Muslim Quarter
Xi’an, China
Bell and Drum Towers, Xi’an
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Photo: H2v5o68z, CC0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Entry
- ¥30 per tower, ¥50 for both
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours, 11 October–31 March
- 8:30–18:00, last ticket check 17:30
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 1 h
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- One tower
- ¥30
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Combined ticket
- ¥50 according to travel guides; not found on official pages
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - While the halls are being renovated
- ¥15 per tower: indoor halls closed, upper gallery open
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator. - Discounts
- Students half price; children under 6 or under 1.2 m and over-65s free (according to guides)
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours, 1 April–10 October
- 8:30–21:30, last entry 21:00; guides differ on the start date
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Performances
- Several short bell and drum concerts a day; published schedules disagree — check the board at the entrance
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Night lighting
- Both towers are floodlit in the evening; no official switch-on time
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Paying
- Cash, or Alipay / WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Metro
- Lines 2 and 6, Zhonglou (钟楼) station — right under the tower
- Phone
- Bell Tower 029-87276420, Drum Tower 029-87278797
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Confirmed by an official source: the venue, a ministry or the operator.
Key facts
¥30standard price for one tower; about ¥50 for both on a combined ticket
2 sourcesi
Xi’an Bell and Drum Towers Museum, season noticeEast China Trip, China Tripedia1384the Bell Tower was built, early in the Ming dynasty
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English, Chinese and Russian Wikipedia1380the Drum Tower was built — four years before its neighbour
2 sourcesi
Chinese and English WikipediaEast China Trip1582the Bell Tower moved to its present site; only the base was new, the timber hall was reassembled from the original parts
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English and Chinese Wikipedia36 mheight of the Bell Tower, of which 8.6 m is the brick base
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Chinese and Russian Wikipedia34 mheight of the Drum Tower
2 sourcesi
East China TripVisit Our China1,377 m²footprint of the Bell Tower’s base, 35.5 m a side
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Chinese, English and Russian Wikipedia52.6 × 38 mthe Drum Tower’s base, 7.7 m high, with an arch running through it
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Russian WikipediaVisit Our China24 drumson the Drum Tower terrace, one for each of the 24 solar terms of the Chinese calendar
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English and Chinese Wikipedia711the Jingyun Bell was cast; the original has been in the Stele Forest since 1953, the tower has a 1997 replica
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English and Chinese WikipediaChina Tripedia≈ 330 mbetween the towers in a straight line, across Bell and Drum Tower Square
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YesGo calculation from Wikipedia coordinatesXi’an Bell and Drum Tower tickets: single or combined?
The standard price is ¥30 per tower. Travel guides consistently list a combined ticket for ¥50, which saves ¥10 and a second queue. We couldn’t find the combined price on the museum’s own pages, so treat it as unofficial. Students pay half: ¥15 for one tower, ¥30 for both.
According to the same guides, children under 6 or under 1.2 m with an adult, and visitors over 65, go free. While the halls are being renovated the museum has cut the single-tower price to ¥15; the old price returns when the halls reopen.
Buy at the ticket office on the day or in the WeChat or Alipay mini-programs. Bring your passport — tickets are issued in your name. Pay in cash or with Alipay or WeChat Pay linked to a foreign card, which is what works for most foreign visitors in China. You can walk around the base of the Bell Tower for free; the ticket gate is at the foot of the stairs.
Opening hours in winter and summer
From 11 October to 31 March the towers open 8:30–18:00, with the last ticket check at 17:30 — that’s from the museum’s own notice. From 1 April to 10 October, according to travel guides, they stay open until 21:30, last entry 21:00. One guide says combined tickets stop selling earlier — 16:30 in winter, 20:00 in summer — so don’t leave it late.
There is no weekly closing day. Guides say summer hours also apply over Chinese New Year and the May Day holiday.
In summer this is one of the few sights in Xi’an you can climb after dark: the roundabout and the four avenues are lit up below you and the tower itself glows. In winter you only see the lights from outside — the towers have closed by nightfall.
Bell and drum performance times
Both towers hold short concerts several times a day: on a set of bronze chime bells in the Bell Tower, on drums in the Drum Tower. Each lasts 10–15 minutes and is included in the ticket.
We found no official timetable, and the guides don’t agree. For the Bell Tower they list either 9:00, 10:30, 11:30, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00, or 9:10, 10:30, 11:30, 14:30, 15:30 and 16:30; for the Drum Tower, shows between 9:00 and 17:00 with a lunch break. The day’s schedule is posted at each entrance — check it and go up ten minutes early to stand near the musicians.
