Xi'an City Wall: Cycling or Walking the Ming Walls
The Xi'an City Wall is a complete Ming-dynasty rampart, 13.74 kilometres around the old city, that you can walk or cycle along the top. Entry costs 54 yuan for adults. A single bike costs 45 yuan for three hours, and the full loop takes a steady rider about two hours. Start at the South Gate (Yongningmen), right by Yongningmen station on metro Line 2, where the rental stand is biggest and hours are longest (08:00 to 22:00 from March to October). Ride in the morning when the bricks are cool, or in the late afternoon if you want to stay for the lights.
The rest of the city is in the Xi'an travel guide.
Tickets, hours and bikes
From 2026 listings that match the wall's official notices:
| Item | Price or time |
|---|---|
| Entry | 54 yuan adult, 27 yuan student |
| South Gate hours | 08:00 to 22:00 (March to October); about 08:00 to 20:00 (November to February) |
| Single bike | 45 yuan for 3 hours |
| Tandem | 90 yuan for 3 hours |
| Deposit | About 100 yuan, refunded when you return the bike |
| Overtime | About 5 yuan per extra 10 minutes |
Entry and bike rental are paid separately. Bike stands are on top of the wall at the main gates, and the South Gate has the most bikes. Rentals stop in the evening (around 20:00 at the South Gate), earlier than the wall itself closes. You can usually return the bike at another stand, but check at the counter before you set off. Other gates post their own hours, usually shorter than the South Gate's.
Riding the loop
Three hours of rental is enough for the full loop with a few stops, but not for a long lunch. A comfortable plan:
- Start at the South Gate at 08:00 or 09:00. Rent the bike, check the brakes and the bell.
- Ride east (anticlockwise). The old city's grey roofs are on your left and the moat and modern Xi'an on your right. The South Gate to East Gate stretch is the one most people remember.
- Keep a steady pace on the north and west sides, which are quieter and less photogenic.
- Finish back at the South Gate within your three hours.
The surface is old brick with seams and occasional ramps. Bikes rattle, bags bounce, and after rain some stretches are slippery. Tandems are harder to steer than they look. There are no helmets, so ride slowly near other people. Children who can ride confidently manage fine.
If you'd rather walk, take one stretch. The South Gate to East Gate walk takes about an hour each way at an easy pace. The short stretch east from the South Gate to Wenchang Gate, the first part of that walk, runs above the Stele Forest Museum.
What you're riding on
The wall was built between 1370 and 1378, early in the Ming dynasty, on top of the boundary of the Tang imperial city. It stands about 12 metres high and is wider at the base than at the top, broad enough on top for bikes, carts and crowds. Along the outer edge are 5,984 crenellations, and every 120 metres a rampart (98 in total) juts out so defenders could shoot along the wall face. The four main gates are Changle (east), Anding (west), Yongning (south) and Anyuan (north). It was among the first sites given national protection in 1961.
After recent improvements to access, fifteen gate areas with sixteen ramps are open to visitors, but not every gate has a ticket office or bike stand. Check which gates you can exit from before planning a one-way walk.
The wall at night
From dusk, lanterns line the top of the wall and the South Gate glows under floodlights. It is a very different visit from the morning ride: slower, busier and more about the view down into the Yongningmen gate square.
Most evenings, the enclosure inside the South Gate stages Chang'an Impression: Grand Tang Dynasty Welcoming Ceremony (梦长安—大唐迎宾盛礼), a costumed pageant recreating the reception of envoys to the Tang court. Shows usually start around 20:30, with extra performances on holidays, and need a separate ticket. Book ahead on holiday weekends. Even without a ticket, you can watch the evening activity around the gate from outside.
Planning a wall day
Morning ride, afternoon in the old city. Bike the loop from 08:00 to about 11:00, then walk or take the metro to the Bell Tower and have lunch in the Muslim Quarter, both inside the wall.
Afternoon and evening. Go up at the South Gate about an hour and a half before sunset, ride or walk east as the light softens, and come back for the lanterns and the show.
With the pagoda. The wall in the morning and the Big Wild Goose Pagoda in the afternoon and evening make a good city day.
Keep the wall off your Lintong day. The Terracotta Army takes a full day by itself.
Things to confirm before you go
- Hours at the gate you plan to use, and the bike rental cut-off.
- Seasonal and event closures. The Xi'an City Wall International Marathon is held on the wall, and race days restrict access.
- Bike rental terms (deposit, time limit, return points) at the counter.
- Show times and tickets if you plan to watch the evening performance.
- Weather: brick gets slippery in rain, and summer middays are very hot with little shade.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Xi'an City Wall cost?
54 yuan for adults, 27 yuan for students. Bikes are extra: 45 yuan for a single and 90 yuan for a tandem, each for three hours, plus a refundable deposit.
Can you cycle the whole Xi'an City Wall?
Yes. The full loop is 13.74 kilometres and takes about two hours of steady riding. A three-hour rental covers it with stops.
Which gate is best for the Xi'an City Wall?
The South Gate (Yongningmen). It has the longest hours, the most bikes and its own metro station on Line 2.
Is the Xi'an City Wall better in the day or at night?
Daytime is better for cycling the full loop. Evening is better for lanterns, the floodlit South Gate and the welcome ceremony show.