Fortifications of Xi'an, Ancient city fortification in Xi'an, China.

The Fortifications of Xi'an form a rectangular wall 13.74 kilometres long, 12 metres high, with a base 15–18 metres thick and a top 12–14 metres wide. Its grey stone and brick face has a sloped base and crenellated parapet with 5,984 crenels. Gate towers with dark wooden facades, red columns and grey tiled roofs rise above the wall, and a moat 18 metres wide and 6 metres deep runs outside.

The Ming Dynasty erected these fortifications between 1374 and 1378 on foundations of the former Tang imperial city, with later rulers conducting extensive renovations and reinforcements throughout the centuries to ensure the defensive capability of the Shaanxi provincial capital.

The four main gates follow traditional Chinese military design and align with cardinal directions, with the South Gate serving as the ceremonial main entrance during imperial times and remaining the primary access point for visitors exploring the historic center today.

The walkway along the top runs the full 13.74 km perimeter and typically takes four hours to cover on foot. Bicycles can be rented on the wall for part or all of the circuit, and electric carts serve shorter sections. The wall stands 12 m high, with a top width of 12–14 m and a base of 15–18 m.

The structure contains a mixture of earth, quicklime, and glutinous rice in its core, making it exceptionally durable throughout the centuries, while the top layer consists of large bricks bonded with a special mortar formula.