An integral component of exploring a different culture is visiting the landmarks of a city and understanding its symbolic value in addition to its historic importance. Landmarks and monuments such as the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Great Wall of mainland China are not only of national importance and provide the nation with a degree of visibility in the international arena, they are also symbols with an intriguing history that accompanies its existence. Akin to the Golden Roof in Innsbruck, Austria, the Glockenspiel in Munich, Germany and the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, Italy, the Chinese City of Xi’an is home to the Bell and Drum Tower. Like the Golden Roof and the Bridge of Sighs, this landmark may not be of immense national importance but is a site that is considered as a must visit by tourists visiting the city of Xi’an.
For those who wish to experience a sense of timelessness inside the Tower, opt for a Xi’an apartment in the city instead of a hotel which provides guests with everything they need. Tourists can choose from a myriad of establishments such as Citadines Gaoxin Xi’an and enjoy the city in comfort. As the Tower was built in 1380, its rich and diverse history comes as no surprise. Towering at a stunning 8.6 metres above ground in an imposing green bricked structure, the clang of the Bell Tower can be heard across the city. The Drum Tower is located a mere half a kilometre from this site and centuries ago these two towers acted as two components of one machine with the Bell Tower signifying morning and the Drum Tower signifying the onset of dusk.
Tourists hoping to visit these two towers can do so between 9am and 6pm and it can be accessed by train or via a special airport bus. Even though the Towers have been used for a multitude of purposes such as a bureau of telephone in 1911, a meteorological observatory and even a prison, tourists at present can expect to see it indicating time. Despite this functional activity, the Bell and Drum Tower remains an important cultural relic of the city.
Chandrishan Williams is a travel writer who writes under the pen name, Caleb Falcon. He specializes in writing content based on the many exciting world adventures that await intrepid travellers.
