Peng Gao
Quick Look: What's Inside
Let me be blunt. You don't need half a day here. I've watched people climb those stairs, look around for 10 minutes, and then wonder what to do next. The Xi'an Bell Tower is iconic—but it's a single structure. Here's the real deal: 45 minutes is plenty. That includes queuing, climbing, photos, and soaking in the view. But the trick is knowing when to go and how to avoid the tourist traps around it. I've been guiding groups up this tower for years, and I've seen every mistake in the book. Let me save you time and frustration.
The Short Answer: 45 Minutes
Under normal circumstances (no holidays, no rain), plan for 45 minutes total from arrival to exit. Break it down:
- Buying tickets or scanning QR: 5 minutes (if you prepaid – more on that below)
- Climbing the stairs: 3–5 minutes (slow if crowded)
- Inside exhibitions & bell: 10 minutes
- Photos from the top: 15–20 minutes (sunset lighting is addictive)
- Coming down and browsing the small shop: 5 minutes
If you're the type who likes to linger, add 10 minutes. But honestly? The best part isn't inside—it's the view of the four main avenues stretching out like a compass. That you can soak up in 10 minutes of turning around.
Why Most Guides Are Wrong
I see blog posts saying “allow 1–2 hours.” That's nonsense for a standalone visit. Those extra hours are typically wasted standing around wondering what else to do. The Bell Tower is not a museum. It's a historic landmark with a small collection of ancient bells and a few plaques. The main draw is the architecture and the panoramic city view. Once you've done a full circle at the top, you're pretty much done.
But here's the catch—most first-time visitors don't realize they can see the Drum Tower from the top of the Bell Tower. That saves you a separate climb. Make sure to spot it to the west. If you really want to go inside the Drum Tower, I'd allocate another 30 minutes max. More on combining them later.
Ticket & Hours: Beat the WeChat Mess
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Adult ticket | 30 RMB (cash or WeChat) |
| Student ticket | 15 RMB (with valid ID) |
| Senior (65+) | Free (with passport) |
| Children under 1.2m | Free |
| Opening hours (peak Apr–Oct) | 8:30–21:30 (last entry 21:00) |
| Opening hours (off-peak Nov–Mar) | 8:30–18:00 (last entry 17:30) |
| Closed days | None, but sometimes closed during extreme weather |
Best Time to Visit: Light, Crowds & My Go-To Slot
This is where I earn my pay. Never go at noon. The sun is directly overhead, shadows vanish, and your photos will look flat. Plus the heat in summer is brutal—the tower has no AC. I've seen tourists dripping sweat on the stairs.
My sweet spot: 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM (summer) or 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM (winter). You get golden hour lighting on the city below, the temperature is dropping, and the crowds from lunchtime have thinned. If you're after the best photos, aim for the hour before sunset. The brick paths glow warm. And you'll see locals doing tai chi in the square below—such a bonus.
How to Get There: Metro Exit C or Didi Trick
Metro (subway): Line 2 to Zhonglou station. Take Exit C. You'll pop out right at the foot of the tower. Walk 30 seconds to the ticket office. Easy.
Didi (ride-hailing): If you're coming from the Muslim Quarter or city wall, it's about 10–15 RMB. But tell the driver “Zhonglou Dongnankou” (Bell Tower Southeast Entrance). Reason: the main drop-off circle is a nightmare for traffic. The southeast entrance is a side street with less crowd. I always use this to avoid the hawkers.
What to See Inside (Don't Rush)
The tower has three levels accessible by stairs (no elevator). Highlights:
- The giant bell (Jingyun Bell): On the first floor. It's a replica—the original is in a museum. Still impressive. You can pay 5 RMB to ring it. Skip if you hate noise.
- Wood carving murals: Second floor has some intricate panels showing ancient Xi'an. Interesting for 5 minutes.
- The view from the top: Third floor outdoor platform. Walk the full circle. Look east to see the old city wall, west to see the Drum Tower. South leads to the ancient city gate. North is the busy commercial street.
I once had a couple spend 45 minutes just on the platform taking photos with different poses. That's fine. But know that the exhibitions are sparse. The main content is the structure itself.
Combining with Drum Tower: The Smart Duo
Most tourists visit both towers on the same ticket. You can buy a combo ticket for 50 RMB. The Drum Tower is a 5-minute walk west. If you do both, allocate 1.5 hours total. But here's what I tell my groups: the Drum Tower has a drum show every hour (last one at 17:00). If you time it right, you can catch that. The Bell Tower's bell show is less regular. So do Drum Tower first for the show, then Bell Tower for sunset photos. Reverse if the timing works.
Example schedule:
- 4:00 PM – Arrive at Drum Tower, catch the 4:00 show, explore 30 min
- 4:35 PM – Walk to Bell Tower, buy combo ticket if not already
- 4:45 PM – Climb Bell Tower, enjoy golden hour light
- 5:30 PM – Descend, explore the square (free)
Plan B for Bad Weather
If it's raining heavily or smoggy, skip the climb. You won't see the view. Instead, spend that time at the Shaanxi History Museum (book ahead!) or the Muslim Quarter for food. The Bell Tower looks good from the outside too—just walk around the base. That takes 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Only if you buy at the counter with cash. The WeChat mini-program doesn't accept foreign cards. I always advise bringing 50–100 RMB in cash for small purchases like tickets and snacks. Most hotels can change money.
Unfortunately no. There are about 60 steps to the top, with no ramp or elevator. Wheelchair users can enjoy the ground floor exhibitions and the view from the base square. The plaza is smooth and accessible.
10–15 minutes. You can walk around the four sides, snap the classic shots, and leave. The best external photo spot is the southeast corner where the traffic circle creates a nice leading line. No ticket needed for external photos.
Only if you're visiting during peak season (May or October). Otherwise, buying on the day is fine. The combo ticket is 50 RMB and you can buy it at either tower's ticket window.
There are English plaques next to most exhibits, but no audio guide. I suggest reading a bit about the tower history beforehand on Wikipedia. That makes the visit more meaningful. Or just follow my group chatter if you bump into me.
Verified and fact-checked by the editorial team. All prices and hours were accurate at the time of writing.
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