Bell Tower of Xi'an

The Bell Tower sits at the precise center of Xi'an, identifiable by its three-tiered, dark green-tiled roof resting atop a large, square masonry pedestal. Built in thirteen eighty-four during the early Ming Dynasty, this brick and timber structure stands thirty-six meters high at the intersection of the city’s four main avenues. It served for centuries as a formal timekeeper, where the ringing of a massive bell signaled the start of the day and the opening of the city gates.