Fortifications of Xi'an
| Fortifications of Xi'an Xi'an City Wall |
|
|---|---|
| 西安城墙 | |
Xi'an City Wall
|
|
| General information | |
| Type | Fortification |
| Country |
 China
|
| Coordinates | 34°15′58″N 108°56′35″E / 34.266°N 108.943°ECoordinates: 34°15′58″N 108°56′35″E / 34.266°N 108.943°E |
| Technical details | |
| Size | 14 km (8.7 mi) |
| Official name | Xi'an City Wall |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii, iv |
| Designated | Tentative 2008 |
| Reference no. | [1] |
| State Party | China |
| Region | Tentative Asia-Pacific |
The fortifications of Xi'an (Chinese: 西安城墙), also known as Xi'an City Wall, in Xi'an, an ancient capital of China, represent one of the oldest, largest and best preserved Chinese city walls. It was built under the rule of the Hongwu Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a military defense system. It exhibits the "complete features of the rampart architecture of feudal society". It has been refurbished many times since it was built in the 14th century, thrice at intervals of about 200 years in the later half of the 1500s and 1700s, and in recent years in 1983. The wall encloses an area of about 14 square kilometres (5.4 sq mi)
The Xi'an City Wall is on the tentative list of UNESCO's World Heritage Site under the title "City Walls of the Ming and Qing Dynasties". Since 2008, it is also on the list of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of the People's Republic of China. Since March 1961, the Xi'an City Wall is a heritage National Historical and Cultural Town.
Xi'an City Wall is located in the urban district of Xi'an City, which at one time was an imperial city during the periods of the Sui and Tang dynasties. It is situated at the end of the ancient Silk Road.
Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), was advised by Zhu Sheng, a sage, to build a fortified high wall around the city, create storage facilities for food and then establish his empire by unifying all the other states. Following the hermit's advice, Zhu established the Ming dynasty, and then built a highly fortified wall over a previously existing wall of the Tang dynasty (618 -907). He started building the Xian City Wall, as the capital of northwestern Shaanxi Province in 1370. He incorporated the ancient fortified embankments built by the Sui and Tang Dynasties by including them in the wall's western and southern parts, enlarging the eastern and northern parts. The edifice was built over an eight-year period and was well maintained during both the Ming Dynasty, and the Qing Dynasty, which followed.
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