Hong Ma
Quick Jump: What You'll Need
I've guided over 200 groups to this landmark — and trust me, most people waste the first hour. The Bell Tower isn't complicated, but the little things kill your experience: ticket lines, blinding midday glare, and the wrong entrance. Let me fix that for you.
Here's the blunt truth: Go at 4:30 PM, buy tickets on your phone through a specific mini-program, and enter from the northwest staircase. That single time slot saves you 30 minutes of queueing and gives you golden light for photos. Read on for the exact steps — no fluff.
Why Most Tourists Get the Timing Wrong
Every travel site says "early morning or late afternoon." But they don't tell you why. Here's the reality check: from 10 AM to 2 PM, the sun blasts directly onto the south facade, making photos terrible and the climb sticky-hot. Plus, tour buses arrive in waves around 10:30 AM. I once counted 12 groups lining up at once — the queue stretched to the street.
Another thing no one mentions: the Bell Tower closes at 9 PM in summer (last entry 8:30), but the ticket office stops selling physical tickets 30 minutes before that. So don't show up at 8 PM expecting to buy on-site. You'll need the digital route I'm about to give you.
Step-by-Step: How to Enter the Bell Tower
Buying Tickets Without WeChat Pain
Yes, the official ticketing runs through a WeChat mini-program that's only in Chinese. It's a headache even for me — I've seen foreigners stuck at the gate refreshing their phones. Here's the workaround:
- Skip the on-site booth unless you have exact RMB cash (credit cards almost never work there).
- Use Trip.com (English app) — I've tested it myself. Select your date, pay with any international card, and show the QR code at the entrance. Confirmation takes 2 minutes.
- Or ask your hotel reception to buy it for you via their WeChat. Tianyu Hotel on West Street does this for guests — just tip the front desk 10 yuan.
| Ticket Type | Price (RMB) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (Bell Tower only) | 30 | No discount for online vs on-site |
| Student (valid ID) | 15 | Must show international student card at gate |
| Child (under 1.2m) | Free | No ticket needed; accompany adult |
| Combined Bell & Drum Tower | 50 | Valid for 2 days — highly recommended |
Choosing the Right Entrance
The Bell Tower sits in a massive roundabout with four underground passages leading to the base. Most tourists follow signs and end up at the south entrance — which has the longest queue. Here's the trick:
- Subway entrance: Take Xi'an Metro Line 2 to Bell Tower Station, Exit C. That drops you directly at the north underground passage. Walk 50 meters and you'll see a small staircase labelled "Northwest Entrance" — almost nobody uses it. I've walked straight in with zero wait at 5 PM.
- If you're coming from the Drum Tower side: Don't cross the street at ground level (you'll hit traffic). Use the underground walkway near Starbucks at the southeast corner. Follow the yellow floor stickers saying "Bell Tower →" — it leads to the east entrance, which is also less crowded than south.
What to See Inside (and What to Skip)
The Bell Tower is smaller than you expect — three floors, about 36 meters high. Most visitors finish in 30 minutes. But to make it worth the ticket, focus on these two things:
The bronze bell on the 2nd floor. Yes, it's a replica (the original is in the museum). But at 10 AM and 4 PM, a performer strikes it — the deep resonance vibrates through the whole tower. I always time my group for 4 PM; it's less crowded and the sound bounces beautifully off the wooden ceiling.
The 3rd floor observation deck. This is where the magic happens. You get a 360° view of Xi'an's concentric city walls. The north side looks directly down the Muslim Quarter's rooftop maze — best angle, in my opinion. Skip the small exhibition rooms on the 1st floor (just old photos and replica pottery). Most people waste 15 minutes there.
Best Photo Spots Around the Bell Tower
You don't have to climb the tower for the iconic shot. Here are three locations I use for my clients:
- Southwest corner of the roundabout (ground level): Stand near the bicycle parking lot. Use a wide-angle lens to capture the tower with the evening sky. Best at 6 PM in spring/autumn — the light hits the golden roof trim perfectly.
- KFC on Dong Dajie (2nd floor window): I'm serious. Go to KFC on East Street, order a drink, sit by the window facing the tower. The glass gives a clean reflection, and you avoid the jostling crowd. I've taken some of my best shots there.
- Bell Tower Underground Passage, Exit D: This exit has a glass ceiling that frames the tower above. Crouch down and shoot upward — the geometric lines are stunning. It's also empty after 8 PM.
Combining with the Drum Tower and Muslim Quarter
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are only 300 meters apart — you can literally see one from the other. But walking there at noon under the sun is a mistake I see every day. Here's my recommended half-day route:
| Time | Activity | Transport & Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4:00 PM | Enter Bell Tower (northwest entrance) | Buy combo ticket on Trip.com (50 RMB) |
| 4:15 PM | Walk up to 3rd floor deck, take photos | Spend 15 minutes max |
| 4:40 PM | Bell performance on 2nd floor | If you miss it, don't wait — just move on |
| 5:00 PM | Walk to Drum Tower (8 min via underground passage) | Follow signs "Drum Tower West" — go through the Muslim Quarter street, not the main road |
| 5:15 PM | Climb Drum Tower (last entry 5:30) | The drum shows are at 3 PM & 5 PM — try to catch the 5 PM one |
| 6:00 PM | Explore Muslim Quarter food street | Start from the Drum Tower square — street food stalls open around 5:30 |
One more thing: the Muslim Quarter gets insanely crowded after 7 PM. If you're not into crowds, skip the food street and head to Da Qifang (a quieter lane parallel to the main street, one block west) — same food, half the hassle.
FAQ for First-Time Visitors
This content has been fact-checked to ensure informational precision. All prices are accurate at the time of research and may vary slightly by season.
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