Xi'an Bell Tower: A Time Space Dialogue between Six Hundred Years of Morning Bell and Evening Drum and the Ancient and Modern Central Axis

The Proposal for Capital Relocation and Royal level Construction
The birth of the Xi'an Bell Tower is closely related to an unfinished national capital relocation plan. Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang once intended to relocate the capital to Xi'an and sent Crown Prince Zhu Biao to conduct on-site surveys. Although it was later abandoned due to the early death of the Crown Prince, the clock tower has been built according to the royal architectural level, and its high initial specifications destined it to have an extraordinary starting point.

Legendary Eastward Migration - A Comprehensive Relocation in Response to Urban Development
After nearly two hundred years of construction, the clock tower achieved a miracle in the history of ancient architecture: the overall relocation. As the Ming Dynasty city of Xi'an expanded eastward, the bell tower originally located at the intersection of Guangji Street gradually deviated from the new city center. In the tenth year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1582), under the leadership of Shaanxi Governor Gong Maoxian, this giant brick and wood structure building was relocated as a whole to its current location, and the process involved "no renovation except for the foundation of the building". This migration has enabled it to once again reside at the intersection of four main roads, truly becoming the axis building that governs the entire city.

In depth understanding: Explore more stories of China's prosperous cultural sites>>Beijing Yuanmingyuan Site Park

The charm of the Xi'an Bell Tower lies in its exquisite and unparalleled architectural art, as well as the unique perspective gained after ascending, spanning ancient and modern times.
Architectural Craftsmanship - Solidified Ming Dynasty Music and Philosophy
The Bell Tower is an attic style building with double eaves, three drops of water, and four corners. The architecture itself is a three-dimensional classic.
Base and Structure: The building is built on a square blue brick base that is 8.6 meters high, with ticket holes on all four sides that are 6 meters high and wide, and connected to Cross Street. This "round sky and square earth" structure reflects the ancient Chinese cosmology.
Beauty of decoration: The building is painted in full body, and the wooden structure is painted with green arch of wooden architecture and exquisite caisson. The 64 classic wooden carvings embedded on the doors of each floor, such as "Mulan joins the army" and "Chang'e flies to the moon", are vivid and delicate, with extremely high artistic value.
The ancient and modern echoes of Jingyun Bell: The building displays famous imitations of Tang Jingyun Bell. The original bell was cast in the second year of the Jingyun reign of the Tang Dynasty, with clear and bright sound quality. The inscription was personally written by Emperor Ruizong of Tang, Li Dan. It is a national first-class cultural relic and is currently housed in the Stele Forest in Xi'an. Nowadays, replica Jingyun bells are struck at specific times, allowing tourists to listen to the ancient Tang Dynasty music that spans thousands of years.

Panoramic View - the "God's Perspective" that governs the layout of the ancient city
Climbing the tower and looking into the distance is the core experience that cannot be missed when visiting the clock tower.
Cross axis: Standing on the second floor corridor, one can see the most classic layout of Xi'an city. The four straight streets of east, west, south, and north extend outward with the bell tower as the center, forming a magnificent cross axis, clearly demonstrating the rigorous planning ideas of ancient cities.
Integration of ancient and modern: To the south, you can see the towering Xi'an city wall, and to the four directions, traditional and modern buildings coexist harmoniously in the texture of the ancient city. This is the best observation point to understand the integration of Xi'an's "chessboard style" road network and the ancient and modern urban landscape.
Day and Night Scenery: The clock tower is dignified and solemn during the day, and at night, it shines brilliantly under the outline of the lights, surrounded by traffic like a galaxy, making it an excellent theme for capturing urban night scenes.

Five Must Do Things to Unlock the Complete Bell Tower Journey
Ascend a building once and see a city clearly
Ascend the second floor corridor and circle clockwise to identify the landmarks of the ancient city from four directions: looking south at the Yongning Gate city wall, north at the Drum Tower, and east and west streets extending into the distance. This is the first lesson in establishing the concept of urban space in Xi'an.
Listen to the clock once, it echoes for a thousand years
Pay attention to the schedule of antique bell performances in the scenic area and listen to music played using replicated Jingyun bells. On specific holidays, there is also an opportunity to personally participate in the "bell ringing and prayer" activity, experiencing the ritual of sound crossing history.
Take a photo to freeze the day and night
The Japanese scenery is set against the backdrop of a blue brick base and a magnificent building, highlighting the ancient and heavy architecture of the building.
The night scene is the essence of the clock tower. It is recommended to take a shot at sunset blues time (within half an hour after sunset) and after full nightfall to capture the bright scenes in different colors. The entrances to modern buildings such as Kaiyuan Mall and Bell Tower Hotel around the Bell Tower are classic overhead camera positions.
Connect a line and experience old Xi'an
Using the Bell Tower as the starting point for exploration, walk west for 5 minutes to reach the Xi'an Drum Tower and experience the supporting pattern of "morning bell and evening drum". Behind the Drum Tower is the historic Hui Muslim Street district, which is full of food and fireworks, providing a one-stop solution for cultural experience and food exploration.
Searching for a treasure and discovering small details
Carefully search for the colorful paintings under the eaves and the reliefs on the wooden doors, each painting is a historical or mythological story. Occasionally, there are small cultural exhibitions inside the pedestal voucher cave, which are also worth stopping and watching.

