The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an are a symbol of the Shaanxi city that once used to be the capital of China and to be called Chang'an.
The Towers had a very practical function and were deemed fundamental for the everyday life of the population, and when at war. First built in the 1300s, today the Bell and Drum Towers are a splendid example of Chinese high-ranking traditional architecture and with the similarities they share with the Forbidden City in Beijing, they embody the pride and soul of a city that is the quintessential historical hub of modern China - the place to be to feel and understand the country's long path through history.
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an definitely deserve a spot in your itinerary and in this guide you will find everything you need to make the most of your visit: history, description and a brief guided tour, what to check nearby, useful information, tickets, and more!
In this article:
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an: Why Visit
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an: Your Visit
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an: Plan Your Visit
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an: Why Visit
INTRODUCTION AND WHY VISIT
Every guide of Xi'an will probably suggest you to visit the Sister Towers, the Bell and Drum Towers. Honestly, you can't miss them - a symbol of the ancient Chinese capital (Chang'an, as Xi'an was known centuries ago) the two towers stand right at the crossroads of the major urban avenues and they welcome all visitors to the most popular neighborhood of Xi'an, the Muslim Quarter with its lively market.
Today, these two examples of traditional Chinese architecture are a popular tourist destination and are normally visited before or after their sisters in Beijing, however, in the past bell and drum towers were a common sight all around China, and had a very practical function. Most of them have been lost in time, but Xi'an's and Beijing's survived, thanks to a later-acquired symbolic role.
Visiting the Bell and Drum Towers of Xi'an is thus a great opportunity to discover more about the history and customs of ancient China, a good way to get used to Chinese architecture and art and learn how to distinguish styles, epochs and roles - at least for foreigners! The Chinese sometimes prefer to see the towers at night, when the complex lighting effects make them shine bright in the dark. They also go there to specifically take pictures of one of the most amazing and complete views of the city's skyline. All these are good reasons to visit the Bell and Drum Towers, it is for you to choose what to prioritize.
HISTORY OF THE BELL TOWER AND DRUM TOWER
Tip: If this is not the first post about China you are reading here, you already know! In China, history works a bit differently than in the West and it is common to find specific mentions of dynastic history rather than years and dates from the Gregorian calendar, the one that is commonly used worldwide. At popular spots such as the Bell and Drum Towers of Xi'an, you will probably find some mentions of years but also endless references to dynasties and emperors you may not be familiar with. If you wish to know more, you can check this essential guide to Chinese Dynasties!
Although the Bell and the Drum Towers are two independent buildings, similar but not the same in shape and style, it would not be possible to narrate two separate stories - their journey through history has always been walked hand in hand with each other.
The Drum Tower came first, in the 13th year of the Hongwu Emperor of the Ming Dynasty, alias 1380, the first stone laid on a rainy day. The Bell Tower followed shortly after in 1384, the 17th year of the Hongwu Emperor.
They were built in what had just become Xi'an, once the capital of the Chinese Empire and called Chang'an. In the 1300s, Chang'an/Xi'an had not been the capital for a very long time, but its status remained unchanged and its imperial urban planning strictly maintained.
An imperial, high-ranked city was required to abide by a few architectural rules, and that included the construction of strong city walls and the connection of these walls to a Bell Tower, set opposite a Drum Tower. Indeed, even though the two towers do not look precisely at each other any longer, the Bell Tower was originally located about 1km (0,62 mi) from where it stands now, facing the Drum Tower directly. This was how things were supposed to be during the Ming Dynasty and since long before it.
Incredibly, the Bell Tower was physically transferred to its current location: it happened in 1582 when, after acknowledging the important expansion of Xi'an, the local government resolved the tower was no longer standing in its proper location, at the crossroads of the avenues going towards the city walls, and needed a relocation. The relocation was quick and efficient: the entire structure was preserved except for the base, rebuilt. In the 1500s, such a project was rare and considered complex if not unfathomable!
In the meantime, the Drum Tower smoothly reached the end of the 17th century with virtually no major interventions. Then, paths crossed again.
in 1699 and again in 1740, the two towers were simultaneously restored. This kept something of the past, and something else it changed. Architectural styles and planning were every time modified but never overturned. The 1740 renovation works were particularly intense for the Bell Tower, which also faced a practical problem: its main bell, called Jingyun and being a millennium old, was not properly audible anymore when tolled. It had to be moved outside the main structure and the tower needed some major adjustments on that occasion.
After the fall of the Chinese empire in 1911, the imperial urban planning and many customs linked to the past were suddenly abandoned. The Drum and Bell Towers had a hard time surviving and ended up being used for the most varied purposes: as a shelter during rebellions and riots, as a cinema, as a rostrum, and as modern warfare tools. On October 10, 1939, the Bell Tower was even bombed by Japanese planes and seriously damaged.
