Xi'an, the 3,000-year-old city and China's former capital for 13 dynasties, was the eastern starting point of the ancient Silk Road. A cultural melting pot, in its heyday it attracted scholars, merchants and travelers from all over the world. The Xi'an City Wall that we see today, dating from the late 6th century, is one of the most impressive and best-preserved old city walls in the world. A popular activity among visitors is to hire a bicycle and ride around its ramparts.