Xi'an · Visitor Guide
Drum and Bell Towers (钟鼓楼, Zhōnggǔlóu)
The Drum and Bell Towers are the two Ming-dynasty wooden towers that mark the centre of Xi'an's walled old city and the gate to its Muslim Quarter. The Bell Tower (built 1384) sits where the city's main north-south and east-west axes cross; the Drum Tower (built 1380) stands a 250-metre walk west, at the mouth of Beiyuanmen street. Both are climbable for ¥30 each and give rooftop views over the tiled roofs, the city wall, and the traffic circling below — they are the landmarks every Xi'an walking tour navigates by.
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Quick Answer
Is Drum and Bell Towers worth visiting?
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, 1-1.5 hours total, best at dusk when both light up.
Quick facts
| Ticket | ¥30 per tower (as of 2026). A combined ticket covering both towers is offered at a small discount — it has fluctuated between ¥40-50 in recent years, so confirm the current price at the gate. Students with valid ID ¥15; children under 1.2 m free. Pay by Alipay, WeChat, or cash; bring your passport for ticket purchase. |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily. Bell Tower 08:30-21:30 (summer, Apr-Oct) / 08:30-18:00 (winter, Nov-Mar); Drum Tower 08:30-20:30 (summer) / 08:30-18:00 (winter). Last entry 30 minutes before closing. Evening hours extend in summer for the night views — verify the exact seasonal cutoff locally. |
| Recommended duration | 1-1.5 hours for one tower; 2-2.5 hours for both including the short walk between them. |
| Best time to visit | Dusk to early evening (roughly 17:30-19:30, seasonally), when both towers illuminate and the Muslim Quarter lanterns switch on beneath the Drum Tower. The Drum Tower at sunset is the classic Xi'an view. Avoid midday in July-August (35°C+, no shade on the wooden platforms) and the first week of October (Golden Week crowds). |
| How to get there | Metro Line 2 or Line 4 to Zhonglou (Bell Tower) station, then the underground passage to the Bell Tower plaza; the Drum Tower is a 3-minute walk west. Metro fare ¥3-4 from central hotels; runs 06:00-23:30. DiDi/taxi from anywhere inside the wall costs ¥9-15 (flagfall ¥9). |
| English signage | partial |
| Wheelchair accessible | partial |
| Built | Drum Tower 1380, Bell Tower 1384 (Ming dynasty, Hongwu reign) |
| Bell Tower relocated | Moved to its current central site in 1582 (Wanli reign) to sit at the true crossroads |
| Height | Bell Tower 36 m, Drum Tower 34 m |
| Ticket | ¥30 per tower (as of 2026) |
| Best view | Drum Tower rooftop at dusk, looking north over the Muslim Quarter |
| UNESCO | Not individually listed; Xi'an anchors the Silk Roads Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor (inscribed 2014) |
What to expect
You buy a ¥30 ticket and climb a steep wooden staircase to a single viewing platform. That is the whole experience — there is no museum, no multimedia show, no excavated army. The Bell Tower platform sits at the dead centre of Xi'an, ringed by a traffic roundabout where the four main avenues meet, and from it you look down four radial boulevards stretching to the city wall gates. The Drum Tower, 250 metres west, is smaller and its payoff is different: instead of a crossroads panorama you look north straight down Beiyuanmen into the Muslim Quarter as the food-stall lanterns flicker on. Both towers hold their original timekeeping instruments — a bronze bell in one, a lacquered drum in the other — and the Drum Tower runs short percussion performances through the day. Count on 30-45 minutes per tower if you linger; most people climb one and photograph both.
The towers are Ming-dynasty additions to a city that was already 1,500 years past its Tang-dynasty golden age. The Drum Tower went up first, in 1380 (the 13th year of the Hongwu emperor), to mark dusk; the Bell Tower followed in 1384 to mark dawn, following the old Chinese convention of morning bell, evening drum. The Bell Tower originally stood a block west but was moved to its present dead-centre spot in 1582 to align with the city's true crossroads. For six centuries they were the city's clock, audible across the walled grid. The original Jingyun Bell, cast in 711 during the Tang dynasty, was moved to the Forest of Steles museum in 1953 to protect it from the weather; a replica rings in the tower today. Neither tower is individually a UNESCO site, though Xi'an anchors the 2014-listed Silk Roads: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor.
