Drum Tower, Xian

Drum Tower, Xian (must see)

The Xian Drum Tower is the largest among drum towers in China. It houses a drum museum where visitors can see ancient drums dating back to over a thousand years.

The Xian Drum Tower was constructed in 1380 during the reign of the Ming Dynasty. It has a base of blue bricks with a wooden tower on top. A large drum was placed in the tower and struck to signal sunset in the evening. The practice was restored in 1950 to encourage tourism. In 1996, a large drum similar to the one that was once in the tower was made from a single piece of high quality cowhide and placed in the tower.

Twenty four drums were placed in the north and south of the Drum Tower. They represent the twenty four solar systems used by the ancient Chinese to predict the changes in climate and to warn local farmers. The hall in the first floor has drums of all sizes decorated with Chinese characters depicting good luck. Visitors are not allowed to touch these drums. The drum museum displays a variety of drums used in ancient China. A drum beating performance takes place here every day. Visitors can get a spectacular view of the city of Xian from the top of the Drum Tower.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Xian. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "51爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Drum Tower
Sight Location: Xian, China (See walking tours in Xian)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Xian Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Xian, China

Create Your Own Walk in Xian

Creating your own self-guided walk in Xian is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Xian Introduction Walking Tour

Xian became a cultural and political center of China in the 11th century BC and was the capital city of eleven imperial Chinese dynasties.

For a western comparison, Xian closely resembles Rome. At the beginning of the first millennium, there were two major powers sitting at the ends of the civilized world, the Roman Empire in the west and the Han Dynasty in the east, each commanding roughly the... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.4 Km or 2.7 Miles

Historical Religious Sites

A melting pot of different cultures and faiths, Xian, once the start of the historical Silk Road, for centuries had seen traders from far and wide come to do business. Many a foreigner eventually settled in Xian, bringing along their cuisine, customs, and religious practices. Hence the number of pagodas, Buddhist and Taoist temples, as well as mosques found in the city, some of which trace back... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.9 Km or 1.8 Miles

Shopping Streets Tour

Back in the day, Xian was the starting point of the ancient Silk Road. Foreign traders used to come here to procure local merchandise such as tea, silk, and porcelain that were in high demand internationally throughout centuries.

In recent years, although the commercial center in China has shifted to the coastline area, Xian remains a major destination for quality shopping, especially when it... view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles

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