This is the Anyuan or North Gate, of the four gates through the city wall. There are three sentry towers over each gate, strategically positioned for defensive purposes.

This North gate is the one used most often in important ceremonies and is kept in the best and most beautiful condition of the four. It is used today for important greeting ceremonies.

The walls of the City are about 12 meters tall, and about 13 meters wide at the top, and 15 meters at the base. They are block walls with earthen filling. Xian has the largest and most complete remaining city wall in all of China. It is still nearly continuous around the City. Its path is 13.7 kilometers in length, and it has 98 ramparts extending outwards for defensive shooting positions for the archers. There are ramps up to the wall top which were made for horse access.