Located right in the city center, Bell and Drum Towers are the iconic landmarks of Xi’an. They are only 300 meters from each other and close to many other popular attractions like the Muslim Quarter and the Ancient City Wall.
Dating back to the Ming Dynasty, both towers have a history of over 600 years. They sit on massive brick terraces and feature a brick-and-wood structure with double eaves and green-glazed tiles. At both dawn and dusk, the drums were beaten first and the bells were struck later to mark the opening and closing of city gates in ancient China.
Then how do you visit the two towers? This ultimate guide covers transportation, ticket booking details and best photography spots.
Quick Facts about Bell and Drum Towers
- Ticket price: CNY 30/USD 4 for each tower and CNY 50/USD 7 for a combo ticket with both towers
- Opening hours: Apr. – Oct. 10: 08:30 – 21:30 (last entry: 21:00), Oct.11 – Mar.: 08:30 – 18:00 (last entry: 17:30) for both towers
- Recommended visiting time: 1 – 2 hours
- Best time to visit: Arrive in the late afternoon to appreciate both sunset and the charming night views.
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How to Visit Bell Tower and Drum Tower?
How to Get There?
Take the Metro Line 2 or Line 6 to Zhonglou Station. After getting off, go out through Exit C and you will be at the underground pedestrian passage. The ticket office of Bell Tower is between exits 7 and 8 of the passage, which is only a few meters away from Exit C of the metro station.
If you are heading to Drum Tower, exit via exit 9 of the passage and walk westward for about 5 minutes to get there.
Please note that the Bell Tower is located right in the center of a huge roundabout, so it is not accessible from the ground. If you get there by taxi, the driver usually will drop you off on the outer road of the roundabout and you need to walk a few steps to the underground pedestrian passage.
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Are the Towers Worth Climbing? – Ticket Booking for International Travelers
Generally, it is better to enjoy panoramic views of the towers from the surrounding squares. They are also great photography spots for capturing the illuminated towers at night.
What can you see after ascending to the towers? There are a few collections in both towers and you get a rare 360° view of four avenues radiating from the very heart of the city.
So, if you are short of time and mainly want the iconic photos, just skip the climb. If you are a first-time visitor or want to appreciate the ancient architecture up close and overlook the surrounding cityscape, you can buy a ticket for the Bell Tower.
How to buy a ticket as an international traveler?
You can book the ticket via WeChat official account of “西安市钟鼓楼博物馆”. Some third-party platforms supporting international credit cards and offers multi-language interfaces are also convenient. Just search Xi’an Bell Tower or Xi’an Drum Tower and then select the single ticket or combo ticket based on your own needs.
Note: An original passport is needed when entering the scenic area.
Best Photography Spots
The following spots are great for taking memorable photos around the Bell Tower and Drum Tower.
- Surrounding squares: the Bell and Drum Tower Square, the area in front of Bell Tower Hotel and Kaiyuan Shopping Mall, offer a close-up upward shot of architecture.
- Viewing platform on the 5th,7th and 8th floors of Kaiyuan Shopping Mall: A panoramic view of the Bell Tower, the traffic flow and the skyline. On the 8th floor, you can also capture the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in the same frame.
- The corridor on the 2nd floor of Kaiyuan Shopping Mall: Best spot for the silhouettes and symmetrical composition of the Bell Tower
- At the entrance of the Muslim Quarter: It is north of Drum Tower. Take a vibrant photo of Drum Tower with the pedestrians and red lanterns in the foreground.
Tips: The best time is 17:00 – 19:30, when you can capture both sunset and the towers illuminated in golden lights. To avoid crowds, the period from 08:30 to 10:00 is recommended.
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Bell Tower
History
Bell Tower was first built in Yingxiang Temple in 1384 in the Ming Dynasty as a city landmark. As a result of the city’s expansion, the original tower was relocated to its present site in 1582, about 1 km away from its original site. It used to hold a sizable bell to strike time every morning.
Architecture style
The Bell Tower is composed of a square base and a tower.
Base: 8.6 meters high and 35.5 meters wide, built with grey brick. There is an archway serving as a vehicle passage in the middle of each of the four walls. But with the development of the city, it is no longer used as a passage.