Since China became a Republic, and especially from the 1950s, the two towers underwent several subsequent renovations that drastically erased the signs of time, while remaining faithful to the overall traditional architectural style. Materials and structures are almost fully modern, but the historical soul of the towers remains: as you will find out, this is very common in China.
In the 1990s, the viability around the Bell Tower and access to it were forever changed with the construction of an immense roundabout. From this moment, the Bell Tower ceased to be an intersection of four main avenues, but its intrinsic role did not change: the roundabout still connects the East, West, South, and North Street. Changes were simply needed to adapt the Tower to modern traffic conditions.
FUNCTION AND MEANING OF THE BELL TOWER AND DRUM TOWER OF XI'AN
Drums and bells were well-known in China in ancient times. They were commonly employed as musical instruments and part of the tradition for their role in music, entertainment, and literature. Their transition to architecture was natural, as people were used to their sound.
In architecture and urban planning, bells and drums were tolled and stricken in towers like Xi'an's. Easily audible from a great distance, the bells and drums hosted in towers became tools for official timekeeping, and for defense during battles or sieges.
➊ In peacetime, the Bell Tower of Xi'an was active during the day: the main bell, the Jingyun first and its substitutes later, was tolled to punctuate daytime and give the population and the government a reference as their day went by. The Drum Tower was instead active at night, and sounds could be heard three times: at sunset (to announce the imminent closing of the main city gates), in late evening (to announce the night curfew), and just before sunrise. At dawn, the Bell Tower took over again.
➊ When at war, the Towers' role intensified. The Bell Tower served as a command center for urban security and defense, and it echoed directly with the city walls and the four sentinel towers placed along them at the gates. The Drum Tower also worked similarly and was used in coordination with its sister tower. They announced public alarms and warned the population about imminent attacks or actions to be promptly taken.
For their mixed and interconnected roles, the Bell and Drum Towers of Xi'an were also known as the "Sister Towers", "Military and Civil Towers", and "Morning Bell and Dark Drum".
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an: Your Visit
OVERVIEW AND MAP
If you decide to visit the Bell and Drum Towers of Xi'an, you should know that they stand very close to each other and that visiting them in the same morning or afternoon is absolutely viable. However, you should also know that to move from one to another you must walk for a few minutes and use an underground passage when needed.
As you can see in the map here above, the Bell Tower lies right in the middle of a roundabout, which is huge and always traffic-jammed! Crossing the road to reach it would be dangerous, so you may get to its base through a handy (but complex) passageway that is also where you can catch the metro.
The Drum Tower's location is less trafficked but equally crowded, however, being a predominantly pedestrian area, it is more relaxing to stroll around. Thus, I would definitely recommend starting from the Bell Tower, moving to the Drum Tower, visiting it, and then continuing your exploration in the nearby Muslim Quarter (check it on the map above). The Muslim Quarter is one of Xi'an's most popular and liveliest areas.
➊ TIP: You can move from one location to another using Google Maps, however, note that Google Maps will only be useful if you are walking! Google services are all blocked in China but can be used with a VPN. Unfortunately, Google Maps does not provide traffic or public transportation info even when used with a VPN. You can use Apple Maps on an iPhone or other alternatives on Android systems. Check this complete guide for first-timers in China for all the details!
➊ NEED HELP WITH YOUR CHINA TRIP? Let me craft a customized itinerary for you or create a list of curated recommendations according to your tastes, preferences, and travel party! Check the Services page here
THE BELL TOWER
Description
The Bell Tower is a brick and timber structure built in its original form in 1384 and later modified. It is made of a blue-brick pedestal (8.6m / 28,21ft high) and a timber, beam-framed, three-eaved, two-storey tower, for a total height of 36m / 118ft. It is a square structure (35,5m / 116,5ft per side). The roof is covered with green-glazed tiles and spired with a gilded pin on top: the pin, recently restored, has always been made of gold with a wooden core.
Today, it stands right in the middle of a gigantic roundabout that connects it to the areas of the city center inscribed between the city walls through four major avenues (East, West, North, South Street). The roundabout was built in the 1990s, before that moment, the Bell Tower's pedestal could be crossed through its four entrances (still visible today but not in use), and from there began the four avenues.
