The city’s central landmark, the Bell Tower originally held a large bell that was rung at dawn while the drums at the nearby Drum Tower were sounded at dusk. Xi’an’s major and most prosperous streets stretch out in four directions from the Bell Tower. Musical performances are held inside the Bell Tower in the mornings and early afternoons.
Located 100 meters (109 yards) south to the bell tower, the drum tower was placed on a 4-meter-high (13 feet) stone and brick base. It is 46.7 meters (153 feet) high, a little bit lower than the bell tower that is 47.9 meters high (157 feet). This tower is also a two-storey building; the first floor contains the China Committee for the Promotion of the Minority Art. The second floor contains the exhibition area. Originally, there was one big drum and 24 smaller drums, but only the big drum remains. The method of beating the drum is to beat it quickly for 18 times and then slowly for 18 times. Altogether there are three rounds and 108 tollings.
The Bell Tower (Zhong Lóu) is a huge building situated in the very heart of Xian. The original tower was built in the late 14th century and the present construction was built in 1582 and restored in 1739 during the Qing Dynasty. A huge iron bell hanging on the roof of the tower was traditionally used to tell the time each day. The Tower can only be accessed from the underground subway on Bei Dajie (North Street) where visitors must buy tickets for entry.
Drum Tower
Drum towers has been flourishing since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), when they were just standing behind the imperial palace. It was the busy downtown district there then, full of storefronts and businesses. Thanks to the further developing of the businesses, the street in front of the drum tower became the busiest shopping street in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) Dynasties. During the Republican Period of China (1911-1949), many have-nots (impoverished people), along with merchants selling handcrafted items (handicraftsmen) and vendors selling snacks and local food items (snack stands) swarmed the place between the bell and drum towers, which attracted people from all walks of life at that time.
Not far from the Bell Tower is the Drum Tower. This is a smaller building situated at the entrance to the city’s Muslim Quarter - a lively street filled with street traders and hawkers. The Drum Tower was built in 1380 during the Ming Dynasty, and served to indicate the time at dusk. The Drum Tower provides a unique view of the Muslim Quarter rooftops and on the second floor, cultures meet in an exhibit of Buddhist artwork and antiques from the Qing and Tang Dynasty.
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