Xi’an attraction guide
Xi’an Drum Tower Tickets and Visitor Guide
西安鼓楼
Plan Xi’an Drum Tower with ticket and performance checks, central access, Muslim Quarter connections and a practical comparison with the Bell Tower.
- Allow
- 1–1.5 hours
- Ticket
- Paid interior; exterior is free
- Access
- Bell Tower station
- Bring
- Passport and confirmation
The Drum Tower stands west of the Bell Tower and immediately beside the best-known entrance to the Muslim Quarter. Its location makes it easy to include even when you do not enter the building.
Interior displays and drum performances can add value, but schedules change. An exterior photo and the surrounding square remain worthwhile without a paid visit.
Quick answer
Use the Drum Tower as the gateway between the Bell Tower axis and Muslim Quarter. Check whether current performances are included or separately scheduled, and choose one tower interior if your central itinerary is already full.
Photo guide
What Drum Tower looks like
Xi'an Drum Tower beside the Muslim Quarter (view 1)
Photo: Don-kun. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0
Xi'an Drum Tower beside the Muslim Quarter (view 2)
Photo: User:Vmenkov. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Xi'an Drum Tower beside the Muslim Quarter (view 3)
Photo: User:Vmenkov. Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
Tickets, reservations and passport checks for Drum Tower
Check current tower admission, combined tickets and any performance schedule through the official attraction channel. Confirm whether a show is included in standard entry.
Bring the passport used for real-name booking. Avoid buying a combined product if one tower will be closed or if your route cannot reach both during valid hours.
Performance times are operational details, not permanent features of every ticket. Verify the date-specific schedule.
A practical route through Drum Tower
- Approach from the Bell Tower or metro through the central pedestrian network.
- Photograph the exterior and square before entering the narrower interior route.
- Check the current performance board before deciding how long to stay.
- Exit on the Muslim Quarter side for food streets and the Great Mosque.
- Use Guangji Street or a metro entrance as a clear pickup point afterward.
How to fit Drum Tower into a Xi’an itinerary
Visit the Drum Tower with the Bell Tower and Muslim Quarter. The three places fit into a half day; they should not be treated as separate cross-city attractions.
Evening lighting is attractive, but interior closing can be earlier than the surrounding food streets. Enter first and eat afterward when both matter.
Keep a workable backup
- Use the exterior and square if the interior is closed.
- Choose the Bell Tower interior instead when only one tower fits.
- Visit the Great Mosque or food lanes while waiting for a verified performance time.
- Keep the central cluster flexible around crowd controls.
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Plan My Xi’an TripFrequently asked questions
Is Xi’an Drum Tower free?
The exterior and surrounding public area are free. The interior requires admission.
Are drum performances included?
Schedules and ticket inclusions can change. Check the current official board or booking product for your date.
Bell Tower or Drum Tower?
The Bell Tower offers the strongest central-axis position; the Drum Tower connects directly to the Muslim Quarter. Visit both exteriors and choose interiors by time and interest.
Official information used for this guide
Operational details last checked August 14, 2026. Tickets, hours, transport, closures, and passport workflows can change; confirm final details with the venue.