Suggested tour routes
The Bell Tower itself, as a standalone building, takes about 1-2 hours to visit the core area, but it is naturally the hub of the Xi'an city center tourism loop.
Half day "Bell and Drum Return to the Square" Classic Tour (suitable for most tourists):
Arrive at the Bell Tower after 4pm → Visit the interior of the Bell Tower and climb up to enjoy the scenery (1 hour) → Walk to the Drum Tower for a visit (0.5 hour) → In the evening, enter the Hui Muslim Street and enjoy various specialty snacks while enjoying dinner → When the lights are on, return to the Bell Tower Square to appreciate and take photos of the night scene → End the tour.
IntoTravelChina tip: This route is compact and efficient, fully combining historical visits with culinary experiences.
One day "Ancient City Axis" in-depth tour (the best choice for those with plenty of time):
In the morning, climb up the Xi'an city wall from Yongning Gate (South Gate), ride or walk to the direction of the Bell Tower, and overlook the city from an aerial perspective. At noon, get off the city wall and enjoy lunch at old brands near the Bell Tower (such as Defa Chang and Tongshengxiang). In the afternoon, visit the Bell Tower, Drum Tower, and internal exhibitions in depth. Afterwards, stroll to the Beilin Museum to appreciate calligraphy treasures. In the evening, return to Huimin Street to experience food and night scenery.

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How to reach: Seamless Connection Guide
The Bell Tower is located in the most central area of Xi'an, with convenient transportation.
Departing from Xi'an Xianyang International Airport: Take the Airport Intercity Line to Beike Station, transfer to Metro Line 2 to Zhonglou Station, and arrive at the station upon exiting. Take a taxi for about an hour.
Departing from Xi'an North Station (high-speed railway station): taking Metro Line 2 directly to Zhonglou Station is the most convenient way.
Starting from anywhere in Xi'an city: Zhonglou Station on Metro Line 2 is the core station; Multiple buses such as 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16, 26, 29, 32, 35, 36, 37, 43, 45, 46, 47, 201, 203, 205, 206, 208, 214, 215, 216, 218, 221, 222, 229, 235, 239, 251, 300, 302, 502, 600 K600、603、604、K605、606、608、609、611、612、K618、 622, You 7, You 8 (610) and other routes all have stops at or near the "Bell Tower".

Best travel time
Both inside and outside the clock tower can be visited, and the night view is particularly famous. It is suitable for all seasons, but the best time is around the evening on clear weather.
Spring and Autumn Golden Season (March May, September November): The climate is comfortable, the sky is transparent, and whether you are looking up from high or shooting at night, the experience is the best.
Summer cooling season (June August): It is hot during the day, but at night the square is cool with a refreshing breeze, and the night scene is full of activities. Be careful to avoid climbing during the noon period on extremely hot days.
Winter quiet season (December February): There are relatively few tourists, and if it clears up after encountering snow, the snow scenery of the ancient city has a unique charm. The opening hours may be slightly adjusted, please pay attention to keeping warm.

Accommodation options
Clock Tower Core Area (preferred):
High end hotels: Xi'an Bell Tower Hotel, Xi'an Sofitel Legend Hotel, etc. Some rooms offer direct panoramic views of the Bell Tower, with unparalleled geographical location.
Featured homestays and boutique hotels: located in the alleys of Zhonglou East, West, North, and South Streets, with a variety of choices, making travel, dining, and sightseeing extremely convenient.
Along the subway line (a cost-effective option):
Hotels along Metro Line 2: From Longshouyuan to the Convention and Exhibition Center Station, there are a large number of hotels of different levels along the line. It is a wise choice to balance budget and convenience by taking the subway 2-4 stops to reach the Bell Tower.

IntoTravelChina accommodation booking recommendations:
We strongly recommend planning your itinerary at least 1-2 weeks in advance and booking accommodation around the clock tower, especially during holidays and summer when hotels in the core area are in high demand. By booking with us, not only can you get real-time room availability and the best prices, but you can also package and plan accommodation, scenic spot tickets, and specialty dining experiences, often receiving combined discounts and ensuring seamless travel. Tell us your budget and needs, and we will match you with the most suitable accommodation in the heart of the ancient city. >>Click to contact IntoTravelChina travel consultant

The Bell Tower is the absolute starting point for tourism in Xi'an, where one can easily radiate to various iconic attractions of the ancient city.

The core line of the classic 3-day ancient capital: Day1: Bell and Drum Tower, Huimin Street, Beilin Museum, ancient city wall → Day2: Shaanxi History Museum, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Paradise Garden, Tang Never Sleeping City → Day3: Terra Cotta Warriors of the First Emperor of Qin Dynasty, Huaqing Palace. This is a perfect journey from city center landmarks to Tang Dynasty culture, and then to world wonders. 

Beijing Xi'an 6-day Ancient Capital essence Link Tour: Beijing (Tiananmen Gate, Forbidden City, Great Wall, Temple of Heaven) → Xi'an (Terra Cotta Warriors, Ancient City Wall, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, Tang Dynasty Sleepless City). This is a classic journey through two cities, from the royal palaces of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties and the Great Wall, to the underground military formations of the Qin and Han dynasties and the light and shadow of the prosperous Tang dynasty. >>View the 6-day Beijing Xi'an Ancient Capital Connection Tour Route

The story of Xi'an Bell Tower is related to the measurement of time, the changes of the city, and the inheritance of civilization. IntoTravelChina is dedicated to creating a deep, personalized, and worry free travel experience in China. Our travel experts can assist you with:
Tailored itinerary: according to your interests and time, design a perfect route starting from the Bell Tower and covering all the essence of Xi'an and its surrounding areas.
One stop service: handle all tickets, special accommodations, transportation connections, professional tour guides, and event reservations.
Exclusive experience: arrange lectures from ancient architecture experts, guide the best photography time slots, book old brand restaurants, etc.
Make your journey of the clock tower not just about climbing high to enjoy the scenery, but also a deep cultural experience of understanding the ancient city's context.
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