Xi'an Bell Tower
The Bell Tower in Xi'an is a relatively large and well - preserved bell tower in China. It was first built in the 17th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty (1384 AD). The Bell Tower is located in the center of Xi'an and is one of the landmarks of the ancient city. Centered around it, four main streets - East Street, South Street, West Street, and North Street - radiate out and connect with the east, south, west, and north gates of the Xi'an City Wall respectively.
Xi'an's Drum Tower was originally on Guangji Street in the west. As the city center shifted eastward, in the 10th year of the Wanli reign of Emperor Shenzong of the Ming Dynasty (1582), the Bell Tower was moved to its current location, which is to the east of the Drum Tower.
The Bell Tower represents a typical architectural style of the Ming Dynasty. The lower part is a square base made of brick and stone, and the top has a triple - eave pyramidal roof structure with four sides, covered with dark - green glazed tiles. The spire is wrapped in real gold foil. There are gateways about 6 meters high in the middle of each side of the base, and these gateways are interconnected. In the past, they were the intersection of the four main streets (East, South, West, and North Streets), and people and vehicles passed through them. Now, the gateways are closed, and there is a roundabout around the base, with an underground passage for pedestrians. The entrance to the Bell Tower is inside this underground passage, and there are spiral stairs leading to the tower.
There is a replica of the "Jingyun Bell" inside the Bell Tower. The original bell was cast in the second year of the Jingyun reign of Emperor Ruizong of the Tang Dynasty (711 AD) and is now collected in the Xi'an Beilin Museum. Standing on the Bell Tower, one can see the four main streets (East, South, West, and North Streets) extending from it. Around the Bell Tower, there are bustling commercial areas in Xi'an and the Drum Tower not far away.
When visiting the Bell Tower, tourists can also enjoy wonderful ancient - themed performances. There are 6 performances during the day, and the specific performance times can be found on the official website. Between the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower is the Bell and Drum Tower Square, which has a musical fountain.
-
Overview
Info
Review
