Ancient moat in NW China's Xi'an fully reconnected after over 70 years

XI'AN, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- The moat water system of Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Tuesday achieved full connectivity for the first time in more than 70 years, marking a milestone in its urban renewal.

The completion of an 859-meter culvert renovation at the Xi'an Railway Station section formed part of Xi'an's key urban update and drainage improvement initiatives, which eliminated long-standing issues like aging channels and flood overflow, the city government said.

Construction in this section began in January 2025 and provided the "final piece" needed to unify the moat.

Dating back to the late Tang Dynasty (904 AD) and finalized during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the moat originally formed a defensive system in combination with the city wall. The final restoration effort closed the loop, transforming it from a "C-shaped" to an "O-shaped" layout.

In addition to benefiting flood control, the project also added over 3,000 square meters of open water surface and 50,000 square meters of ecological restoration areas to the railway station, increasing green space by more than 50 percent. ■