Most guidebooks send you up both towers. Do one. The views overlap, the staircases are punishing on a hot day, and the combined ticket saves you maybe ¥10 — not worth the second climb. Pick the Drum Tower if the Muslim Quarter is part of your evening (you exit straight into the food lanes), or the Bell Tower if you want the four-axis crossroads shot. The real reason to come is timing, not the towers themselves: at 17:30 in autumn both structures light up against a darkening sky, the roundabout traffic swirls, and for fifteen minutes Xi'an looks exactly like the postcards. Arrive at midday and you will stand on a hot wooden platform watching cars. The underground passage connecting the Bell Tower metro exit to the plaza is itself a minor tourist mall — skip the souvenir stalls unless you genuinely want a miniature terracotta warrior.
How to get there
By metro (best option): Take Xi'an Metro Line 2 or Line 4 to Zhonglou (Bell Tower) station — Line 2 is the north-south artery through the city centre, Line 4 connects the conventional Xi'an Railway Station and the South HSR station. Fare ¥3-4 from central hotels; the system runs 06:00-23:30 and accepts Alipay/WeChat Pay QR codes at the gates. From the Zhonglou metro exit, follow the underground pedestrian passage that surfaces directly on the Bell Tower plaza — do not attempt the surface crossing, the roundabout is a six-lane traffic circle and surface crossings are closed. The Drum Tower is a 3-minute walk west along the plaza, clearly visible. By DiDi or taxi: Flagfall is ¥9, and from anywhere inside the city wall the fare to the Bell Tower is ¥9-15. Set the destination to 钟楼 (Zhonglou, Bell Tower) or 鼓楼 (Gulou, Drum Tower). DiDi (China's ride-hailing app, usable inside Alipay or WeChat with a foreign Visa/Mastercard linked) is the easiest option for non-Mandarin speakers. Avoid unlicensed drivers who approach you near the towers. On foot: If you are staying inside the city wall near the Bell Tower or South Gate — the recommended base for first-time visitors — both towers are within a 5-10 minute walk. From the South Gate of the city wall, walk north along South Street for about 600 metres to the Bell Tower. From the airport: XIY (Xianyang) is 40 km northwest; Metro Line 14 connects to the city in about 60 minutes for ¥16, with a transfer to Line 2 at the North HSR station for the final stretch to Zhonglou.
Best photo spots
- The Bell Tower traffic roundabout at blue hour (around 17:30-18:30 in autumn), shot from the southeast corner of the plaza — four illuminated avenues radiating outward, the tower lit gold against the sky.
- Drum Tower rooftop, looking north down Beiyuanmen as the Muslim Quarter lanterns switch on — the single best tower photo in Xi'an.
- Ground level, the archway of the Drum Tower framing the entrance to the Muslim Quarter with crowds and food-stall smoke drifting through — shoot 18:00-19:00.
- From the South Gate of the city wall at sunset, the Bell Tower visible in the distance as the focal point of the north-south axis — a wide establishing shot.
Tips
- Climb ONE tower, not both — the Drum Tower if you're eating in the Muslim Quarter that evening, the Bell Tower for the crossroads view. The second climb adds little and the wooden stairs are steep.
- Time it for dusk, not midday. The towers illuminate around 17:30-18:30 (seasonal); arrive 30 minutes early to buy a ticket and climb before the light peaks. Midday gives you a hot, flat, car-filled view.
- Enter the Bell Tower via the UNDERGROUND passage from the Zhonglou metro station, not the surface crosswalks — the roundabout is a six-lane traffic circle and surface crossings are closed.
- Skip the Bell Tower underground souvenir mall unless you want overpriced miniatures. The real Silk Road artifacts are across town at the Shaanxi History Museum (free, book ahead).
- If a tea-house tout near the Bell Tower invites you to a 'traditional tea ceremony,' walk away — it's a bill-inflation scam, not hospitality. The same goes for 'art students' showing their work in nearby lanes.
Scams to avoid
- Tea-house scam: touts near the Bell Tower invite tourists to a 'traditional tea ceremony' or 'local tea tasting' that ends with an inflated bill of several hundred yuan for a few cups. Decline any unsolicited invitation to a tea house or ceremony from strangers — this is the most commonly reported scam around the towers.
