The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an stand as iconic landmarks in the heart of this ancient city, offering visitors a glimpse into China's rich cultural heritage. These magnificent structures, dating back to the Ming Dynasty, once served as the city's timekeeping center and now provide panoramic views of Xi'an's bustling streets and historic architecture. These two towers echo each other and form an important cultural landmark of Xi'an.

History and Significance You Need to Know

Built in the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty (1384 AD), the Bell Tower was originally used to tell time and observe fires, and is an important symbol of ancient Xi'an. Its construction reflects the architectural technology and art of the time, and shows the essence of the Ming architectural style. The Bell Tower is not only a facility of time, but also an important symbol of Xi'an's history and culture.

Built in the Ming Dynasty (1380 AD), the Drum Tower was mainly used to tell time and transmit alarms at night. The presence of the Drum Tower enhanced Xi'an's defense system and also reflected the emphasis on security and order in the ancient society. 

Configuration of Bell and Drum Towers

• The Bell Tower stands 36 meters high on a square brick base covering 1,377.4 square meters. Its wooden structure features intricate engravings and colorful paintings, topped with dark green glazed tiles and gold-plated roof decorations
• The Drum Tower, slightly lower at 34 meters, is built on a rectangular brick base measuring 52.6 meters long, 38 meters wide, and 7.7 meters high. Its architecture combines styles from the Tang and Qing dynasties, with no iron nails used in its construction. It covers an area of 1324 square meters.

Xi'an Bell Tower Tourist Highlights

• Magnificent architecture
  The Bell Tower adopts wooden structure, the appearance is covered with green glazed tiles, and the overall design shows distinctive national characteristics. The design of its four-storey structure and cornices is breathtaking.
• Panoramic viewing platform
  Visitors can climb to the viewing platform of the Bell Tower for a 360-degree panoramic view of downtown Xi'an. Especially at sunset, the golden sun shines on the city, forming a picturesque view and is a popular place for photography lovers.
  

  Xi'an Bell Tower

• The bell and bell performances
  There is a six-ton bronze bell hanging in the Bell Tower, named Jingyun Bell, however it is not a historical genuine, and the size and weight are exactly the same as the genuine. Visitors can also enjoy the traditional culture of time telling in the regular bell performance feathering Tang Dynasty music. The bell is crisp and loud, giving visitors a reproduction of the scene of ancient time, bringing a unique historical atmosphere.
  

  Jingyun Bell

Xi'an Drum Tower Tourist Highlights

Ancient war drums on display

Xi'an Drum Tower, facing the Bell Tower, is one of the landmarks of the ancient city. Climbing the Drum Tower, you can see a 1.8-meter high drum, and 24 faces engraved with the 24 solar terms of the red drum, very imposing.

Drums in the Drum Tower

Drum Tower

Address 

The Bell Tower: Center of Xi'an, at the intersection of North, South, East, and West Streets

The Drum Tower: Approximately 200 meters northwest of the Bell Tower, at the south end of Beiyuanmen Street

Opening Times about Xi'an Bell and Drum Towers

Xi'an Bell Tower and Drum Tower are open from 8:30-22:00 every day, with Drum Tower performances from 12:00-14:00 and 17:00-19:00 every day.

Drum performances

Drum performances at 09:30, 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00, and 17:00 and are rich in content. The drummers make visitors feel the charm of traditional drum music with strong rhythm and passionate performance, creating a warm atmosphere.

Travel Tips

Ticket Price: Tickets can be purchased at the ticket office of the scenic spot or booked online in advance.

The Bell Tower adult ticket :30 yuan/person, student ticket :15 yuan/person;

Bell and Drum Tower Combo ticket (Bell Tower and Drum Tower) 50 yuan/person, student ticket 30 yuan/person.

Play order: It is recommended to visit the Bell Tower first, and then visit the Drum Tower. Because the Bell Tower is in the center of Xi'an, the traffic is more convenient, and the Drum Tower is not far from the Bell Tower, within closer distance, walking is fine.

Surrounding attractions: There are many attractions around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, such as the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Small Wild Goose Pagoda, Hui Min Street, etc. After the tour, tourists can go to the Hui Min Street to taste a variety of authentic Xi'an food, such as Chinese Hamburger (Roujiamo), Cold Noddle (Liangpi), Chinese Fried Dough Stick (Youtiao), etc., which enricates the culinary experience for tourists.

Nearby transportation: The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are located in the center of Xi'an, and the transportation is very convenient. You can get there by bus, taxi, subway, etc. 

Note: When visiting the Bell Tower and Drum Tower, please do not make loud noises in the towers, keep quiet and do not harm the cultural relics.

Photo taking: It is best to bring your camera to retain the wonderful and instant memories. If you want to experience Chinese culture more deeply, you can rent a set of Hanfu costumes with Chinese characteristics. You can also hire a photographer or ask your friends and family to take pictures for you.

Take photo with the Bell Tower

Wonderful Places for Photography

• Between the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower is the Bell and Drum Tower square, dotted with green grass and red flowers, with a unique musical fountain. The night scene here is beautiful.

• Head to the observation platform on the 5th floor of Kaiyuan Mall for a stunning photo opportunity featuring both towers in one frame.

• Position yourself at the square on southeast corner of the Bell Tower to capture a striking contrast between the historic tower and the bustling modern traffic surrounding it.

• Stand at the square on the northwest corner of the Bell Tower to photograph the entire scene of the Drum Tower.

How to get to the Bell and Drum Tower?

By bus
Take bus no. 4, 12, 37, 229, 235, 600, 618 and get off at Zhonglou Bei
Take bus no. 6, 16, 29, 35, 203, 603, 609, 616 and get off at Zhonglou Nan
Take bus no. 7, 8, 47 and get off at Zhonglou Dong
Take bus no. 15, 32, 43, 45, 201, 215, 218, 221, 222, 251, 252, 286, 300, 604, 611, 612, 618, 622 and get off at Zhonglou Xi

By subway

 Take metro line 2 and get off at Zhonglou Station, then follow signs to the destination.

By taxi

These two towers are located in the city center, then taking a taxi is very convenient and efficient. If you don't want to walk or take the subway to nearby places, taxi is a good choice.