Bell Tower钟楼
The Bell Tower stands where Xi'an's East and West streets meet at the heart of the old city — a Ming-dynasty timekeeping tower and the emblem of the city. Built in 1384 (Hongwu 17), it faces the Drum Tower to the west; the two together anchor the centre of the ancient city.
Xi'an · Visitor Guide2026-10-18
Quick Answer
Is Bell Tower worth visiting?
The landmark at the very centre of Xi'an, built in the Ming dynasty. Admission CNY 30 to climb, or CNY 50 combined with the Drum Tower 200 m away. The night view is superb.
Quick facts
| Ticket | CNY 30 to climb; Bell Tower plus Drum Tower combo CNY 50 |
|---|---|
| Hours | 08:30-20:30 (to 21:00 in summer); last entry 20:00 |
| Recommended duration | 30 minutes to 1 hour |
| Best time to visit | Any season; come toward dusk and enjoy the tower lit up before you leave |
| How to get there | Metro Line 2 to Zhonglou (Bell Tower) Station — the tower is right at the exit; buses 4/7/8/11/15 to Zhonglou stop |
| English signage | |
| Wheelchair accessible | Partial |
| Built | Ming Hongwu 17 (1384) |
| Height | 36 m (base 8.6 m) |
| Structure | Brick and timber |
| Footprint | 1,377 sq m |
| Protection status | Major historical site protected at the national level |
| Era | Ming-dynasty architecture |
What to expect
The Bell Tower commands the centre of the old city, erected on its present site in 1384 (Hongwu 17) as part of the same early-Ming plan that laid out Xi'an's walls. Brick and timber throughout, it rises 36 m above an 8.6 m base, its square base pierced by arched gateways on all four sides; above sits a crossed hip-and-gable roof in grey tiles, ornate yet dignified.
The tower's original bell, the Jingyun Bell cast in the second year of the Jingyun era of Emperor Ruizong of Tang, is now kept in a museum; what hangs here is a replica. The timekeeping role lapsed in modern times, and the tower is now a heritage attraction. The first floor preserves fragments of a great Ming-dynasty drum; the second floor exhibits relics of the old city.
The tower by night is one of Xi'an's signature sights, its silhouette picked out in light. A good sequence: browse the Muslim Quarter and the Drum Tower first, walk to the Bell Tower toward dusk, enjoy it lit up, then take the underpass into the Bell Tower shopping district. The Drum Tower is only 200 m away — the combo ticket covers both.
How to get there
Metro Line 2 to Zhonglou Station — direct access via the underground passages. Buses 4, 7, 8, 11, 15, 32 and 46 stop at Zhonglou.
Best photo spots
- The Bell Tower roundabout (the classic angle, shootable from every direction)
- The top floor after climbing (looking down the avenues)
- Night shots when the tower is fully lit
- Portraits against the arched gateways of the base
Tips
- Climb toward dusk and watch sunset and the night lighting before descending
- Peak season is busy — arrive at opening or around 5 p.m.
- The shops in the underground passages are worth a browse
Scams to avoid
- No significant scam risk around the tower
- Feel free to decline unlicensed guides offering their services
Frequently asked questions
How do the Bell Tower and Drum Tower differ?
The Bell Tower stands east, the Drum Tower west, 200 m apart. One marked the hours by bell, the other by drum; together they are known as the Bell and Drum Towers.
Is there a queue to climb?
In peak season expect 30-60 minutes — come early or avoid midday.
Is the combo ticket worth it?
Yes: CNY 50 versus CNY 60 for separate tickets (CNY 30 each).
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Other things to do in Xi'an
Anren Fang (Tang Dynasty Residential Complex)
One of the 108 warded quarters of Tang Chang'an, now an archaeological park where ordinary Tang residents lived and traded; new exhibit areas opened in 2023.
Banpo Neolithic Museum
A 6,000-year-old Neolithic village excavation on Xi'an's eastern edge — walkways over the pits of a 45-house settlement of the Yangshao culture, plus a re-creation village with thatched huts.
Banpo Museum
A 6,000-year-old Yangshao-culture village of a matrilineal clan — the essential stop for understanding China's Neolithic. Admission CNY 47, students CNY 27.
Beilin Museum
Xi'an's Stele Forest Museum holds China's greatest collection of ancient inscribed stelae — a pilgrimage site for calligraphy lovers. Admission CNY 65. A five-star must for anyone who loves the brush.
Big Wild Goose Pagoda
7th-century Buddhist pagoda built to house scriptures brought from India by the monk Xuanzang (the real Tripitaka). ¥50. Evening fountain show is free.
Xi'an City Wall
China's most complete ancient city wall: Ming-built, 13.7 km around the old city, with a full circuit by bike in about 2 hours. Admission CNY 54. A must-see.
Da Ci'en Temple
A Tang-dynasty royal monastery built under Master Xuanzang and home to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. Admission CNY 40; a memorial to the great monk.
Drum and Bell Towers
Two 14th-century Ming-dynasty towers anchoring Xi'an's old-city centre — the Bell Tower (1384) at the crossroads, the Drum Tower (1380) at the Muslim Quarter gate. ¥30 each to climb, 1-1.
Drum Tower
A Ming-dynasty landmark facing the Bell Tower across the old city; tower admission CNY 30, drum show CNY 10, combo with the Bell Tower CNY 50. A must-visit.
Xi'an Beilin Museum (Forest of Steles)
China's largest collection of ancient stone tablets and a mecca for calligraphy lovers, set within the old Confucian temple complex. Admission CNY 65. A must-see.
