Yongningmen, City gate in Beilin District, Xi'an, China.
Yongningmen is a city gate in the southern Xi'an City Wall, standing 12 meters (39 feet) tall. It forms an important section of the rectangular defensive wall that stretches for approximately 13.7 kilometers around the city.
The gate was originally built in 582 as Anshang Gate during the Sui Dynasty and received its current name during Ming Dynasty reconstruction. This transformation reflected the city's evolution and defensive needs across more than three centuries.
Each brick in the gate structure contains identification numbers, implemented during the 1980s restoration to maintain construction records and facilitate repairs.
Visitors reach the gate via the southern side of the city wall, where it serves as a primary entrance for exploring the entire fortification. Morning or early afternoon visits offer better conditions for walking and taking in the surroundings.
The gate retained its original structure despite losing its archery tower in the 1920s. Each brick carries identification numbers from the 1980s restoration, helping with maintenance work.
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