Have you ever heard the sound of " the morning bell " and " the dusk drum " in China? You can see these dual towers in many ancient cities of China that have existed since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), among which the most well-preserved and best-known are the Bell and Drum Towers in Xi'an.
The Bell Tower in Xi'an was originally built in the Yingxiang Temple in 1384, at the intersection of West Street and Guangji Street. Then in 1582, it was moved to its present pivotal position, in the very heart of the city at the junction of four main streets extending to the east, south, west and north, for rebuilding and later restorations.

With magnificent carved beams and painted rafters, this classical building is truly elegant. The square base of the tower has an area of 1377.4 square meters, 35.5 meters wide and 8.6 meters high. It was laid entirely in blue bricks. The whole building, 36 meters high overall, is a triple-eaved, two-storey structure, built with a mixture of bricks and wood. Under the eaves, there is a beautifully decorated, colored "dougong " (archway). It's the only characteristic of Chinese wooden architecture depicted here. An enormous ancient bell left by the Ming Dynasty is displayed on the northwest corner of the tower. It was once used for telling time by being struck at dawn.

   

To the northwest of the Bell Tower, across from the Bell Tower and Drum Tower Square, the Drum Tower is located at the end of a lively street in the Muslim Quarter.

Four years older than the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower was built in 1380, so has more than 600 years of history. According to legend, in ancient times there once hung a drum for telling time. The drum was struck at dusk, hence the name "Drum Tower".

With an area of 1,924 square meters, the Drum Tower appears rectangular in shape, 52.6 meters long, 38 meters wide and 7.7 meters high. Like the Bell Tower, it's also a triple-eaved, two-storey structure. The main difference between them is that the roof of the Drum Tower was covered with glazed bricks. In addition, there are antique shops set on it, where tourists can both sightsee and shop.

Standing at the city centre, the Bell and Drum Towers witness and record the history of northwest China and are prominent landmarks of Xi'an.