Grand Tang Mall (Datang Everbright City)
A 1.5-km free pedestrian avenue of lit-up Tang-style pavilions, costumed performers, and food stalls running south from the Big Wild Goose Pagoda through Xi'an's Qujiang district.
Great Mosque of Xi'an
A 1,280-year-old mosque site down Huajue Lane that looks like a Ming temple but serves Xi'an's Hui Muslim community — four courtyards, a pagoda-style minaret, no domes.
Han and Tang Dynasty Street
The core stretch of Xi'an's Great Tang All Day Mall, about 2.1 km long and opened in 2008; free entry, light shows run 19:00-23:00, next to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.
Huaqing Palace
Tang Dynasty imperial hot springs resort — Yang Guifei's bathing pool, scene of the 1936 Xi'an Incident. ¥120 entry. 30 km east of Xi'an. Combine with Terracotta Army.
Huaqing Pool
Royal hot springs from the Zhou through the Tang dynasty, setting of Emperor Xuanzong's romance with Consort Yang. CNY 120 covers the grounds; the Song of Everlasting Sorrow show plays at night.
Mount Hua
The most perilous of the Five Great Mountains — 5-6 hours to the summit on foot, or take the cableway to save your legs. Entry CNY 160 plus CNY 40 shuttle; a five-star must-see.
Muslim Quarter
Xi'an's 1,200-year-old Hui Muslim food district — 10+ blocks of lamb skewers, hand-pulled noodles, persimmon cakes, and the 1,300-year-old Great Mosque. Free entry. Food ¥5–50 per item.
Muslim Street (Huimin Street)
Famous food street in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter; free entry, shops open about 09:00-23:00, a 10-minute walk from Zhonglou metro station, famed for paomo, liangpi and lamb skewers.
Shaanxi Grand Theater
Northwest China's largest theater, opened in 2017 with 1,800 seats and show tickets CNY 80-380. Tang-inspired architecture in the Grand Tang Ever-Bright City, 10 minutes from Dayanta station.
Shaanxi History Museum
China's first large modern history museum, opened in 1991 in Xi'an with over 1.71 million relics; free with 3-day advance booking, Hejiacun exhibit 30 yuan, murals hall 270 yuan.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
Tang-dynasty brick pagoda in Xi'an built 707-710 and rising 43 m over 15 tiers; free with reservation, tower climb 30 yuan, open 9:00-17:00 and closed Tuesdays.
The Song of Everlasting Sorrow
A large-scale outdoor drama staged on the lake at Huaqing Pool, retelling the romance of Emperor Xuanzong and Consort Yang. Tickets CNY 188-588. A visual feast that is well worth watching.
Tang West Market Site
The excavated heart of Tang Chang'an's commerce — origin of the phrase dongxi, 'east-west' — with a museum recreating Silk Road trade at its peak. Free entry; allow 1-2 hours.
Terracotta Army
UNESCO site with 8,000+ life-sized warriors buried 2,200 years ago. 1.5 hours from Xi'an. Allow 3-4 hours.
Xi'an City Wall
The best-preserved ancient city wall in China — 13.7 km of Ming Dynasty fortifications you can bike on top of. ¥54 entry, ¥45 bike rental. 2–3 hours to bike the full loop.
Museums in Xi'an
Banpo Museum
A 6,000-year-old Neolithic village preserved in situ — walk through a matriarchal Yangshao Culture settlement with houses, kilns, and a burial ground. ¥65. China's first prehistoric site museum.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum (Terracotta Warriors)
About 8,000 life-size clay soldiers buried in 210 BCE to guard China's first emperor — plan 3 to 4 hours on site plus 90 minutes each way from central Xian.
Shaanxi History Museum
China's most historically significant provincial museum for ancient Chinese civilization — built on the Shaanxi province that hosted 13 imperial dynasties.
Shaanxi History Museum — Qin-Han Branch
New branch opened 2024 near the Qin Dynasty palace ruins. Focuses exclusively on the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC-220 AD). Free. Book ahead.
Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum
The world-famous Terracotta Army viewed through the museum lens: excavation in progress, bronze chariot conservation, and the science behind 2,200-year-old polychrome preservation. ¥120.
Forest of Steles Museum (Xi'an Beilin Museum)
Xi'an's 1,094-year-old "Forest of Steles" holds more than 3,000 carved stone tablets and rewards 2–3 hours of close looking — most visitors should skip the calligraphy trance and head strai.
Xi'an City Wall Museum
The museum on top of China's most complete Ming Dynasty city wall — documenting the wall's construction, military history, and the "Ming Great Wall" system. Included in wall ticket.".. 20.
Xi'an Museum
Tang Dynasty artifacts inside the Small Wild Goose Pagoda temple complex — a calmer, more intimate alternative to the Shaanxi History Museum. Free entry with garden and pagoda access.".. 2026.
Terracotta Army Museum (Museum of the Terracotta Army and Mausoleum of Qin Shi Huang)
The 8th Wonder of the World — 8,000+ life-size terracotta warriors, horses, and chariots buried to guard the tomb of China's first emperor (210 BCE).
Yongle Palace Museum (Yongle Gong)
Yuan-dynasty Taoist complex at Ruicheng (Yuncheng, Shanxi) — the largest surviving ensemble of Yuan murals in China, led by the 'Procession of Immortals'. About 2 hours from Xi'an by rail. ¥60.