The architectural style of the Bell Tower is that of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), but the current building does not retain much of what was erected in 1380. As mentioned earlier, the Bell Tower was moved in 1582 and on that occasion, the pedestal was rebuilt. Later, the Tower was restored in 1699, 1740, and multiple times in the 1900s. Today, we can hardly pinpoint an original portion, but the current Tower still looks much like what it should have in the 1300s, except for a few stylistic changes that occurred over time. Unlike many Western restoration practices, in China restoration that preserves the original appearance but not necessarily the original materials is preferred.
Visit
➊ Your visit to the Bell Tower begins at the brick base, accessible through the underground passage!
From there, you can have a glimpse of Xi'an's concrete jungle and spot the Drum Tower (on your left when emerging from the passageway). While walking your way around the Tower, you should spot the iconic Jingyun Bell, called this way because cast in 711 CE during the Jingyun 景雲 era (710-711) of Emperor Ruizong 唐睿宗 of the Tang Dynasty. A precious and beautifully engraved artifact that was in use until the late Ming Dynasty period. The one you see today is a 1996 replica of the fragile original, today at the Stele Forest Museum, another worthy spot in Xi'an.
➊ The base gives you access to the hall on the first floor, but before you go inside, notice the fully-painted wooden building you are facing: its eaved architectural structure was reserved for high-ranking buildings and can be found in the Forbidden City, built under the Ming Dynasty as well. Architectural styles were similarly reproduced all over China but followed precise rules.
The colors red, green, and gold are prominent. Each of the four main doors is fully painted in red and presents some 64 wooden carvings: they narrate popular stories taken from folk tales and poetry. Topics that once were commonly known around the country and that today still sound familiar to Chinese people - they can be more nebulous for foreigners but are still beautiful to see.
➊ From the hall on the first floor, you can access the second and last floor using an internal wooden staircase. Once on the upper floor, you can also enjoy a complete and captivating view of Xi'an's skyline and its admixture of old and new. This is what most Chinese visitors look for when they visit the Bell Tower, but the Tower has more to offer:
FIRST FLOOR: in a beautifully-decorated hall you can admire both the architectural virtuosity and the small exhibition about the history of the Tower, with a description of its 1582 relocation and a few artifacts, including fragments of the ancient structure.
SECOND FLOOR: another small exhibition rotating around the Tower's tiles, a unique presence outside Beijing and reserved for capital-ranking cities. The tiles, called Golden Bricks, are similar to what you can spot in the Forbidden City, the emperors' residence. Anything destined for the Emperor was a sign of high value and relevance when found elsewhere.
➊ TIP: Strolling around, you will find informative panels and descriptions. Unfortunately, some content will have an English version and some won't. Exhibition-related text will be mostly in China. You can always rely on an image-to-text translator (like Apple's Translate or Deepl). It does a decent job and you should be able to grasp the overall meaning!
THE DRUM TOWER
Description
Time to move toward the Drum Tower! There is a dedicated exit in the underground passageway that will bring you close by, then the Tower can be reached with a relaxing 10-minute walk.
The Drum Tower looks quite similar to its sister the Bell Tower, but it's not identical. In fact, the architectural style is a bit different, the Drum Tower is rectangular-shaped, and it does not have a gilded pin on top. Instead, it has inscriptions on two sides (those blue rectangular panels with golden characters): one says "声闻于天 - The Voice Heard in Heaven" (north side), and the other "文武盛地 - A Place of Civil and Military Excellence" (south). These are idiomatic phrases, meant to highlight the important role and rank of the building. They have been written on the Tower for centuries, but the current panels are a modern replica of the originals.
The Drum Tower is a brick-wood structure, again with a blue-brick base and a two-storey, three-eaved building. The roof is hip-styled and the structure reaches 34m / 111,5ft of height (7,7m / 25,2ft base): before the Bell Tower was built in 1384, the Drum Tower used to be the highest building in Xi'an. Its primacy only lasted for four years, but it was impressive for the time. Today, it is still the largest Drum Tower in China. ➜ The reason why the Drum Tower needed to spire up in the city was a practical one: the drum's sound had to be heard all over the urban area and thus the instrument had to be placed on top of the Tower.
The architectural style is a combination of the Tang, Song, and Qing Dynasties, but it can be mostly associated with one called Xieshan 歇山, used for major temples and seen at the Forbidden City - a privilege was being allowed to use it. Like the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower lost almost all of its original 1300s structure but, differently from its sister, its overall appearance had also been modified and shows the influence of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the last imperial dynasty of China.
Visit
Your visit to the Drum Tower starts once again from its base, accessible via a staircase and from which you can access the first floor with its hall.
➊ On the base, you can admire Xi'an from a different point of view, one more reserved and preserved: looking around you will spot the traditional, mostly pedestrian Muslim Quarter with its Grand Mosque, narrow streets, and old buildings. A green area surrounds part of the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower is visible (on the side from which you entered the Drum Tower) at a distance, its noisy roundabout almost hidden.
