The Bell Tower, built in 1384 during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), is located at the crossing of the east, west, north and south avenues of central Xi’an. It is called this because of the suspended bell in the tower.

Xi'an Bell Tower in daytime

Xi’an was a national military city in the Ming Dynasty, so the Bell Tower is the best of this kind of towers as far as construction scale, historic value and artistic value are concerned.

Xi'an Bell Tower at night

The Bell Tower is constructed upon a rectangular base, and made of bricks and wood. With a height of 36m, and a base of 8.6m, it occupies 1,377.4 sq m. Visitors may climb up the tower via a spiral staircase. Many top officials at home and abroad, such as Zhou Enlai and Zhu De, both founders of People’s Republic of China, have climbed the tower.

Since 1949, the Bell Tower has been a platform for parades and celebrations.