About Bell Tower of Xi'an
“A stately, golden-lit centerpiece of Xi'an's ancient core — more photogenic than immersive, and at its absolute best after dark when it glows against the modern city around it.”
The Bell Tower is Xi'an's most recognizable landmark and a genuinely beautiful piece of Ming architecture, but let's be honest — the interior is modest (some replica instruments, a small exhibition) and you can see everything inside in 30-40 minutes. The real value is the location and the views: standing on top, you look down all four major streets radiating to the city wall gates, which gives you a visceral sense of how ancient Chinese cities were planned around a central axis. At night, the tower is dramatically lit and becomes the best photo subject in the city center. Most visitors pair it with the Drum Tower (200 meters west) and the Muslim Quarter right behind it. Skip going inside if you're short on time — the exterior view, especially at night, is the main event.
Top Questions from Travelers
Why This Place Matters
Bell towers were the timekeeping heart of Chinese cities for centuries — the bell was rung at dawn to start the day, and the drum in the Drum Tower was beaten at dusk to signal the end. The phrase '晨钟暮鼓' (morning bell, evening drum) comes from this tradition. Xi'an's Bell Tower, built in 1384 and relocated to its current central position in 1582, is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in China. Its placement at the exact intersection of the four main streets isn't coincidental — it represents the Confucian ideal of the ruler at the center of the world, with order radiating outward in four directions.
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Highlights
3 iconic experiences that define a visit
360° City Center View from the Upper Level
Standing on the Bell Tower's balcony, you look straight down all four of Xi'an's main streets — East, West, South, and North — each stretching to its corresponding ancient city wall gate. It's the single best vantage point to understand Xi'an's grid layout.
This view makes you understand why Chinese cities were built around central axes — the symmetry is striking and intentional.
Universal AppealNighttime Illumination
After dark, the Bell Tower is bathed in warm golden light that makes the green glazed tiles and red columns glow dramatically. The surrounding modern ...
Culturally InterestingBell and Drum Exhibitions
Inside the tower, you'll find replica ancient bells (the original Jingyun Bell is in the Beilin Museum) and occasional traditional music performances....
What Most Visitors Miss
The underground passage network
The underground walkways connecting the Bell Tower metro station to the Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter are an experience themselves — full of shops and surprisingly extensive. Many visitors don't realize they can walk underground from the Bell Tower directly to the Muslim Quarter entrance.
Kaiyuan Mall rooftop/observation area for Bell Tower photos
The shopping malls surrounding the Bell Tower have elevated terraces that give you eye-level or slightly elevated shots of the tower — much better than ground-level photos where you're shooting up.
The Bell Tower at dawn with almost no one around
The surrounding plaza is deserted before 7 AM — a completely different experience from the usual crowds. The morning light on the eastern face of the tower is soft and golden.
Plan Your Visit
How Long to Visit
20-30 minutes (climb up, take photos from the balcony, come down
40-60 minutes (explore both levels, read the exhibitions, photograph all four directional views
1.5-2 hours (combined Bell Tower + Drum Tower visit with the joint ticket
Smart Route
Take Metro Line 2 to Bell Tower Station (Exit C)
walk through underground passage to the tower entrance
climb up and explore both levels (30-40 min)
exit and walk west through the underground passage toward the Drum Tower (200m)
visit the Drum Tower
exit north into the Muslim Quarter for dinner and street food.
Best Time to Visit
Visit at sunset to see the tower in both daylight and illuminated at night
Midday in summer — the tower has limited shade and the stone plaza radiates heat
By Season
Spring
and autumn offer the best weather for climbing. Winter can be bitterly cold and windy on the exposed upper level but snow on the Bell Tower is a rare and beautiful sight.
Summer
Autumn
offer the best weather for climbing. Winter can be bitterly cold and windy on the exposed upper level but snow on the Bell Tower is a rare and beautiful sight.
Winter
can be bitterly cold and windy on the exposed upper level but snow on the Bell Tower is a rare and beautiful sight. Summer evenings are pleasant.
Visit on a weekday evening. After photographing the Bell Tower, walk 200 meters west to the Drum Tower, then duck into the Muslim Quarter behind it for dinner — this is the classic Xi'an evening route.
What to Skip
The souvenir shops in the underground passage are overpriced — buy souvenirs in the Muslim Quarter instead. Don't spend too long on the interior exhibitions — the views are the real draw.
Pro Tips
Buy the joint Bell Tower + Drum Tower ticket (¥50) to save ¥10. Time your visit so you're at the Bell Tower around sunset — you get daylight views AND night illumination in one visit. The Drum Tower is a short walk west and offers a different perspective looking back at the Bell Tower.
Photo Spots
Southeast pedestrian overpass or Kaiyuan Mall upper floors
Shoot at eye level or slightly above for a clean composition without the chaotic traffic below. Best at blue hour (just after sunset).
From the Bell Tower balcony looking down South Street toward the South Gate
Use a wide-angle lens to capture the symmetrical street and the distant South Gate. At night, the street lights create perfect leading lines.
