Bell & Drum Tower Square

 

Xi'an Bell Tower, one of the top ten attractions in Xi’an, is the largest and best-preserved of its kind in China. It is used to tell people the time as same function as the Drum Tower, bell-ring means morning is coming and drumbeat means the night is falling in the ancient time. Located on the very center of Xi’an old city and near the Drum Tower, it became one of the landmarks of Xi’an. Meanwhile, many art exhibitions often held here all year around.

 

 

Bell Tower is 36 m (118 ft) high and stands on a brick base 35.5 m (116.4 ft) long and 8.6 m (28.2 ft) high on each side. There are three layers of eaves on the external carved beams and internal is up and down layers. There are tops on four of the corners of the tower eaves. The engraved arcs under each eaves come with color designs. The arc is one of the specialties in ancient timber constructions. It is unique in the history of world construction. It not only makes the construction firm, but also makes it more beautiful.

One of several legends about the Bell Tower tells us an interesting story. During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), several earthquakes struck the Shaanxi province leaving thousands dead and injured. Legend says a great river flowing through the center of Xi'an City held a dragon. This dragon was always active and caused trouble, even causing an earthquake. Official of Xi'an believed these words and ordered the city blacksmith to make a several thousand foot long iron chain in order to bind the dragon and sink it to the bottom of the river. He then ordered 5,000 craftsmen to repair the Bell Tower around the clock so that the tower could be used to anchor the chain. He believed this would suppress the dragon firmly under the river so it could not cause any more mischief. After establishing the Bell Tower, no more earthquakes occurred in Xi'an. 

 

 

Located in the center of Xi’an city, with Muslim Quarter and Great Mosque in its north, Bell Tower in its East,Drum Tower was built in Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and four years older than Bell Tower.

 

The Drum Tower got its name from the huge drum located within the building. In contrast to the Bell Tower, where bell was stricken at dawn, drum was beat at sunset to indicate the end of the day. 

 

It is a two-story post and panel structure, 34 meters (112 feet) high, 52.6 meters (172 feet) long, and 38 meters (124 feet) wide. The architectural style of the Drum Tower is a combination of the styles of the Tang and Qing Dynasties. The Drum Tower also has some unique and innovative features. For example, there are no iron nails used anywhere in the Drum Tower. 

 

On the Drum Tower's first floor, lies a hall which hangs many large drums. Each was decorated with intrinsic and beautiful Chinese writing, which symbolizes good fortune. The impressive arrays of drums are only on show and visitors are not allowed to touch any of them. 

Inside the Drum Tower, there is also a drum museum, where a variety of drums is on display, some of which can be dated back thousands of years. There is a drum show performed here everyday.