Journey to Xi'an: Exploring the Ancient City Wall

Xi'an is one of the Four Great Ancient Capitals of China, and was designated as a 'World Historical City' by UNESCO in 1981. It is also one of the world's top ten ancient capitals, with a history of 13 dynasties, including Zhou, Qin, Han, Sui, and Tang, having been established here. It served as the capital and political, economic, and cultural center for 1100 years during the Tang Dynasty, when Chang'an was a world economic and cultural center.

Lanterns glow red on the ancient city walls.

Shaanxi Historical Museum

The second stop in exploring Xi'an is the city walls and the Bell and Drum Towers, which are the largest and best-preserved ancient city walls in existence. The main gates of the Xi'an City Wall are: Changlemen (East Gate), Yongningmen (South Gate), Anyimen (West Gate), and Xianyimen (North Gate). These four gates were the original gates of the city wall. To facilitate entry and exit in the old city district, several gates were newly opened since the Republic of China, and now there are 18 gates in total.

The Bell and Drum Towers

The Xi'an Bell and Drum Towers are collectively known as the Bell and Drum Towers of Xi'an, located in the city center, and are Xi'an's iconic buildings. The two Ming Dynasty buildings echo each other, which is spectacular. However, it is recommended to view them from a distance and take photos; it's not necessary to buy tickets to enter. Visitors who enter are few, and it's best to go in the evening when the lights are lit, creating a spectacular night view!

White Bell and Drum Towers during the day