Collection China Travel 2026.08.24

The Old Town of Xi'an - Seeping into the Alleys beyond the City Gates

A walking tour that slowly connects the city gates, Confucian academies, temples, and old mansions

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The old town of Xi'an takes on a three-dimensional aspect when you descend into the alleys of life outside and inside the city walls rather than just circling around the top. Yongning Gate marks the north-south axis of the city, while the Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum showcases the cross-section of the city walls and traces of the gates from the Tang Dynasty. The area around the Sewon Gate and the Xiangzi Tomb is where you can encounter the daily life of the old city, with calligraphy shops, temples, and residences closely situated.

It's convenient to start your walking itinerary from Yongning Gate, then explore the surroundings of Huilin and Sewon Gate before choosing one alley to the west or northwest. Note that the rental and return points for the city wall bicycles may change, and be careful of motorbikes and resident vehicles frequently passing through the alleys. When visiting religious facilities and residential areas, keep your voice down and don’t block entrances, and wear shoes that are not slippery against the old stone floors.

Yingyang Gate of Xi'an City Wall

Yongning Gate of Xi'an City Wall

The first choice in this series is Yongning Gate of the Xi'an city wall. When exploring Yongning Gate, it's helpful to understand the overall layout from the entrance before moving into the detailed spaces. Keep in mind that the southern gate's pavilion and the walls serve as a vantage point to observe the defensive structure of the Ming dynasty city walls and the central axis of the city. To ensure safety while visiting, check if entrance control is in place for events and take note of the times for bicycle rental and return from the city walls. The address based on the map for Yongning Gate is '西安市碑林区南大街2号'. While exploring Yongning Gate, compare the access methods and the roles of the spaces with the following locations in this list that seep into the alleys of the old town, so that the different attractions do not overlap.

주소 西安市碑林区南大街2号 방문 확인 행사로 입구가 통제되는지 확인하고 성벽 자전거 대여·반납 시간을 따로 살핀다

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Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum

Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum is positioned second in this lineup because it serves as a specialized space to compare the Tang dynasty Hanguang Gate drawings with Ming dynasty city wall cross-sections indoors. Seeing Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum necessitates a perspective that observes both the architecture and current visitors together. Before you visit, be sure to check the range included with the city wall entrance ticket and the closing times of the exhibition halls to plan your outdoor walk accordingly. The address to find Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum is '西安市莲湖区甜水井街含光门内', and if pronunciation is difficult, showing it in Chinese will suffice. When you view Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum in conjunction with Yongning Gate, take notes on the differences in duration and surrounding living areas so that you can transform the theme of 'a walking tour that slowly connects the city gates, Confucian academies, temples, and old mansions' into your own travel record.

주소 西安市莲湖区甜水井街含光门内 방문 확인 성벽 입장권 포함 범위와 전시관 마감 시간을 확인해 야외 산책 전에 관람한다

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Shuyuanmen Cultural Street

Sewon Gate Cultural Street

The third choice in this series is Sewon Gate Cultural Street. When exploring Sewon Gate Cultural Street, start by getting an overall sense of the layout from the entrance before moving into the specific spaces. It's helpful to know that this cultural alley inside the walls connects calligraphy, engraving, stationery shops, and the Guanzhong Academy, so check out the actual scenery to grasp it better. For safety, remember to ask for permission before photographing artwork and inside shops, and check the prices before buying. The map-based address for Sewon Gate Cultural Street is '西安市碑林区书院门步行街'. As you explore, compare the access methods and the roles of the spaces with Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum introduced earlier in the old town to avoid overlapping attractions.

주소 西安市碑林区书院门步行街 방문 확인 작품과 상점 내부를 촬영하기 전 허락을 구하고 호객 가격은 구매 전에 확인한다

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Guanzhong Academy

Guanzhong Academy is the fourth item in 'Seeping into the Alleys beyond the City Gates'. If you take your time while visiting Guanzhong Academy, the surrounding scenery will fit into one frame. The reason for choosing this place is that it is a historical space that reflects on the academy's doors and courtyards, which were once the center of learning in the Guanzhong region during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Be sure to check the accessibility of the educational institution's designated areas on the day of your visit. The destination address for Guanzhong Academy is '西安市碑林区书院门63号'. When you explore Guanzhong Academy, rather than measuring it against the scale of Sewon Gate Cultural Street, observe the surrounding atmosphere and current usage to broaden your perspective.

주소 西安市碑林区书院门63号 방문 확인 교육기관 사용 구역이 있어 당일 개방 범위와 단체 출입 가능 여부를 확인한다

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Sangja Miao

Xiangzi Tomb

In 'Seeping into the Alleys beyond the City Gates', Xiangzi Tomb follows as the fifth item. When visiting Xiangzi Tomb during busy times, it's easier to first choose your observation spot. The highlight of Xiangzi Tomb is a small temple dedicated to one of the Eight Immortals of Taoism and a chance to experience alley faith culture. Before using the space, make sure to follow the regulations on incense burning and photographing the temple, and to distinguish between the ambient noise from nearby cafes and the worship area. It might be handy to save the address '西安市碑林区湘子庙街5号'. When comparing Xiangzi Tomb to Guanzhong Academy, pick one out of the people's usage, spatial materials, or mobility difficulty to emphasize the uniqueness of each location.