- 'Art students' near the towers and Muslim Quarter approach foreigners to view their 'graduation exhibition' in a nearby lane, then pressure a purchase of overpriced prints. They are not students and it is not an exhibition.
- Photo touts on the Bell Tower plaza offering to take your picture for 'free,' then demanding payment. Use your own phone or ask a fellow tourist.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to climb the Bell Tower or Drum Tower?
¥30 per tower as of 2026, or a combined ticket for both at a small discount (recently ¥40-50; confirm at the gate as it fluctuates). Students with valid ID pay ¥15; children under 1.2 m enter free. Pay by Alipay, WeChat, or cash; bring your passport for ticket purchase.
Should I climb both towers or just one?
Just one. The views overlap and the second climb adds little for the ¥30. Choose the Drum Tower if you're heading into the Muslim Quarter afterward (you exit straight onto Beiyuanmen), or the Bell Tower if you want the four-avenue crossroads panorama from the city's exact centre.
What are the opening hours?
Roughly 08:30-21:30 (summer) and 08:30-18:00 (winter) for the Bell Tower; the Drum Tower closes a little earlier in summer, around 20:30. Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Hours shift seasonally to capture the night views, so confirm the current cutoff locally.
How do I get to the Bell Tower by metro?
Take Metro Line 2 or Line 4 to Zhonglou (Bell Tower) station. Use the underground passage from the metro exit to reach the Bell Tower plaza directly — do not try to cross the surface roundabout, it is a six-lane traffic circle. Fare is ¥3-4 from central hotels; the metro runs 06:00-23:30.
When were the Drum and Bell Towers built?
The Drum Tower was built in 1380 and the Bell Tower in 1384, both during the early Ming dynasty under the Hongwu emperor. The Bell Tower was originally located a block west and moved to its present central position in 1582 (the Wanli reign) to sit at the true crossroads of the city.
What is the best time of day to visit?
Dusk, roughly 17:30-19:30 seasonally. Both towers illuminate at nightfall, the Muslim Quarter lanterns switch on beneath the Drum Tower, and the roundabout traffic gives the classic Xi'an night shot. Midday in summer is hot (35°C+) and the view is flat; avoid the first week of October for Golden Week crowds.
How long does a visit take?
30-45 minutes per tower, including the climb and time on the viewing platform. Allow 1-1.5 hours for one tower, 2-2.5 hours for both including the 3-minute walk between them. The Drum Tower runs short drum performances through the day — check the schedule at the entrance.
Are the towers wheelchair accessible?
No, not for the main viewpoint. Both require climbing steep wooden staircases to reach the upper platform; the ground-level exhibits are accessible but the rooftop view that is the whole point of the ticket is not. Travellers with mobility limits should enjoy the towers from ground level and the surrounding plaza instead.
Is there a drum or bell performance?
Yes. The Drum Tower stages short percussion performances several times a day (typically on the hour in the morning and afternoon), and the Bell Tower has scheduled bell-ringing. Times are posted at the entrance and shift seasonally — aim for the late-afternoon drum show if you are there at dusk.
Are the Drum and Bell Towers a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
Not individually. Xi'an anchors the 'Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor,' inscribed by UNESCO in 2014, but the towers themselves are not part of that listing. They are protected as national-level cultural relics of China.
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Other things to do in Xi'an
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shaanxi History Museum
China's richest provincial museum, holding roughly 1.7 million artifacts from 13 dynastic capitals across 1,100 years. Budget 2-3 hours for the free halls, 4-5 with the ¥270 Tang tomb-mural gallery — one of the most remarkable museum experiences in the country.
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. ¥25 entry (as of 2026), allow 45–60 minutes; go at the 8:00 opening, not noon.
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. Budget 2–3 hours after dusk; the lights and shows peak 19:00–21:00.
Small Wild Goose Pagoda
A 1,300-year-old Tang Dynasty brick pagoda inside Jianfu Temple — quieter, free, and climbable for ¥30 (as of 2026). Pair it with the on-site Xi'an Museum; allow 2–3 hours.
Museums in Xi'an
Shaanxi History Museum
370,000 artifacts from the cradle of Chinese civilization — Tang Dynasty gold, Zhou bronzes, and Qin terracotta figurines. Free but book weeks ahead. Xi'an's must-see museum.
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.
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.
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. Jianfu Temple grounds.
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 (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.
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 straight for the six horses of Zhaoling Tangseng.