# Bell Tower and Drum Tower (钟楼、鼓楼)

Xi'an, Shaanxi Province · Northwest, China · Guidebook rating: 4/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bell-tower-and-drum-tower
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** Drum Tower ¥30; Bell Tower ¥30; combined Bell and Drum Towers ticket ¥50
- **Opening hours:** 8:30–21:30 (peak season); 8:30–18:00 (off-season)
- **Time needed:** 1 hour
- **Getting there:** Near Bell Tower bus stop, Bell Tower West bus stop and Bell Tower subway station
- **Good for:** History & Culture, Architecture

## About Bell Tower and Drum Tower

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower stand facing each other and are known together as the “Sister Towers”. Both were built in the Ming dynasty and are more than 600 years old. In ancient times, time was announced by the “morning bell and evening drum”. The Bell Tower houses a huge bell and preserves many ancient chime bells, while the Drum Tower holds a large drum covered with a single cowhide. Visitors can try striking the bell or the drum when they climb up.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Drum Tower chime bell and drum performance times: 9:30, 10:15, 11:00, 11:45, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 641. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.