From the base, you can also admire the carefully painted building. The painted decorations, mostly dragons and intricate floral motifs, belong to a style called Hexi 和璽彩畫, associated with imperial power. The predominant colors (gold, green, and blue) place the overall decoration on the Xuanzi 旋子彩画 level, reserved for high-ranking buildings. Hexi was considered the highest level in architectural painting, Xuanzi stood right below it.
All around the first-floor hall is a collection of drums, one for each of the 24 solar terms (a traditional Chinese way to divide the solar year). The most important one is the so-called Wentian Drum (north side): made in 1996, it is the largest-known drum in the world and was made to replicate ancient examples but also to set apart from traditional craftsmanship, showing modern technologies in drum-making.
Entering the Tower, two floors await you.
➊ The first floor is probably the most interesting and culturally accessible of the two. There is an exhibition of drums, with interesting information about drum-making history and several artifacts to witness the evolution. Not much will be written in English, but you can again rely on an image-to-text translator or on the brief English texts you may find.
Moreover, every day at 9:30 AM, 10:15 AM, 11 AM, 11:45 AM, 2 PM, 2:45 PM, 3:30 PM, and 4:20 PM you can enjoy a live drum performance. Traditional drums and other instruments will be played by people wearing Hanfu traditional dresses, and you will have the chance to understand the intersection between drums used in cultural activities and in towers like this one. It's an enjoyable experience for both the eyes and ears!
➊ The second floor hosts an exhibition dedicated to traditional Qing Dynasty furnishings - yes, the topic is maybe not the easiest, but it's very interesting to see, if not to fully understand! ➜ Just to give you a quick reference, Qing's furnishings typically came in a set, which normally included: a writing desk with its mahogany chair, a brush pot with its ink slab for the art of calligraphy, a vase, a bookshelf and a folding screen. You will find several sets on exhibit, together with paintings and calligraphy art coming from the same period and likely produced in environments filled with this very kind of set.
LOOKING AROUND: MODERN AND TRADITIONAL XI'AN
The Bell and Drum Towers of Xi'an embody the importance of history and tradition in modern China: always present, forever remembered, and often looked up to. No matter how much a historical building may have distanced itself from its original form and role, it will not be substituted by a skyscraper or a mall. It will stand there, even if rebuilt and restored.
And yet, that huge roundabout and the brutalist buildings we can see from the Towers are reminders of how much China has changed and how much the Chinese people look forward to a different future. Visiting the Towers is thus like immersing ourselves in a contrasting yet perfectly harmonized China, and there is so much we can explore beyond the two time-keeping buildings:
➊ The Kaiyuan Shopping Mall 开元商城 is an impressive 2001 concrete building the Chinese love to photograph from the Towers. From Level 5, you can also do the exact reverse and see the Bell Tower from another perspective. It's one of the biggest and most popular malls in Xi'an and perfectly represents the new consumeristic soul of China. With its spiraling architecture, it goes up to reach the height of the Towers.
➊ If you take some time to stroll in the Towers area, you will notice many girls and women dressed in traditional costumes: they are sometimes known as Hanfu Ladies and wear the Hanfu 汉服, a traditional clothing the Chinese have worn since millennia and that is particularly associated with Xi'an and especially seen here. ➜ This is because Xi'an, once called Chang'an, was the capital of China for a long time, and is usually considered the quintessential historical Chinese city for the considerable heritage it holds. In particular, the Hanfu you will spot is a reproduction of the Tang Dynasty's style. The Tang Dynasty had Xi'an as its capital and is still held in high regard today.
➊ Last but not least, do not forget to come back to the Towers area at night, when you can make the most of traditional vs modern China. At night, the Bell and Drum Towers are all illuminated by golden lights. Gold being the color of imperial power, it reminds everyone of the marvels of the past but is fully modern at heart. And the Chinese definitely love to brighten up their history: the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda 大雁塔 and the whole complex around it spark in the night and are beautiful to see. ➜ It can get very crowded, but it's worth visiting. You can easily catch a metro from the underground passage below the Towers and quickly reach the area.
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an: Plan Your Visit
HOW TO REACH
As we mentioned, if in Xi'an as tourist you will probably happen in the Bell and Drum Towers area because it is just so close to several other main attractions!
Anyway, the best way to reach the Towers is by metro or taxi:
● By metro: take line 2 and get off at stop Zhonglou (Bell Tower). It will bring you to the underground passage's level, from there, you must follow the signs to return to ground level. You can either choose to visit the Bell Tower or the Drum Tower first, your underground passage's exit will differ accordingly.
