Wow! What a magnificent city wall.... 14 kms long with ramparts protruding from the wall every 120 metres. The surrounding moat area is now a park of greenery which keeps the modern city at bay.
Xian was once the capital of China and situated at the end of the famous trading route, The Silk Road. The highly fortified wall was built by the first emperor of the Ming Dynasty in 1370 AD. It was strengthened and modified in the 1700s and this is the wall we see today.
The wall is rectangular - 14 kms long - enclosing an area of 36 square kms. There are watchtowers at each corner and the ramparts are an arrow shot apart.
Many city walls were demolished following the 1911 Revolution but the Xian City Wall was still considered to be of strategic importance.
In 1926 during the Civil War the Xian Wall was attacked with bombs by enemy forces resulting in serious structural damage but the city within the wall was not affected.
In 1937-40 the Japanes carried out air raids and the residents of the city built about 1,000 bunkers in the base of the wall.
The end of the gate opens on to a courtyard......
Enemies who breached the gate would find themselves trapped in this courtyard!
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| Arches have been cut in the wall to allow for the flow of traffic |
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| We entered via the East Gate |
Many city walls were demolished following the 1911 Revolution but the Xian City Wall was still considered to be of strategic importance.
In 1926 during the Civil War the Xian Wall was attacked with bombs by enemy forces resulting in serious structural damage but the city within the wall was not affected.
In 1937-40 the Japanes carried out air raids and the residents of the city built about 1,000 bunkers in the base of the wall.
The end of the gate opens on to a courtyard......
Enemies who breached the gate would find themselves trapped in this courtyard!
This is the building on the opposite side of the courtyard atop the East Gate.
And on the veranda, on the day we visited, a Chinese bride in traditional red was posing for wedding photographs.
How amazing is the width and camber of the Xian Wall! Chariots could drive several abreast here. Note the crenelated outer wall on the right. These protected the soldiers from arrows and other missiles. The shorter parapet on the inner wall on the left was simply there to stop soldiers from falling off.
Here are two kinds of mobile equipment used on the Xian Wall - an armoured soldier carrier and a mobile observation tower.
A booking office, on right, hiring out bicycles and rides on electric trolley cars.
A beautifully landscaped courtyard inside the Southern Gate. It has more sophisticated battlements.
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