The Xi'an City Wall is the only complete ancient city wall in China. It encloses the 36-square-kilometer old Xi'an city center in a rectangular circuit.
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Gate to the ancient capital —
The 14-kilometer-long wall was built in the Ming Dynasty to safeguard Xi'an, a strategic capital for many Chinese dynasties. East Gate (pictured) is one of four original gates.
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Intricate military defense system —
South Gate (pictured) is the oldest and grandest gate. Accessible only through a drawbridge across a moat, each gate consists of a multi-story archer's tower. Other structures like watchtowers and corner towers dot the city wall, making it one of the most impressive defense systems in ancient China.
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Bikes OK —
You can't enter Xi'an's Terracotta Army pit and take selfies with the warriors. But you can run, walk and bike on the City Wall. A bike ride is the best and quickest way to explore the wall.
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First Lady was lovin' it —
U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama danced with daughters Sasha (right) and Malia (left) during a trip to Xi'an in 2014. "There you stand, on top of a wall that's hundreds of years old -- a wall that has withstood war and famine and the rise and fall of dynasties," she wrote in her travel journal.
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Connecting wall —
The top of the wall offers a unique view of the contrasting faces of this ancient Chinese city.
The wall is now a place for recreation and celebrations. Lanterns adorned the South Gate of the Xi'an City Wall to mark the forthcoming lunar new year.
