Bell and Drum Tower Square – The Center of Xian

Written by Clementine | Updated September 09,2025

Bell Tower-Drum Tower Square is located at the joint points of South Street, North Street, East Street, and West Street. On its east stands the 600-year-old Bell Tower, and on the west lies the largest existing Drum Tower in China. When the square was built in the late 1990s, all disorderly buildings between Bell Tower and Drum Tower were demolished, so that visitors could reach either of these two landmarks in Xi’an conveniently.

The square was designed and constructed on the principle of “Morning Bell and Evening Drum” to echo the original function of the two towers. The lawn between Bell Tower and Drum Tower is divided into 9 rows and 9 columns to copy the layout of Changan City in the Tang Dynasty. The north side of the square is home to some time-honored restaurants in Xi’an, like Tongshengxiang, Defachang, and Wanghaitang, etc. You will also find some excellent shopping malls, stores, and cafes underneath the square. On weekends, a lot of citizens come here for leisure and shopping.

Content Preview

• Why Visit Bell Tower or Drum Tower?
• Top Attractions at the Square
• More Facts & Travel Information
• Travel Tips for Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square
• How to Get There by Public Transportation
• FAQs about Bell Tower or Drum Tower
• Travel with China Xian Tour to Discover Xi’an’s Living History

Why Visit Bell Tower or Drum Tower?

To many people, the Bell Tower and Drum Tower is more than just a sightseeing stop; it is the very heart of Xi’an’s soul. Both towers present the unparalleled elegance of Ming Dynasty architecture, but most importantly, they are the witnesses to time and the carrier of the culture and history of this city. Every bell sounding in the morning and every drum beating at dusk is a call from hundreds of years ago.

Going upstairs, you’ll see that now on Xi’an’s lively streets, modern traffic and ancient history have blended seamlessly. Since the square itself is also hugged by vibrant commercial areas, you can also go shopping or hunt for food when visiting this site.

Top Attractions at the Square

Bell Tower

The Bell Tower is located in the center of downtown area where the North Street, the South Street, the East Street and the West Street meet. It was first built in Yingxiang Temple in 1384, to mark the center of the city. As a result of the city’s expansion, it was shifted to its present site in 1582. It used to hold a sizable bell to strike time every morning.

The Bell Tower has a classical structure with carved beams and painted rafters. It is 36 meters above ground. The base of the Bell Tower is 1,337.4 square meters in size, 8.6 meters high and 35.5 meters wide. The tower was built in 1384 by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a way to dominate the surrounding countryside and provide early warning of attack by rival rulers.

It has three layers of eaves but only two stories. Inside, a staircase spirals up. The grey bricks of the square base, the dark green glazed tiles on the eaves, gold-plating on the roof and gilded color painting make the tower a colorful and dramatic masterpiece of Ming-style architecture. In addition to enhancing the beauty of the building, the three layers of eaves reduce the impact of rain on the building.

Originally, the northwest corner of the tower housed the famous Jingyun Bell from the Tang Dynasty. Legend has it that although nothing had changed in the tower, the Jingyun Bell fell silent during the Ming Dynasty, so the current bell, a much smaller one weighing only 5 tons, was cast. The original Jingyun Bell can now be seen in Forest of Stone Steles Museum.

The engravings on the doors of the Tower reflect the decorative fashion of Ming and Qing Dynasties, recounting popular stories of ancient China. About 500 meters northwest of the Bell Tower stands another magnificent building, the Drum Tower. Built in 1380, it used to house a huge drum to tell the time at dusk. The base of the Drum Tower is 1,924 square meters, and its height is 34 meters.

Drum Tower

The drum tower was called (Qizhenglou in Yuan Dynasty, the relationship with the bell tower and its history are stated. They were the part of remarkable buildings in Yuan’ capital city, marked out at same time, constructed at the same time and their functions were same. They were reflecting each other in the north and in the south. The drum tower went together with the bell-tower on giving the correct time, but it’s more thoughtful and with more times; the drum was hit at every geng and gave the time. The structure of the existing architecture differs from the former one.

The existing drum tower is a two-floor on appearance (the third floor is hidden), double brim and Xieshanding-style, tail, wooden-structure and pavilion-style building. Its housetop is with ash pantiles and green scissor border. Its total highness is 46.7 meters, and the length of the face is 34 meters, the size from the Face to the back is 22.4 meters.