● By taxi: if you plan to call a taxi, insert 开元商城 (Kaiyuan Shopping Mall) or 西安钟楼 (Bell Tower) as your destination on DiDi. It's better to reach the Bell Tower and move toward the Drum Tower afterward.
➊ TIP: If you are not sure how to move around Chinese cities and are afraid you won't be able to book a taxi or find the right metro stop, you can check this complete guide for first-timers in China! Here you will find info about transportation, useful apps, heritage sites, and more.
TICKETS & TIMETABLE
Opening Hours
The Bell and Drum Towers are two separate buildings that can be visited on the same day or on separate occasions but are managed similarly and together. Thus, they usually share the same opening hours.
The Towers are open daily:
| BELL TOWER | DRUM TOWER |
From April 1st to October 10th | 8:30AM-9:30PM (Tickets sold until 9PM) | 8:30AM-9:30PM (Tickets sold until 9PM) |
From October 11th to March 31st | 8:30AM-6PM (Tickets sold until 5:30PM) | 8:30AM-6PM (Tickets sold until 5:30PM) |
Tickets & How To Buy
The tickets for the Bell and Drum Towers can be bought together or singularly and are sold at the same spots/websites.
● A regular ticket to one tower (Bell or Drum, your choice) costs 30RMB or circa $4,20 / 3,80€ / 3,20£ / etc.
● A combined ticket for both the Bell and Drum Towers costs 50RMB or circa $7,10 / 6,30€ / 5,30£ / etc.
● A reduced single ticket (children 6-18, university students with valid ID) costs 15RMB, and a combined one costs 30RMB.
To buy the tickets, you can opt for:
Trip.com: this is the best solution for foreigners! To purchase your tickets on Trip, you can go here (Drum Tower - Bell Tower), click on View Tickets and select your option. Then all you have to do is to proceed to payment and follow the instructions provided on how to use your tickets. Normally, you have to show your receipt together with your passport at the entrance. Trip does not charge any commission on this occasion.
QR Code/Automatic Machines: another method is to scan the QR Code provided at the entrance of the Towers, or to use the automatic vendors in the underground passageway. Honestly, these can be trickier for foreigners - especially the vending machines, which require a Chinese ID to work. You can easily ask anyone to help you by scanning theirs, but still. I personally used the QR Code to purchase my tickets and I only needed to use the image-to-text translator a couple of times, so it's manageable, but Trip is easier. If you use the QR Code, make sure to have a WeChat/Alipay account with a registered credit card!
▶ Note that paying with cash is not allowed at the Towers, as there are no ticketing offices and everything is automated.
USEFUL INFO
➊ Should you add the Bell and Drum Towers to your itinerary if it is your first time in Xi'an? Yes, the Bell Tower and Drum Tower are one of the main attractions in Xi'an and, even if you cannot visit them both, it is still totally worth it to choose one or to see them at night, when illuminated. They could be visited together with the city walls for the best experience.
➊ How long does it take to visit the Bell Tower and Drum Tower? To visit them both, take some time to breathe in the view and the contrast between old and new Xi'an, you should keep some 3 hours of your time. If you plan to visit the Muslim Quarter and do some shopping at the nearby Kaiyuan Mall on the same day, this would make a perfect day in Xi'an (add or substitute something with a stroll on the city walls if you like). Visiting a single Tower will take you one hour.
➊ When should you visit the Bell Tower and Drum Tower? Virtually any time of the year is good for visiting the Towers, however, Xi'an in wintertime can get gloomy and the sky turn grey. Therefore, if you can, prefer the longer and brighter summer days when you can enjoy the view from the Towers with good light, preferably at sunset (I did that and it was great). Of course, you should know that during summer the Towers can get very crowded and people get pushy!
➊ Are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower accessible or a good destination for kids? To visit the Towers you will have to climb a few stairs, in both locations. Also, to reach them you will likely have to use the underground passage a few times. The Towers and passage are equipped with facilities for people with reduced mobility, but if the area gets crowded, it might be distressing. Visiting the Towers with kids is a good idea and can be an educational experience - also, it won't take long for you to see them, and if you visit the Drum Tower when a live performance is scheduled, this can make the visit even more enjoyable!
➊ Do not forget to bring your passport! As everywhere in China, without priorly showing it you won't be allowed inside the Towers. Also, expect security and bag checks, as always.
➊ NEED HELP WITH YOUR CHINA TRIP? Let me craft a customized itinerary for you or create a list of curated recommendations according to your tastes, preferences, and travel party! Check the Services page here
➊ Are you in China for the first time or planning your first trip to the country? Check the complete guide for first-timers here!
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