Xian City|Bell Tower

The Bell Tower is a landmark in the center of Xian City

While we were in Xian City we had a few hours to spare, so made our way through the underground and up to the Bell Tower. This is a land mark in the center of Xian where the city’s four main streets converge. The Xian City Bell Tower has a distinctive green three-tiered roof,  built in the graceful style of Ming Dynasty architecture.

Xian City The-Bell-Tower-a three tiered structure built in the Ming Dynasty style

Xian City The-Bell-Tower-a three-tiered structure with green roof  built in the Ming Dynasty style

The Bell Tower is a wooden structure standing on a high brick platform. It was first built in 1384, originally in a different spot a few blocks away from the current site in Xian City. The Bell Tower moved to its current site in 1582, and restored  in 1739 during the Ming Dynasty.

Ancient-Iron-Bell, Xian City Bell-Tower

Ancient-Iron-Bell, Xian City Bell-Tower

Xian City Bell Tower houses a fine collection of bronze bells

In Xian city for the cost of only  5 yen you may have the privilege of striking a huge bronze bell with a short heavy wooden pole at the Bell Tower. It is worth a visit to this landmark, not just to admire the classic architecture, but because the Bell Tower of  Xian City also houses a fine collection of ancient artifacts, many dating from the Tang Dynasty.

Xian City Bell Tower view ancient-bronze chime-bells-&-round chairs with eight legs

Xian City Bell Tower view ancient-bronze chime-bells-&-round chairs with eight legs

There are bronze chime bells, musical instruments, ancient pottery and crafted wooden items . I particularly liked the round chairs with eight legs.  One couldn’t help but notice the ceiling which has a beautiful enameled pattern, with a very psychedelic center piece, from which hangs a traditional Chinese lantern .

Xian City Bell Tower Beautiful enameled ceiling with a psychedelic center piece

Bell Tower interior enameled ceiling-psychedelic center piece

A walk around the balcony of the Bell Tower provides an excellent view of the city streets and busy traffic and you realize just how modern and diverse China has become. The ancient Bell Tower on one hand contrasting sharply with the modern skyscrapers and towers in the distant.  Xian City has colorful flower beds enhancing both the Bell and Drum Towers.

View-of-Main-Street-Xian-City taken from the Bell Tower

View-of-Main-Street-Xian-City taken from the Bell Tower

 Xian City Bell Tower and Drum Tower are lit up at night

Both the Drum and Bell Tower were clearly visible from our hotel window in Xian City. When lit up at night they are  very eye-catching structures. The drum tower was built in 1380 and its interior has been recently restored. Like the Bell Tower it is a three-tiered structure. We didn’t have time to visit, but the large drum can be seen on the outside balcony.

Xian City view of Drum Tower and garden square from our room at Bell Tower Hotel

Xian City view of Drum Tower & garden square from our room at Bell Tower Hotel

A delicious Dumpling Dinner in Xian City

There is a saying that no visit to Xian City is complete unless you have enjoyed a Chinese Dumpling Dinner .  We experienced  a dumpling dinner at a local restaurant one evening. It was very enjoyable with such a variety of  dumplings to choose from,so many tasty fillings. Everything brought to the table in steaming hot in baskets , or kept warm over a glowing brazier at the table.

Xian City Delicious dumplings so many varieties and fillings to taste

Xian City Delicious dumplings so many varieties and fillings to taste

The Restaurant was a very popular spot with locals enjoying their dinner as well as tourists. The ambiance in the restaurant was very warm and vibrant, with great service from the waiters.  This proved a delicious meal of traditional Chinese dumplings and an enjoyably evening out with our fellow tourists on our small group tour.

Xian City. A Dumpling Dinner not to be missed when you visit Xian City

Xian City. A Dumpling Dinner not to be missed when you visit Xian City

 


 

Related Posts:

About Lyn

Comments

  1. That is one beautiful structure! I’m very curious though, as to how they managed to move the whole thing to another location. Would love to hear all about it on one of your future posts! 🙂

    • Hello Mitch, I don’t have any confirmation on this, however based on other research I suspect the building was taken down piece by piece and transported to its knew position and then put together again. I have read about this being done with different buildings in antiquity. More recently, having just come back from a trip to Cambodia where a pavilion built in Giza, Egypt, was dismantled brick by brick, shipped to Phnom Penh, and then re-erected in the grounds of the Royal Palace as a present to King Norodom I of Cambodia in 1876. New post on Cambodia coming soon! Thanks for dropping by. Lyn

Speak Your Mind

*

Disclaimer|Disclosure | Privacy