Wanzhou Bell Tower

Wanzhou Bell Tower

The Wanzhou Bell Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Chongqing Municipality.

The Wanzhou Bell Tower is located in Xishan Park, Wanzhou District, and dates back to 1931.

The bell tower in Xishan Park, Wanzhou, was completed in 1930. With 12 floors and a height of 50.2 meters, it is a magnificent and spectacular landmark, often mentioned alongside the Shanghai Customs House Clock Tower, and is considered a major scenic attraction along the Yangtze River. Since its completion, it has been regarded as the iconic building of Wanzhou City.

The Xishan Bell Tower is one of the earlier iconic buildings in Wanzhou District, Chongqing. One of the "Eight Scenic Spots of Wanzhou," known as the "Sunset over Xishan," is named after it. Since its completion in 1930, it has continuously attracted notable figures and visitors from all over to climb the tower and enjoy the views of the river city. The Xishan Bell Tower is an architectural fusion of Chinese and Western styles, featuring exquisite design and grandeur. It is renowned alongside the Shanghai Customs House Clock Tower as a major scenic attraction along the Yangtze River. The bell tower stands 50.24 meters tall, has 12 floors, and features a double-layered helmet-style roof that is octagonal in shape. The ground floor is a hall, accessible to the top via a spiral iron staircase. The fourth floor is surrounded by large clocks whose chimes resonate loudly throughout the city. At the base of the bell tower stands a massive stone stele, standing 5 meters tall and 1.3 meters wide on each of its four sides. This enormous stone was not easy to obtain. According to elderly witnesses, the stone was quarried from Wangmashi at the top of the park. It took dozens of people half a month to drag and push it down using logs as rollers, moving it to its current location.

In 2000, the Wanzhou Bell Tower was listed by the Chongqing Municipal People's Government as part of the first group of Chongqing Cultural Relics Protection Units.