Text and images (c) Robert Barry Francos / FFotos by Francos, 2014
All images can be enlarged by clicking on them
Square with a length of 8.5 miles, at a height of 39 feet, and an average of 55 feet wide, a huge stone wall surrounds the old city in the center of Xi'an. This is called the City Wall, or Chengqiang. It surrounded the city as it was known then during the early Ming Dynasty (no relation to our cat) in 1370.
After entering a square, one of four entrances for each direction, the visitor climbs stairs and the Wall stretch on and on, with historic buildings still intact. The area around it (other than the park that contains what's left of the moat that once surrounded the city) is as always a mix of modern and ancient. There is an older part of the city just outside the Wall, in one area, and there is also new hotels and shops.
When on the Wall, it is possible to rent a bicycle and ride around the whole Wall, which is in great shape (reconstituted after the Cultural Revolution as a Heritage Site). It was an extremely hot day that was on the verge of rain, so we walked part of one of its four sides before heading home, making it just in time before the downpour. Our guide, again, was professor Amy.
All images can be enlarged by clicking on them
Square with a length of 8.5 miles, at a height of 39 feet, and an average of 55 feet wide, a huge stone wall surrounds the old city in the center of Xi'an. This is called the City Wall, or Chengqiang. It surrounded the city as it was known then during the early Ming Dynasty (no relation to our cat) in 1370.
After entering a square, one of four entrances for each direction, the visitor climbs stairs and the Wall stretch on and on, with historic buildings still intact. The area around it (other than the park that contains what's left of the moat that once surrounded the city) is as always a mix of modern and ancient. There is an older part of the city just outside the Wall, in one area, and there is also new hotels and shops.
When on the Wall, it is possible to rent a bicycle and ride around the whole Wall, which is in great shape (reconstituted after the Cultural Revolution as a Heritage Site). It was an extremely hot day that was on the verge of rain, so we walked part of one of its four sides before heading home, making it just in time before the downpour. Our guide, again, was professor Amy.
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| At the entrance way, which crosses under the wall, you begin to get an idea of the width of it. |
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| I'm not sure if these doors are ever actually closed, but they are massive and metal. |
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| This is the square, where cultural events are held. Behind the wall is one of the many ancient Towers. |
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| The climb to the top of the City Wall. |
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| Traffic passes under the Wall. |
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| Bicycles are available to rent at various locations. One day we may do this. |
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| Older neighborhood. |
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| Photo by Amy |
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| Amy on the left. |
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| I don't believe these are ancient... |
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| Note the hole in the top one on the right. |
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| An strangely decorated modern building. |
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| Make that two of them, side-by-side. |
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| The park that holds what is left of the moat. |
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| Either (A), she's making a point, (B) doesn't understand what it says, or (C) is a fan of the Who. |
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| Modern hotel using ancient images. |
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| We liked the patio straight back. A close-up is below. |
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| More of the LED lights that colorfully light up at night. |
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| Statues commemorating the stone steles that used to be popular in ancient times (see the pictures in the previous blog). |
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| The moat. |
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| An overview of the square. Note the drums in the background. |
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| The girl on the stairs posing made me laugh. |
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| From the street, looking back at the Wall. |
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| A busy area. |
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| The red eyes of the lion seem to reflect the man sleeping behind it. |
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| On the way home, we cross over the road which gave us a wonderful view of the Communications Tower. At night, it was beautifully lit. |
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