The one thing you can't miss when going to Xi'an are the City Walls. I'm not just saying it's awesome and a place you must visit, but you literally have to go past them to go into the ancient city of Chang'An, as Xi'an was known in the ancient days.
Just like many other ancient cities in China and Europe, a strong wall surrounded by a moat were built to protect the capital of the Chinese Empire. It all started as a big pile of dirt in the 14th century that evolved into this you see today, fully equipped with drawbridges, archer stations, watchtowers, tunnels and several other defense systems.
Modern Xi'an surrounds the city walls, that today only define the ancient city.
Bonus: Hua Pagoda of Bao Qing Temple
From the top of the wall I was able to see this pagoda. It took me some time online now to figure out what it was.
The Bao Qing Pagoda was built in 604 at a different site. This one was moved here in 1451 during the Ming Dynasty.