Tower: 36 meters high. Although it appears to have three levels due to the triple eaves, it actually contains only two stories. Besides, it features carved beams, painted rafters, green glazed tiles and a golden roof, making it a masterpiece of Ming-style architecture.
What to see and do
Panoramic Views of Downtown Xi’an: From the tower’s open-air corridors, you can have a panoramic sweep of downtown Xi’an. Capture the bustling vista of four main streets radiating from the city’s historic heart.
The collections inside the tower: The exhibits mainly include display boards themed on Ming Dynasty bell culture and ancient timekeeping. The replica of the Jingyun Bell is the highlight. The original bell is now displayed in Xi’an Beilin Museum (Xian Forest of Stone Steles). Besides, the beams, brackets and ceilings are decorated with exquisite wood carvings and painted decorations. A full visit takes about 20 – 40 minutes.
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Drum Tower
History
The Drum Tower was constructed in 1380, 4 years earlier than the Bell Tower. Its main function is to tell time.
Architecture style
Drum Tower consists of a rectangular base and a tower.
Base: 52.6 meters long, 38 meters wide and 7.7 meters high. At the center of its north-south axis is a vaulted passage for pedestrians and carts in ancient times. Now, it is also occasionally open on public holidays like Labor Day and National Day.
Tower: 34 meters high. It features a wooden pavilion-style structure with triple-layered eaves, a hip-and-gable roof, grey cylindrical tiles and green glazed tiles.
What to see and do
Various Drums: On the first floor is the Wentian Drum, which once held a Guinness World Record. On the second floor, 24 red drums printed with 24 solar terms are displayed in a row in the corridor.
Other collections: the furniture, ceramics of Ming Dynasty and some calligraphy and paintings.
Antique performances: On public holidays, several drum performances and chime bells performances will be held.
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Nearby Attractions
- Muslim Quarter: It is a large food court composed of several lanes. Its main street is north of Drum Tower. As the most famous food street in Xi’an, it offers a variety of local specialties and snacks, such as beef and lamb paomo, cold noodles, etc. You can have a meal here after visiting the Bell and Drum Towers. There are also shops selling characteristic local souvenirs.
- Great Mosque of Xi’an: Located inside the Muslim Quarter, the mosque is about a 7-minute walk from the Drum Tower. Different from common mosques, its design integrates traditional Chinese architectural styles. Instead of Arab domes and tower-style minarets, there are only Chinese wooden pavilion-style architectural complexes, which are rarely seen in the world.
- City Wall: The South Gate (main entrance) of Xi’an City Wall is about 2 km from the Bell Tower. Standing on the city wall, you will be impressed by the sharp contrast of modern high-rise buildings outside the wall and the traditional architectural complex inside the wall. You can explore both on foot and by bike.
- Shuyuanmen Street: Located at the foot of the City Wall, the street is famous for its rich cultural atmosphere. On both sides of the streets are lined with plenty of antique shops selling various cultural products, handicrafts and souvenirs of intangible cultural heritages, etc. You can purchase some characteristic souvenirs for your family and friends, like painted fans, seals, etc.
Explore Xi’an with China Xian tour
Bell Tower and Drum Tower are 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 20 years of experience, China Xian Tour can offer all the services you need. Our travel consultants can craft flexible itineraries based on your interests, our local guides bring each site to life with stories and cultural insights, and the private driver will ensure seamless transfers between attractions. With us arranging the details, all you need to do is experience the ancient charm and the vibrant atmosphere of Xi’an.
FAQs about Bell and Drum Towers
Can I take photos / use a tripod / fly a drone at the Bell and Drum Towers?
Usually, taking photos is allowed inside the towers. But the flashlight is prohibited to protect the colored painting and lacquer coating of the ancient buildings.
For the safety of tourists and to avoid congestion, the use of tripods is usually not allowed in the narrow corridors, staircases and exhibition halls.
The area near Bell Tower and Drum Tower is a no-fly zone, so a drone is strictly prohibited. The equipment will be confiscated and you may face legal penalties if you fly a drone.
Is it wheelchair/stroller/low-mobility friendly?
It is easily accessible to the nearby squares and underground passage. But if you plan to ascend the tower, it will be challenging, as both the Bell Tower and Drum Tower are wooden architecture with narrow and relatively steep wooden stairs. No escalators or elevators are equipped. So it is more recommended to appreciate the towers from the surrounding area.
