The Bell Tower

The Bell Tower, which is a stately traditional building, marks the geographical center of the ancient capital. From this important landmark extend East, South, West and North Streets, connecting the Tower to the East, South, West and North Gates of the City Wall of the Ming Dynasty.



Photo by Shirley Zhang
I took it by myself on January, 2009

The Bell Tower is a classic building with carved beams and painted rafters, has been served as the symbol of Xi’an. It stands in the center of the downtown area where the north street, the south street, the west street and the east street meet. When you are stanging on the Bell Tower, you will see the layout of the whole city, it just looks like a square. In the tower house  there is a huge bell which in ancient times was use to strike the time every morning. This is how the tower got its name. Now it is an important historical monument in shaanxi Province. 

The base of the tower is 1,337.4 square meters in size, 8.6 meters high and 35.5 meters wide. It was laid with blue bricks all over. The whole building is 36 meters above ground. It is a brick-and –wood structure. The eaves are supported by colored “dou gong” a traditional structural system in which brackets are used to join columns and crossbeams, the use of dou gong made the whole building firm and beautiful.

Photo by Shirley Zhang
I took it by myself on January, 2009

A fenced-in area around the tower is planted with grass and flowers. In early spring, the tender plum blossoms and bright new grass surrounding the old tower provide a harmonious contrast. Not far from the Tower, modern shopping malls and a brightly decorated square reveal the prosperity of the city. When night falls, lanterns hung from the eaves illuminate the tower, making it even more enchanting.

The Bell Tower definitely deserves a visit on your trip to Xian.