14 kilometres,Ming brick,still standing.

Questions worth
answering early.

• How long does the wall ride actually take?

  About ninety minutes at an unhurried pace including three stops. The wall is fourteen kilometres around. Walking the full loop takes about three and a half hours; most travellers walk a section instead of the full circuit. The bike is the way that takes the same time as a city-centre cab ride but covers the whole wall and gives you the golden-hour light.

• What if I haven't ridden a bike in years?

  The wall surface is flat, paved, and wide enough for two bikes abreast, closer to a cycle path than to a road. There are no cars on the wall. We arrange tandem bikes if you would prefer not to ride solo. For travellers who would rather not cycle at all, an electric golf cart loops the wall in about fifty minutes; we book that instead. Either way the wall is yours for the same dusk hour.

• When is the best time of day to be up there?

  The last hour before sunset. The brick goes warm-orange between 17:00 and 18:30 in summer, 16:30 to 17:30 in winter. The South Gate lanterns come on at dusk and the moat reflects them. Earlier in the day the light is flat; after dark, the bikes are returned to the rental and you would be on foot. We time the entry to the season.

• Can I walk it instead?

  Yes. Walking gives you more time at each watchtower and lets you stop for photographs without a bike to hold. The trade-off is that walking the full fourteen kilometres takes about three and a half hours, and most travellers only complete a quarter to a half before the legs say enough. We suggest walking the South Gate to the South-East corner section (about two kilometres, forty minutes return) for travellers who want to walk a stretch without committing to the full loop.

• What about kids?

  The wall is the best part of Xi'an for travellers with children. Tandem bikes for parent and child are available at the South Gate rental; bikes for unaccompanied children from about age eight upward as well. The wall is closed to traffic, the surface is flat and forgiving, and there is enough space for a six-year-old to wobble without consequence. The watchtower stops break the ride into manageable chunks.