A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Standing at the geographical center of Xi'an, a city with a history of more than 3,100 years, the Bell Tower is an iconic landmark and cultural symbol of the capital city of Shaanxi Province.

Constructed in 1384 during the early Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it is the largest and best-preserved structure of its kind in China.

With a height of 36 meters (118 feet), the building has a brick and wood structure, with three eaves sitting on heavy floors and a shape where four corners meet at the top.

A giant bronze bell is on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A giant bronze bell is on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A view of the Bell Tower in the center of Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Exhibit is seen on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Exhibit is seen on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Exhibit is seen on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Exhibit is seen on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Exhibit is seen on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Exhibit is seen on display in the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

In the past, a large bell hung from the top was used to sound alarms or tell the time, hence its name.

Today, the Bell Tower is a must-visit historical attraction that draws tens of thousands of visitors who come to appreciate the charm, beauty and grandeur of ancient Chinese architecture.

A panoramic view from the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

A panoramic view from the Bell Tower in Xi'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province. /CGTN

Standing over the ancient city for more than 600 years, it has witnessed the city's historic rise and fall as a pearl of northwestern China, that has steadfastly guarded and preserved its precious culture.