西安城墙
The most complete ancient city wall in China — 14km of Ming Dynasty ramparts, fully bikeable.
Xi'an's city wall is a remarkable survival from 1370 AD — 14 km long, 12 metres tall, and 15 metres wide at the top, making it easily walkable or bikeable in its entirety. Cycling the full circuit at sunset, with the old city below and the modern city beyond, is one of the most enjoyable and accessible activities in Xi'an. The wall is fully intact and lined with 98 watchtowers.
The South Gate (Yongning Men / 永宁门) is the main tourist entrance and has bike rentals on the wall itself. Take Metro Line 2 to Yongnin Gate station. Ticket includes wall access; bikes are rented separately on top. The full 14km circuit takes about 1.5 hours by bike at a relaxed pace, or 3+ hours on foot.
Opening Hours
8:00am – 10:00pm (Apr–Oct); 8:00am – 9:00pm (Nov–Mar)
Entry Fee
¥54 wall entry. Bike rental: ¥45 for 90 minutes (tandem bikes available).
Address
South Gate (Yongning Gate), Nanjie, Beilin District, Xi'an
陕西省西安市碑林区南街永宁门
Show these to locals — large Chinese text designed to be read at arm's length.
Show this to locals:
师傅您好，请送我去西安南城门（永宁门），碑林区南街。谢谢！
Hello, please take me to Xi'an's South Gate (Yongning Gate), Nanjie, Beilin District. Thank you!
For your eyes only:
The South Gate (南门 / 永宁门) is the main tourist entrance to the city wall with bike rentals.
Show this to locals:
您好，我想租一辆自行车在城墙上骑，请问多少钱？
Hello, I would like to rent a bicycle to ride on the city wall. How much does it cost?
For your eyes only:
Bike rental counters are on top of the wall near the South Gate. Single bikes: ¥45 for 90 min. Tandem bikes also available.
Follow these guides to navigate each part of your visit.
Take Metro Line 2 to Yongning Gate station — walk 5 minutes to the South Gate entrance
Buy your wall entry ticket (¥54) at the gate
Ascend to the top of the wall by the rampart staircase
Rent a bicycle at the rental booth on the wall top (¥45 for 90 min — plenty of time for the full circuit)
Cycle clockwise — the South Gate to East Gate section has the most photogenic watchtowers
Stop at the East Gate (安远门) for views over the Datang Everbright City area
Complete the circuit back to the South Gate — return your bike and descend
Walk 10 minutes north to the Muslim Quarter for an evening of street food
Cycling is far more enjoyable than walking the full 14km — rent a bike at the South Gate immediately on arrival.
The wall closes at 10pm — there is time for an evening ride after dinner, which is especially atmospheric with the wall lit up.
Take the South Gate (永宁门) entrance — it has the most bike rental options and is closest to the Muslim Quarter.
The watchtowers at each corner of the wall are the best photography spots — climb into them for elevated views.
Terracotta Army
兵马俑
8,000 individually sculpted clay warriors buried 2,200 years ago to guard China's first emperor.
Explore →Muslim Quarter
回民街
A maze of Hui-Muslim architecture and street food — Xi'an's most atmospheric evening destination.
Explore →Big Wild Goose Pagoda
大雁塔
A Tang Dynasty Buddhist pagoda — and the largest musical fountain in Asia surrounds it at night.
Explore →Save all your travel cards, action guides, and reservations in one place — accessible offline anywhere in China.