The first landmark visitors will encounter in Xi'an is the ancient city wall, which is surrounded by the old city in a large square area. The northern side runs equivalent to the railway. Xi'an is originally a walled city, and even today the wall is considered an attraction isolating the city into the inner part and the outer part. The city wall is huge — tall, long and thick. The South Gate and North Gate are the two main entrances to the internal city. The city itself is precisely arranged along the city wall. It is recommended that you visit in the late afternoon for the best combination of temperature and light for photography. It is also suggested to stay till evening and enjoy the colorfully-lit wall and Xi’an amazing night views. Cycling on the wall makes for a great way to get some terrific views of the city and a great way to get some exercise (after all that eating at the food street). As the wall is 13+ km (8+ miles) long, cycling is a good way to explore the best of it with our China tours.