Bell Tower and Drum Tower together from the plaza between them
Position yourself on the plaza between the two towers to capture both in one frame. A telephoto lens compresses the distance nicely.
Pair With
Drum Tower (鼓楼) and Muslim Quarter (回民街)
5-minute walk west through the underground passage
The Drum Tower is 200 meters west and the Muslim Quarter is directly behind it — this is the classic Xi'an evening combo: Bell Tower → Drum Tower → Muslim Quarter dinner. The Drum Tower has a drum performance and better interior exhibitions.
Xi'an City Wall (西安城墙)
10-minute walk south along South Street
The nearest gate (South Gate / Yongning Gate) is a 10-minute walk south. Cycling the 14km wall loop at sunset with the Bell Tower visible in the distance is unforgettable.
Beilin Museum (碑林博物馆 / Forest of Stone Steles)
15-minute walk or short taxi
Home to the original Jingyun Bell and one of China's most important collections of ancient stone inscriptions. A 15-minute walk southeast from the Bell Tower.
Tickets & Access
Bell Tower admission
Standard adult ticket
Bell Tower + Drum Tower joint ticket
Saves ¥10 vs buying separately — recommended if visiting both
Opening Hours
Off-season (Oct 11–Mar 31): 08:30–18:00 (last entry 17:30). Peak season (Apr 1–Oct 10): 08:30–21:30 (last entry 21:00). Summer peak (Jul 19–Aug 31): 08:30–22:30.
How to Buy
Trip.com, Meituan, or the Xi'an tourism WeChat mini-program. Passport number accepted for booking. Walk-up ticket windows available at the underground entrance. If you want the joint Bell Tower + Drum Tower ticket booked in advance, message our team and we can handle it — saves you queuing at the window.
Passport: Yes — foreigners can purchase tickets with passport at the window or book online with passport number.
Queue Situation
Queues are short on weekdays (5-10 minutes). Peak season weekends and holidays can see 20-30 minute waits. The underground passage to the entrance can get congested during rush hour.
Tips & Warnings
The original Jingyun Bell is NOT here
The famous Tang Dynasty bell that's broadcast on CCTV every morning is housed at the Beilin Museum (Forest of Stone Steles), not the Bell Tower. What you see inside are replicas. Visit Beilin Museum separately to see the original.
The tower is in the middle of a traffic roundabout — no street-level access
You must use the underground passage from the metro station or nearby pedestrian underpasses. Do not try to cross the road at street level — it's dangerous and there are no crosswalks.
The wooden stairs inside are steep and narrow
Wear comfortable shoes with grip. The staircase can get congested during busy periods. Take your time, especially coming down.
Peak season extends the hours but also the crowds
Summer evening hours (until 22:30) are great for avoiding daytime heat but the area is packed with locals enjoying the cool night air. Weekday evenings are much more manageable than weekends.
What to Bring
Wear
Comfortable shoes for climbing steep wooden stairs. In summer, sun protection for the open balcony. In winter, warm layers — the upper level is exposed to wind.
Bring
Camera or phone for the views. Portable charger. Cash as backup for tickets.
Don't Bring
No restrictions — but large bags will slow you on the narrow stairs.
Physical Reality
easy
The main challenge is the steep wooden staircase inside the tower — approximately 3 flights. The surrounding area is flat. The tower itself is compact and the visit is short. No wheelchair access to the upper levels.
Foreigners Watch Out
- The underground passage system is extensive but poorly signed in English — follow signs for '钟楼' (Zhōnglóu) to reach the Bell Tower entrance. Getting turned around is common. If you get lost in the underground maze, send us a message and we can guide you through it in real time.
- Many visitors in traditional Han/Tang Dynasty costumes will be posing for photos around the tower — this is a popular Chinese trend (汉服/Hanfu) and makes for interesting people-watching but can crowd photo spots.
- The Muslim Quarter behind the Drum Tower is one of Xi'an's top food destinations but prices are inflated on the main drag (Huimin Jie). Duck into the smaller side alleys for better value and more authentic food.
- Mobile payment (WeChat/Alipay) dominates the area. Bring cash as backup for ticket windows — some accept it, but nearby food vendors may not. If you need help setting up Alipay or WeChat Pay on a foreign card, our concierge team can walk you through it step by step over chat.
If Things Go Wrong
Bell Tower is closed or tickets sold out
→ The exterior night view is arguably better than the interior anyway. Walk to the Drum Tower (200m west) which has a similar experience with better exhibitions.
Can't figure out how to reach the tower entrance
→ Go to Metro Line 2, Bell Tower Station, Exit C. Follow the underground passage — there are signs (look for 钟楼). The entrance is at the base of the tower, accessed from below ground level.
Too crowded to enjoy the views
→ Wait 10-15 minutes — the upper level cycles through visitors fairly quickly since there's not much to linger over inside. Early morning (before 10 AM) and late evening (after 9 PM in peak season) are quietest.
Useful Chinese
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