While the halls are closed for renovation the concerts may be paused; the museum’s notice doesn’t mention them.
How to get to the Bell and Drum Towers
Tap a route to highlight it on the map.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
On foot
- Muslim Quarter is about 11 min away on foot.
- Great Mosque of Xi’an is about 12 min away on foot.
- Xi’an City Wall is about 17 min away on foot.
More tips
- Take metro Line 2 or Line 6 to Zhonglou (钟楼, “Bell Tower”) — the station sits right under the crossroads.
- From Xianyang Airport (XIY): Line 14 to Xi’an Beizhan (North Railway Station), then Line 2 south to Zhonglou — 75–90 minutes (unofficial).
- The Bell Tower stands in the middle of a roundabout with no street-level crossing. Follow the 钟楼 signs into the pedestrian underpass, which comes up at the tower’s base and the ticket office.
- After the Bell Tower, take the underpass to the north-west side and come up on Bell and Drum Tower Square.
- Walk west across the square — about 330 m, five minutes — to the Drum Tower.
- Go through the arch under the Drum Tower: Beiyuanmen street and the Muslim Quarter start right behind it.
- By taxi or DiDi, show 西安钟楼 (Bell Tower) or 西安鼓楼 (Drum Tower). Google Maps doesn’t work in China without a VPN, so save the Chinese names.
Is it worth going inside?
On a first visit to Xi’an, yes — just keep expectations modest. In an hour you get two Ming towers, a short concert and a view over the centre from the gallery. The halls are small, and the towers arguably look better from outside than from inside.
Short on time? Pick the Bell Tower: it sits on the axis of the four main avenues, and you see the Drum Tower from its gallery. The Drum Tower can then be enjoyed from the square on your way into the Muslim Quarter.
In summer the best time to climb is after dinner in the Quarter: the towers are lit, the heat has gone, and they stay open until 21:30. In winter go in daylight and come back to the square after dark for the floodlights — that costs nothing.
What were the towers for?
They were the clocks of Ming-dynasty Xi’an: the bell woke the city in the morning, the drum marked the end of the day, when the gates shut and the night watch went out. Today both are a museum and the city’s favourite postcard, standing right in the centre inside the city wall.
The Bell Tower (钟楼, Zhonglou) went up in 1384 near Guangji Street, about a kilometre west of where it stands now. As the city shifted east, it was moved in 1582 to the meeting point of the four main avenues — East, West, South and North Street. Only the base was rebuilt; the timber hall was reassembled from the original parts. It rises 36 m, with a triple-eaved roof of green glazed tiles and a gilded finial.
The Drum Tower (鼓楼, Gulou) is four years older, from 1380. At 34 m it is a little lower but longer at the base — 52.6 by 38 m, with an arch running through. Boards on two sides read 文武盛地 and 声闻于天; today’s boards are replacements for lost originals.
What to see
- The Bell Tower’s upper gallery — views down all four avenues towards the city gates, and across to the Drum Tower.
- The Jingyun Bell replica at the north-west corner of the Bell Tower base; the original was cast in 711 and has been in the Stele Forest since 1953.
- Carved doors of the Bell Tower — every panel shows a scene from Chinese legend or history.
- The Wentian Drum in the Drum Tower, made in 1996 as the largest cowhide drum of its day.
- The 24 solar-term drums on the Drum Tower terrace, each named after one of the 24 periods of the traditional calendar.
- A bell or drum concert — 10–15 minutes, times on the board at the entrance.
- The square between the towers — both in one view, free, and best in the evening.
Bell Tower or Drum Tower: which to climb
| Bell Toweryou are here | 1384, moved in 1582 | 36 m | Middle of the roundabout, entry via underpass | Chime bells, Jingyun Bell replica | ¥30 | Four avenues to the gates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drum Tower | 1380 | 34 m | On the square, at the gate to the Muslim Quarter | Wentian Drum and the 24 solar-term drums | ¥30 | The square and Quarter rooftops |
Guides list a combined ticket at ¥50. If you only do one, the Bell Tower has the better view; the Drum Tower has the drums and is on your way to the Muslim Quarter.