주소 西安市碑林区湘子庙街5号 방문 확인 향을 피우는 위치와 전각 촬영 규정을 따르고 주변 카페 소음과 참배 공간을 구분한다

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Guangyin Temple

The sixth choice in this series is Guangyin Temple. When you visit Guangyin Temple, start by getting an overall sense of the layout from the entrance before moving into the detailed spaces. Keep in mind that this is the place where you can see the remnants of Tibetan Buddhist temple architecture, ritual implements, and pilgrimage culture within the Xi'an city walls. For safe visitation, kindly check the timing of rituals and dress codes, and use the prayer wheel as directed. The address based on the map for Guangyin Temple is '西安市莲湖区西北一路152号'. While exploring Guangyin Temple, compare the access methods and the roles of the space with Xiangzi Tomb, which was introduced earlier in the old town, to ensure distinct charms.

주소 西安市莲湖区西北一路152号 방문 확인 법회 시간과 복장 기준을 확인하고 기도륜은 안내된 방향과 방식에 따라 이용한다

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Gaojia Dayuan

Gaojia Courtyard

Gaojia Courtyard is the seventh item in 'Seeping into the Alleys beyond the City Gates'. When exploring Gaojia Courtyard, taking your time allows the surrounding scenery to fit into one frame. The reason for choosing this place is that it's an old house where you can experience the structure of merchant homes from the Ming and Qing dynasties and perform folk shows in the alley. Be sure to check the performance schedule and any additional experience costs and ensure smooth passage for other visitors in the narrow courtyard. The destination address to find Gaojia Courtyard is '西安市莲湖区北院门144号'. While visiting Gaojia Courtyard, instead of starting from the scale seen at Guangyin Temple, focus on the surrounding atmosphere and current use for a broader perspective.

주소 西安市莲湖区北院门144号 방문 확인 공연 시간과 별도 체험 비용을 확인하고 좁은 중정에서 다른 관람객 통행을 비킨다

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Palace of Eight Immortals

Following the walking tour that slowly connects the city gates, Confucian academies, temples, and old mansions, the eighth stop is the Palace of Eight Immortals. When visiting the Palace of Eight Immortals, alternating between the descriptions and the actual scenery clarifies the nature of the place. This site is noteworthy as a prominent Taoist temple on the eastern side of Xi'an linked to the Zhengyi Taoist tradition and various other halls. During planning, be aware that the general visiting range may change on days of religious events, so check open hours and proper ritual etiquette. For navigation, use '西安市碑林区长乐坊北火巷12号'. Leaving a sentence for your impressions received at Gaojia Courtyard and the current state of preservation of the location, will give more dimensional organization to 'Seeping into the Alleys beyond the City Gates'.

주소 西安市碑林区长乐坊北火巷12号 방문 확인 종교 행사일에는 일반 관람 범위가 달라질 수 있어 개방 시간과 참배 예절을 확인한다

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The fun of strolling through the old town lies in alternating between the enormity of the city walls and the size of small living spaces. After looking down at the grid roads from the city gate, when you enter a calligraphy shop at Sewon Gate, a temple courtyard, or an old mansion, you can feel that Chang'an is not just a tourist set, but a city where people still live. Leave the alleys between destinations as part of your exploration.

Going around the entire city walls can be more physically demanding than expected, so it’s sufficient to pick one or two gates based on the weather and the pace of your companions. Always ask for permission before taking photos in shops, and during prayer or ceremonies, prioritize the flow of worshippers over tourists. If you plan to continue into the night, check the time for gate closures and subway exits. Comparing the atmospheres inside and outside the gates rather than just photographing famous spots will reveal the structure of Xi'an's old town more clearly.

한눈에 보기 8개

Yingyang Gate of Xi'an City Wall

西安市碑林区南大街2号 · 행사로 입구가 통제되는지 확인하고 성벽 자전거 대여·반납 시간을 따로 살핀다

Hanguang Gate Ruins Museum

西安市莲湖区甜水井街含光门内 · 성벽 입장권 포함 범위와 전시관 마감 시간을 확인해 야외 산책 전에 관람한다

Shuyuanmen Cultural Street

西安市碑林区书院门步行街 · 작품과 상점 내부를 촬영하기 전 허락을 구하고 호객 가격은 구매 전에 확인한다

Guanzhong Academy

西安市碑林区书院门63号 · 교육기관 사용 구역이 있어 당일 개방 범위와 단체 출입 가능 여부를 확인한다

Sangja Miao

西安市碑林区湘子庙街5号 · 향을 피우는 위치와 전각 촬영 규정을 따르고 주변 카페 소음과 참배 공간을 구분한다

Guangyin Temple