Amongst the premier historical attractions in China, the Xian Ancient City Wall provided a key system of defence protecting those who lived behind its secure walls; here are more captivating insights.
A Stunning Landmark
The nation’s most complete and best-preserved ancient city wall, this structure still stands as an impressive local landmark. Those at city centre hotels in Xian, China, can easily visit this site via its four main gates; the most popular is the South Gate which is just a five-minute walk from Grand Park Xian and from where you can walk or cycle along this amazing wall.
Defending the City
Spanning a width of 15 metres and a height of 12 metres, the Xian Ancient City Wall runs a length of around 14 km, encircling the city in what is considered a noteworthy military defence system. It dates to the Ming Dynasty in the 14th century though it was refurbished through the centuries as well; it played an integral part in protecting the city where trade journeys along the famed Silk Road also commenced.
Five Defence Features
The wall had five defence features at each of the main gates that helped it keep out invaders. The surrounding moat was the first line of defence, while the city gates each had drawbridges too. The second aspect was the floodgate tower that controlled the drawbridges, while the third was the archery tower. The fourth part of the defence was the barbican, an enclosed space between the archery and gate towers, while the fifth aspect was the principal gate; enemy troops would have to get past all five which was no easy task!
Other Notable Features
As you explore the Xian Ancient City Wall, you will come across other fascinating design features too. These include numerous ramparts each with a sentry building that helped soldiers in defending the wall. Interestingly, the interior side of the wall contains parapets to prevent soldiers from falling off, while there are four turrets at each of the city wall corners as well, used for both observation and defence.