Before you go: checklist
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Xi’an history sights compared
Historic places in Xi’an rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Terracotta Army | 51 | 3 h | ¥120, passport booking ahead | 33.4 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Mosque of Xi’an | 44 | 45 min | ¥25, ¥15 in winter; Muslims free | 10 min walk |
| Muslim Quarter | 42 | 1 h 30 min | Free | 7 min walk |
| Giant Wild Goose Pagoda | 41 | 1 h | ≈ ¥10; pagoda climb ≈ ¥25 extra | 4.8 km |
| Small Wild Goose Pagoda | 41 | 1 h | Free | 40 min walk |
| Bell and Drum Towersyou are here | 39 | 1 h | ¥30 per tower, ¥50 for both | — |
| Xi’an City Wall | 35 | 2 h | ¥54, bike ¥45 / 3 hours | 15 min walk |
| Shaanxi History Museum | 35 | 2 h 30 min | Free | 4.1 km |
| Mount Hua | 26 | 4 h | ¥160; cable cars ¥80–140 extra | 107.6 km |
Towers, Muslim Quarter and the city wall in half a day
Start at the Bell Tower, cross the square to the Drum Tower, eat in the Muslim Quarter, look into the Great Mosque and finish on the city wall. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Bell and Drum Towersyou are here1 h · ¥30 per tower, ¥50 for both
- 7 min walk from the previous stopMuslim Quarter1 h 30 min · Free, open 24 hours
- 4 min walk from the previous stopGreat Mosque of Xi’an45 min · ¥25, ¥15 in winter; Muslims free
- 21 min walk from the previous stopXi’an City Wall2 h · ¥54, bike ¥45 / 3 hours
4 places · about 5 h 47 min with walks · 32 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
How to do it right
- Doing both towers? The combined ticket is listed at ¥10 less than two singles.
- Bell Tower first, then the square and the Drum Tower — you finish at the gate of the Muslim Quarter in time for lunch or dinner.
- Use the underpass signs to pick your exit: you can’t cross the roundabout at street level.
- In summer climb in the evening — open until 21:30, cooler, and the city is lit up.
- The bell on the tower is a replica; see the 711 original in the Stele Forest.
- South Street runs straight from the Bell Tower to the South Gate of the city wall.
Questions
How much are tickets for the Xi’an Bell and Drum Towers?
Normally ¥30 per tower. Guides list a combined ticket for both at ¥50, ¥30 for students. While the halls are being renovated, the museum charges ¥15 per tower.
Is there a combined ticket?
Yes, according to travel guides it costs ¥50 for both towers. We couldn’t confirm it on official pages, so ask at the ticket office.
What are the opening hours?
11 October–31 March: 8:30–18:00, last ticket check 17:30. 1 April–10 October, according to guides: 8:30–21:30. Open every day.
What time are the drum and bell performances?
Several times a day, 10–15 minutes each. Guides give conflicting schedules, so check the board at each tower’s entrance.
How do I get to the Bell Tower?
Metro Line 2 or 6 to Zhonglou. Follow the signs into the underpass, which comes up at the base of the tower and the ticket office.
Can you visit the towers at night?
In summer, yes — until 21:30, last entry 21:00. In winter they close at 18:00, so you see the floodlights only from the square.
Is it worth going inside?
Once, yes, for the gallery view and a concert. If short on time, climb only the Bell Tower — you see the Drum Tower from it.
How long do you need?
About an hour for both towers with a concert; half a day with the Muslim Quarter and the Great Mosque.
Where exactly are the towers?
Right in the centre, inside the city wall. The Bell Tower stands in the roundabout where East, West, South and North Street meet; the Drum Tower is about 330 m west across the square.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. According to guides, children under 6 or under 1.2 m go free, and the drum concert is usually the highlight for them.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- Xi’an Bell and Drum Towers Museum (西安市钟鼓楼博物馆): notice of 30.09.2026 — winter hours, hall renovation, ¥15 during works and the standard ¥30, phone numbers (reprinted by Fenghuang, ifeng.com)
- China for Travelers (updated 24.08.2026), East China Trip (02.01.2026), China Tripedia, dahepiao.com — combined ticket, discounts, summer hours, performances
- English Wikipedia: Bell Tower of Xi'an, Drum Tower of Xi'an, Zhonglou station, Line 14 of Xi'an Metro, Xi'an Xianyang International Airport
- Chinese Wikipedia: 西安钟楼, 西安鼓楼; Russian Wikipedia: Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Xi'an; Wikidata Q1151087, Q2742315
- Visit Our China — Drum Tower dimensions
- YesGo China notes — payment for foreign visitors
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