How Many Renovations Has Xi'an City Wall Undergone?

With its blue brick pavement and majestic blue stone construction, the Xi'an City Wall has witnessed a transformation over thousands of years. As a significant urban symbol of Xi'an, it was initially built during the Sui and Tang dynasties, expanded during the Ming dynasty, and now boasts a history of over 1,400 years. Stretching over 13.74 kilometers, it stands as the largest and best-preserved ancient city wall in China, serving as a crucial carrier of Chinese historical and cultural heritage and recognized as a "world-class treasure".

In modern times, the Xi'an City Wall has provided shelter for the residents within on multiple occasions.

In 1926, the Beiyang warlords led a siege on Xi'an with a force of 100,000. General Yang Hucheng and General Li Huchen, leading over 10,000 Shaanxi troops, defended the ancient city for eight months in what became known as the "Two Warriors Defend Chang'an". At that time, they retreated within the City Wall, using it as a defense line, and engaged in a desperate resistance. Many Xi'an residents sought refuge within the city wall to escape the turmoil. This marked the first instance in the history of the Xi'an City Wall where it played a military defense role.

During the anti-Japanese war, the Xi'an Preparedness Committee led military and civilian efforts to construct air-raid shelters on the inner side of the City Wall to enhance their safety. Thousands of air-raid shelters were built within the Xi'an City Wall. Later, through technological detection, the Xi'an City Wall Management Committee discovered bunkers within the buttress wall.

The Xi'an City Wall once again protected the citizens of Xi'an.

Throughout history, the Xi'an City Wall has undergone three large-scale reconstructions.

In the year 582 AD, Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty ordered the construction of a new capital and appointed the renowned architect and hydraulic expert Yuwen Kai to plan and design the city. After conducting surveys, based on the principles in the Book of Changes and the topography of Xi'an at the time, Yuwen Kai designed the City Wall, isolating the palace city, imperial city, and outer city, thereby changing the previous pattern of "palaces and common people living together" to establish a pattern of "building walls to protect the ruler and constructing outer walls to guard the people". Subsequently, the Sui Dynasty mobilized over 100,000 people to build an outer city beyond the palace and imperial city, establishing the basic layout of the city. Hanguang Gate, located west of the Daxingcheng Imperial City, was built during this period. This is the first major reconstruction of the Xi'an City Wall.

After Bi Yuan served as the governor of Shaanxi, he believed that the Xi'an City Wall, after several centuries, needed a thorough reconstruction. During the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, he submitted a memorial, advocating for the comprehensive rebuilding of the Xi'an City Wall. This became the first complete reconstruction of the Xi'an City Wall since its establishment. Emperor Qianlong attached great importance to this, giving Bi Yuan two principles: firstly, not sparing any expense, with national support, and secondly, adhering to the old system, which is what the Xi'an City Wall Management Committee emphasizes today— rebuilding it to match the original scale and regulations. This marked the second major reconstruction of the Xi'an City Wall. From the Qing Dynasty to the Revolution of 1911 and the Republican era, the city wall experienced several times of warfare, leaving it in ruins.

After the founding of the People's Republic of China, there was a debate over whether to preserve or demolish the city wall during the national economic recovery. During the period of reform and opening up in 1981, there was also a debate over preservation or demolition while restoring economic production— whether to demolish the city wall to develop a modern socialist economy or to continue historical civilization. With a far-sighted historical perspective, national leaders chose to preserve the city wall. After 1983, the Xi'an Municipal Party Committee and the municipal government mobilized the entire city to restore the city wall. People contributed funds and efforts, and the entire city worked together to restore the city wall. Rebuilding from 1983 to 2004, the final breakthrough at Jiefang Gate in 2004 marked the complete display of the Xi'an City Wall to the world.