Watchman’s drum is for giving people the correct time at night. The drum tower was once equipped with drums of various sizes and timers, but as time went by, it was not easy to keep them in good condition.

The geng-drums, were important things in the drum-tower. They were put on the second floor formerly. There were 25 drums in it, a big one, and 24 small ones. The 24 small drums stand for 24 jieqi. Only one big drum exists, its diameter is 1.5 meters, made of a piece of complete cattle skill. Nobody knew when it was made, more likely to Qing Dynasty. It’s pity that the big drum is with countless scars, that was proof of the guilt of Eight-Power Allied Forces at 26th year of Guangxu reign, Qing Dynasty (1900A.D.)

About hitting drums, there was a restrict role; it was same as beating bell; after drumming, hit bell. The drums were beaten at 7 o’clock in the evenings, called “calm geng”, the drumming at 5 o’clock in the morning was called “bright geng”. The drums were beaten two attacks every time; the drum were beaten 54 times at one attack. There was a saying, “urgent 18, slow 18, between urgent and slow 18”. The two attacks make 108 times, it is same as the times of hitting bell.

More Facts & Travel Information

• History: As said, there used to have a large drum hung up in the tower and it was beaten for telling the time at the dusk. Standing opposite the Bell Tower it presented a scene of “Bell sounding in the morning and Drum beating in the evening” to suggest a flourishing atmosphere of the time, hence known as the Drum Tower.
• Features: Built of grey bricks, the platform of the Drum Tower is 52.6 meters in width, 38 meters in depth from north to south and 7.7 meters in height, covering a floor space of 1,924 square meters. Towering 33 meter from the grouted to the top there’s all arched tunnel right in the middle of the platform leading from north gate to the Western Avenue in the south. Shaped a rectangle the Bell Tower is a solid mass in a gambrel style with double eaves.
• Entrance fee: Bell Tower: RMB 30 per person ; Drum Tower: RMB30 per person; Coupon ticket for Bell Tower and Drum Tower: RMB 50 per person
• Public transportation: Metro Line 2. Zhonglou Station of Metro Line 2, Bus No. 215, No.7, No.15, No.222, etc.

Travel Tips for Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square

• Please take care of personal belongs when walking on the square.
• The square opens to public for free but if one wants to ascend the Bell Tower or Drum Tower, please buy entrance ticket accordingly.

How to Get There by Public Transportation

The first choice is to take the subway. Line 2 or Line 6 will take you to Zhonglou Station, and after getting off, you can exit from Exit C, which is the nearest exit to the Towers.

Besides, it is also ideal to have a convenient bus trip. Bus No. 4, 6, 7, 8, 12, 15, 26, 32, 43, 201, 208, 218 will stop near the site. Get off at Zhonglou West, Zhonglou East, Zhonglou South, or Zhonglou North bus stops (depending on the direction you’re traveling from). All the stops are within a short walk of the square.

FAQs about Bell Tower or Drum Tower

Are there any special events or performances held at Bell and Drum Tower Square?

Yes. There will be seasonal cultural performances occasionally, such as drum shows and traditional music performances. They will sometimes be held in or around the towers, especially during Chinese festivals and holidays.

What other notable sites or activities are near Bell and Drum Tower Square?

There are, indeed, a number of notable sites within walking distance from the Bell and Drum Tower, such as the Muslim Quarter, the Great Mosque of Xi’an, and the Ancient City Wall.

How much time should I plan for a visit?

Give yourself at least 1.5–2 hours to for a visit. However, if you plan to dine or shop in nearby areas, plan half a day to explore is the most recommended. Since that allows you to see all the details, but also move at your own pace.

Travel with China Xian Tour to Discover Xi’an’s Living History

Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square is not only the heart of Xi’an’s old city, but also a place where you can hear the rhythm of ancient life still echo in modern times. To truly appreciate their glamour, it is best to explore them with local experts.

As a Xi’an-based travel agency with over a decade of experience, China Xian Tour can offer all the services you need. We’ll have professional guides help you with seamless transfers and crafting flexible itineraries around your interests. With us arranging the details, your only task is to enjoy the charm of the Bell and Drum Towers and the vibrant atmosphere of Xi’an city.