The walls of Xiangyang are among the best-preserved city walls in China, and one of the few major fortifications that you can walk freely without paying an entry fee. The circuit runs 7.3 kilometres around the historic Xiangyang district, with the northern face following the Han River and the remaining three sides enclosed by a moat up to 180 metres wide — the widest city moat in the country. The walls reach six metres in height and average eight metres in width at the top, wide enough to walk comfortably on the parapet.
Six gates survive with their original towers, each named and dated: the Zhenhuai Gate facing the river was the primary entrance from the north, and its tower offers the most commanding views. The walls date primarily to the Han dynasty but were substantially rebuilt and extended during the Ming. The brickwork is varied enough in colour and texture to make close inspection rewarding — you can identify where different dynasties and rebuilding campaigns have left their marks. Allow two to three hours for a complete circuit; the north section along the river is the most scenic and takes about 45 minutes.