Xi'an City Wall to Bell Tower: Best Route & Insider Tips

I've been guiding foreign friends around Xi'an for over a decade. Here's the catch: most tourists start at the South Gate, cycle the entire wall, then realize they have no idea how to reach the Bell Tower efficiently. You won't make that mistake after reading this.

In this article, I'll walk you through the exact route from Xi'an City Wall to Bell Tower, including ticket prices, rental bike tips, and how to skip the crowds. Let's jump in.

Why Combine the City Wall and Bell Tower?

These two landmarks sit right in the heart of Xi'an. The City Wall gives you a panoramic view of the ancient grid layout; the Bell Tower marks the city's center. Doing them together saves time and gives you a full vibe of old Xi'an. Most visitors take 3–4 hours for the wall (cycling) and 30–40 minutes at the Bell Tower. The walk between them is only 10–15 minutes.

Getting to the City Wall: Best Gates for Your Start

There are 18 gates, but only a few are good for tourists. I always tell my clients to avoid the North Gate — it's far from the Bell Tower and the surroundings are messy.

South Gate (Yongningmen) – The Most Popular

Address: South Gate of the wall, near Yongningmen Metro Station (Line 2, Exit A1).
Opening hours: 8:00–22:00 (last entry 21:30). Ticket: 54 CNY (adult), half price for students/seniors over 65. You can buy at the gate or via WeChat mini-program '西安城墙'. But pay attention: the WeChat booking is only in Chinese. For non-Chinese speakers, just buy on-site with cash or Alipay. International credit cards? Not accepted.

Insider warning: Morning crowds start around 10:00 AM. The security queue at the South Gate can take 20 minutes under direct sun. I always take my group to a less crowded entrance.

East Gate (Chang'emen) – A Local's Shortcut

Address: East Gate of the wall, 10 minutes walk from Hepingmen Metro Station (Line 4, Exit B). Same ticket and hours. This gate has almost no queue. The downside: fewer bike rentals available — they often run out of bikes by 2 PM on weekends. Still, if you want to avoid human traffic, come here.

Pro tip: If you plan to cycle the whole wall (13.7 km), start at the East Gate at 4 PM. You'll catch the sunset over the South Gate and still have time to lock your bike and walk to the Bell Tower by 6:30 PM.

Renting a Bike on the Wall: What You Need to Know

Cycling is the only way to cover the whole wall comfortably. Walking takes 2–3 hours for just a quarter.

Here is the catch: the bikes are heavy and the saddle is hard. I suggest bringing a folded newspaper to sit on — it actually helps. Also, don't rent at the South Gate during peak hours (10:00-15:00). The queue for rental can be 30 minutes. Rent at the East Gate instead.

One more thing: if you're not confident biking on cobblestones, you can walk the southern section from South Gate to East Gate (about 3.5 km, 40 minutes walk). That's the most photogenic part.

The Walk from South Gate to Bell Tower

Once you exit the wall (I recommend descending at the South Gate or East Gate), here's how to get to the Bell Tower on foot.

Route from South Gate: Exit the wall through the South Gate archway. You'll see the South Street (Nandajie) stretching north. Walk straight for 800 meters (about 10 minutes). You'll pass the Xi'an Bookstore and a bunch of tourist shops. The Bell Tower will be right in front of you. Use the underground pedestrian passage to cross the roundabout — there's no surface crossing.

Route from East Gate: If you exit at East Gate, walk west on Dongdajie (East Street) for about 1.2 km (15 minutes). You'll pass the city's oldest food street (Dongmutou). Bell Tower at the end.

Personally, I prefer the South Gate route because you can stop at the 'Dee's Cafe' for a quick cold drink — it's a small, air-conditioned escape with decent coffee (25 CNY).

If you're too tired, take a taxi from South Gate to Bell Tower: meter about 10 CNY (minimum fare). But honestly, walking is faster because traffic around the wall can be jammed.

Bell Tower Area: What to Do and Watch Out For

The Bell Tower sits at the intersection of four main streets. You can go up for a view of the city's perfect symmetry.

Ticket: 30 CNY (same discounts). Combined ticket with Drum Tower: 50 CNY (saves you 10 CNY).

Hours: 8:30–20:30 (last entry 20:00). Don't go after 19:00 if you want to see the Bell Tower itself; the lighting gets weird.

Best photo spot: Not on the tower itself. Stand on the northwest corner of the roundabout (near the Starbucks) at dusk — you get the tower with traffic trails. Use a tripod; I always carry a small Gorillapod because the handrails are too low.

Watch out for: Guys offering 'free' tours or cheap dumplings. They'll lead you to a souvenir shop. Just smile and say 'bu yao'.

Around the Bell Tower, you'll find the Muslim Quarter entrance on the west side. If it's dinner time (after 6 PM), go straight there for yangrou paomo (lamb soup with bread) at 'Lao Sun Jia' (老孙家). Address: 257 Beiyuanmen. Expect a 15-minute wait on weekdays, 40 minutes on weekends. Payment: Alipay/WeChat only — no cards. I always bring a backup 100 CNY note because sometimes the signal fails inside the alley.

Money-Saving Tips and Common Pitfalls

Pitfall: Assuming you can use your Uber-style app DiDi after 10 PM near Bell Tower. The area is pedestrian-friendly but vehicles get blocked. After 10 PM, the roundabout is closed to traffic. You'll have to walk 5 minutes to a side street to catch a ride. I always tell my clients to walk east on Dongdajie for 2 blocks — there's a DiDi pickup point.

Pitfall: Not checking the bicycle return time. If you rent at 5 PM and the shop closes at 10 PM, you must return before 9:45 PM because they start locking up. I've seen tourists panic and throw the bike to the ground. Don't be that person.

Frequently Asked Questions

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