters high wall, top width 12-14 meters, 15-18 meters wide at the bottom. The walls of each corner a corner wall, outside the city walls and moat. There are four gates: East said Changle, West said stability, South Yongning said, said the North Anyuan. Each gate tower triple: gate building, watchtower, is building. N 32 meters tall, 40 meters long, is Xieshan Ding, tilt corners, three eaves, around the bottom corridors, antique, towering spectacular.

Began building walls is layered with mud pounding up. The bottom is mixed with lime, clay and rice juice pounding very hard. Longqing two years (1568), Shaanxi governor Zhang Zhi walls of the outer wall and the top surface of the brick masonry.

Walls, people for the defense of self-defense alien invasion and built facilities. Xi'an strong defensive walls, moat outside the city as a first line of defense. With a suspension bridge on the river, it is the only passage in and out of. During the day he landed on both sides of the moat bridge for people to access. Night drawbridge rose in the air, they cut off roads into the city. Outside the city there is room floor (also known as Lou Qiao) to Dageng and alarm for the second line of defense. Gate building behind a watchtower, more than 30 meters high, straight out of the wall, the hole over the arrows for easy observation and shooting, this is the third line of defense. Is between the watchtower and the floor is Urn (also called on floor), an area of ​​9348 square meters, its role is: If the enemy scored that form a "Wengzhongzhuobie" of the situation, this is the fourth line of defense. The fifth line of defense is naturally being the gates. This five enemy soldiers to break the defense, is extremely difficult.

In addition to fortified gates close, the four corners of the walls also repair the turret. Role is to assist the gates, and defensive sides observe the foreign enemy. The entire outer walls, every 120 meters there is a horse face (also called the pier F). Each horse 20 m wide, extending outwardly from the walls 12 m, height, structure and the same wall. A total of 98 horses Xi'an City surface, forts 5984, the outer walls of zigzag. Each horse stationed troops available for the original surface of the card room (also called the watch tower) three. Horse parapet walls and surfaces, the wall 8 can both hide Nai Wang, shooting notch and square holes. Therefore, Xi'an city wall of urban construction, history, military and architectural study of feudal society, have a very high value.

Since 1983, Shaanxi Province and Xi'an Municipal Government of this ancient city walls were extensive renovations, build up has been demolished in East Gate, North Gate watchtower, South Gate gate building, bridge, and built around the city park, so that this ancient buildings glow of past glory, has become a tourist attraction in Xi'an.

Majestic Xi'an city wall has become one of the city's most attractive tourist attraction. Along the outer walls have been built "around the city park," the best venues urban morning exercise. Xi'an City Wall Park is the only park around the city, it's magnificent and colorful, ancient city adds infinite beauty, but also to the ancient city walls glow with new vitality.

Line play

Boarding gates point: Xi'an city wall has 19 boarding gates open point, visitors can board the nearest city.

Gate position: east 3 - East Gate, Zhongshan door, the northeast corner walls;

West Line 4 - Yuxiang Gate, Simon (2), North Road, southwest corner of the horse

South Line 7 - a small South Gate, South Gate (main entrance of the city, on the city bridge), Wenchang door (2), Peace Arch, Jianguomen

Northern Line 5 - Xiaobeimen, North Gate (2), Tak door (located in the southwest side of the railway station, a city ring road, outside board can have ladder).

Transportation on the wall: with a sightseeing cars and bicycles can be rented on the walls. Toilet on the wall for tourists to provide free services.

Note: There are scenic north side of the south gate of the city wall, the south side of the city board two ports, users need votes from the north side of the south gate of the city board mouth sightseeing.

Car lines

Scenic Area Address: Shaanxi Province, Xi'an city wall scenic area

Car lines: take the Wulong line, 40,603 waiting for the bus station at the south gate; take the 602,705 waiting for the bus at East Station; take 9,511,703 and other public transportation at the North Gate Station; take the 201, 611 waiting for the bus at Ximen station.