The Xi'an Bell Tower is one of the largest and best-preserved bell towers in China. Construction began in 1384 (the 17th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty). Located in the heart of Xi'an, it is a landmark of the ancient city, with four high streets radiating from it to the east, south, west, and north, connecting to the four gates of the Xi'an city wall.

Originally located on Guangji Street in the west, the Xi'an Bell Tower was moved to its present location east of the Drum Tower in 1582 (the 10th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty) as the city centre shifted eastward.

The Xi'an Bell Tower exhibits typical Ming Dynasty architectural style, with a square brick and stone base and a triple-tiered, four-sided pyramidal roof covered with dark green glazed tiles, the spire clad in gold leaf. The base has four centrally located archways, each about 6 metres high, interconnected. These archways once served as a passageway connecting the four high streets to the east, south, west, and north, through which pedestrians and vehicles passed. Now, the archways are closed, and a roundabout has been built around them, with an underground passageway for pedestrians.

The entrance to the Xi'an Bell Tower is located within this underground passageway, with a spiral staircase leading up to the tower. Inside the Xi'an Bell Tower is a replica of the “Jingyun Bell,” the original of which was cast in the second year of the Jingyun era of Emperor Ruizong of Tang (711 AD). The original is now housed in the Xi'an Stele Forest Museum.