The Bell Tower is a classical building with carved beams and painted rafters .It stands in the center of the downtown area .It houses a bell which was originally used to strike time every morning in ancient times .Ever since its establishment, it has become the symbol of Xian. The Bell Tower was first built in YingXiang Temple in 1384,which used to mark the center of city .It was moved to its present site in 1582 as a result of the citys expansion program .Now, it is an important historical monument in Shaanxi Province.

About 500meters northwest of the Bell Tower stands another magnificent building, the Drum Tower .It was built in 1380, four years earlier than the Bell Tower .There used to a huge drum in the tower which told the time at the dusk. The base of Drum Tower is 1,924square meters in size, and 34meters high. The Drum Tower is now a historical monument in Shaanxi Province .The bell in the Bell Tower and the drum in the Drum Tower have been referred to as "the Morning Bell" and "the Dusk Drum".