西安城墙

Why this place

Xi'an's city wall is the most complete surviving ancient city fortification in China: 14km around, 12 metres high, with a moat, gates, watchtowers and a walkway wide enough to ride a bicycle on top of. The present wall is Ming, built on the Tang imperial city's foundations.

What to see

• Walking or cycling the full 14km circuit on top of the wall
• The South Gate (Yongningmen) and its ceremonial opening rituals
• The moat and the corner towers, best at sunset
• The Forest of Steles and the Muslim Quarter inside the walls

What to eat

• Roujiamo and yangrou paomo inside the walls, in the Muslim Quarter
• Biangbiang noodles and the local 'liangpi' cold noodles

How to plan

Half a day for the wall and the old town inside it.

Best time

March–May and September–November; the wall is lit at night

Practical tips

• Rent a bicycle on the wall — the circuit takes about 90 minutes and is the best way to see the whole city layout