Drum and Bell Towers Square
Xian's city center was a rather pleasant surprise. Although, in ancient times it was known as Chang'an, the capital of China, that had been more than a thousand years earlier. However, instead of the little provincial town, we found a bustling metropolis with as cosmopolitan flair. The streets and the shopping area around the city center are lively.
Bell Tower
The Bell Tower of Xi'an stands at the centre of the city with four main streets radiating from it in four directions linking the four gates in the city wall. It was built in 1384 and is 36 meters high. Originally a huge bell hanging beneath its roof served to give battle signals for the city's defence system. The tower has a 6-metre high archway on each side and a circular staircase leads to the top story. Opening hours: 9:00 - 17:00
Admission: 27 Yuan, US 3.8)Today, the Tower can only be accessed from the entrance on Bei Dajie where visitors must also buy their tickets.
The Bell Tower is located in the center of downtown area where the North Street (Bei Dajie), the South Street (Nan Dajie), the East Street (Dong Dajie) and the West Street (Xi Dajie) join. It was first built in Yingxiang Temple in 1384, to mark the center of the city. As a result of the city's expansion, it was shifted to its present site in 1582. It used to hold a sizable bell to strike time every morning.
The Bell Tower has a classical structure with carved beams and painted rafters. It is 36 meters above ground. The base of the Bell Tower is 1,337.4 square meters in size, 8.6 meters high and 35.5 meters wide. It is a brick-and-wood structure, with its eaves supported by colored dou gong, a traditional structure unique to ancient china. The dou gong structure, which originated in the Shang Dynasty (1600-1100 B.C), helps to consolidate the whole building and make it look beautiful.
The tower was built in 1384 by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang as a way to dominate the surrounding countryside and provide early warning of attack by rival rulers.
The tower has three layers of eaves but only two stories. Inside, a staircase spirals up. The grey bricks of the square base, the dark green glazed tiles on the eaves, gold-plating on the roof and gilded color painting make the tower a colorful and dramatic masterpiece of Ming-style architecture. In addition to enhancing the beauty of the building, the three layers of eaves reduce the impact of rain on the building.
On the second floor, a plaque set in the west wall records the relocation of the tower in 1582. When it was first built in 1384, it stood near the Drum Tower on the central axis of the city, and continued to mark the center of the city since Tang Dynasty and the following the Five Dynasties and the Song and Yuan Dynasties. As the city grew, however, the geographical center changed. Therefore, in 1582, the Tower was moved 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) east of the original site. Except for the base, all parts are original, and history tells us that the relocation was accomplished quickly and inexpensively, making it a truly notable achievement in the architectural history in China.
Originally, the northwest corner of the tower housed the famous Jingyun Bell from the Tang Dynasty. Legend has it that although nothing had changed in the tower, the Jingyun Bell fell silent during the Ming Dynasty, so the current bell, a much smaller one weighing only 5 tons, was cast. The original Jingyun Bell can now be seen in Forest of Stone Steles Museum.
The engravings on the doors of the Tower reflect the decorative fashion of Ming and Qing Dynasties, recounting popular stories of ancient China.
On each side of the base, there is an arched door 6 meters (19.6feet) high. In the past, vehicles were allowed to pass through the arches and under the tower, but as the city has grown the volume of traffic has become too great, so a bright, spacious pedestrian subway has been constructed under the tower. The entrance to the tower is from this subway.
A fenced-in area around the tower is planted with grass and flowers. In early spring, the tender plum blossoms and bright new grass surrounding the old tower provide a harmonious contrast. Not far from the Tower, modern shopping malls and a brightly decorated square reveal the prosperity of the city. When night falls, lanterns hung from the eaves illuminate the tower, making it even more enchanting.
The Bell Tower definitely deserves a visit on your trip to Xian.
About 500 meters northwest of the Bell Tower stands another magnificent building, the Drum Tower. Built in 1380, it used to house a huge drum to tell the time at dusk. The base of the Drum Tower is 1,924 square meters, and its height is 34 meters.
Both the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower were listed as cultural relics under the municipal-level protection. With the two towers rivaling each other, the ancient city of Xi'an is more beautiful and spectacular than ever before.
The Drum Tower
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The Drum Tower is on the northern side of the western street in the city. It was built in 1380 (the 13th year of Ming Hongwu Era), and were rebuilt in 1699 (the 38th year of the Qing Kangxi Era) and in 1740 (the 5th year of the Qing Qianlong Era). It's named as the Drum Tower because of the big drum placed on the tower, which was hit at dusk everyday for giving the correct time.
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To the west of the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower. This is a smaller building, situated in a lively street which is filled with street traders and hawkers. This tower marks the entrance to the city's Muslim Quarter which is a lovely area to wander and observe. the feeling here is almost of a "city within a city" and the streets around this district heading up to the Mosque are like a small village crammed with people selling all kinds of weird and wonderful things.
| Admission Fee: |
CNY 27
CNY 40 for Bell Tower and Drum Tower |
| Opening Hours: |
08:00 to 18:00 |
| Recommended Time for a Visit: |
One hour |
Other Surrounding Scenic Spots:
huashan Private Tour:
