City Wall of Xi'an

September breeze was chilling, as I was strolling on the City Wall of Xi’an.  Setting my feet on this piece of structure that was re-constructed during the Ming Dynasty, I saw myself traveled back to the past. City Wall in the ancient times was always the battle field.  I stand behind the battlements, looking down the wall. There were troop of soldiers, and a person with distinguishable build. He was the General. He marched forward, furiously asking (me) to surrender.

It was all a sudden silence. The General face looked fiecesome, he raised his right hand up, and I saw the soldiers running to their positions, forming the attacking lined-up. One command from the General, and you will see tons of arrows  firing at you, only if you are the most wanted fugitive of cause, like Jet Li in the movie “Hero”…….the rest are history……

There are no more arrows, no more soldiers, except those “hired” one that were standing near one of the rampart, for tourists to take photos. When visiting historical places or monuments, you need to learn a bit about the background, and definitely no lack of some good imaginations.

There are four main gates built in this 13.7 km – long City Wall – Changle (meaning eternal joy, 长乐) in the east, Anding (harmony peace, 安定) in the west, Yongning (eternal peace, 永宁) in the south and Anyuan (forever harmony, 安远) in the north. This huge ancient structure is the most preserved and complete city wall that has survived in China.

I entered through Yongning, which had been beatifully refurbished because it is located near the Bell Tower, in the center of the city.  There wasn’t much tourists in sight, but interestingly, you would see some people jogging on the City Wall. And it was actually a good way to see how modern Xi’an residents live beside the City Wall. Or you can opt for a bicycle ride, which was what my companion and I did.

I like people with story, I like places with history. Appreciating the past, and you will savour the present. Appreciating what modern days bring us, I treasure the past. Retreating myself, my soul in Xi’an City, it was nothing but rejuvenating.