Bell and Drum Towers of Xi'an: The City's Ancient Timekeepers (2026)

The Towers That Kept Time for an Empire

For centuries, the heart of Xi'an beat to two buildings: the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, standing 500 meters apart at the exact center of the old city. In the Ming dynasty, the bell was struck at dawn and the drum at dusk — a city-wide signal for when to open gates, start markets and end the day. They were the clock of an imperial capital.

Tickets and performance times verified August 2026 — always confirm current schedules before you go.

The Bell Tower: The Center of the Map

The Bell Tower is arguably the best-placed landmark in China: it sits at the geometric center of Xi'an's old city, at the crossroads of the four main streets. The current building dates from 1582, when it was moved 1,000 meters from its original location — brick by brick, timber by timber — to its present site. Its 17-meter base, golden roof and triple-eaved structure make it the classic Xi'an postcard shot.

Climbing the tower gives you a ring-road view of the old city: the four streets running exactly to the four gates of the city wall, and traffic circling the tower in a constant flow. The interior houses a small exhibition on the tower's history.

The Drum Tower: Where the Muslim Quarter Begins

The Drum Tower stands at the western end of the street that leads into the Muslim Quarter — in fact, the tower's shadow is the start of the food district. Built in 1380, it once housed a giant drum beaten at dusk to close the day. Inside, there's a drum museum with dozens of traditional drums, and the tower hosts daily drum performances (typically several shows a day — confirm the current schedule).

The Best Experience: Sunset to Night

The towers are at their best together, and the sequence matters:

1. Late afternoon: climb the Bell Tower (or just photograph it from the square)

2. Sunset: walk the 500-meter tower street toward the Drum Tower as the light turns gold

3. Dusk: watch the Drum Tower performances inside

4. Night: step into the Muslim Quarter behind the Drum Tower for dinner — the lantern-lit lanes open directly from the tower's base

Photo Tips

• Bell Tower from the southeast corner of the square — the classic angle with the tower centered on the street.
• Drum Tower from the pedestrian street — evening lights on, with the tower street leading away from you.
• Both towers from the city wall — the north wall section gives a rare double-tower sightline at sunset.

Practical Notes

• Tickets — Bell Tower and Drum Tower have separate (inexpensive) tickets; a combined ticket is usually available.
• Climb times — 30-40 minutes each is plenty; the Drum Tower's drum museum is the more interesting interior.
• Accessibility — both towers require stairs; the Bell Tower has no elevator.
• Getting there — Metro Line 2 (Bell Tower station) stops directly beneath the Bell Tower; the towers are a 10-minute walk from the South Gate of the city wall.