Xi'an Bell Tower will be temporarily closed from June 10 to Aug 25 for repairs to the roof, cornices, fly rafters and pillars, according to a notice released by Xi'an Bell and Drum Towers Museum on June 9.

During the period, the Drum Tower will open to the public as normal.

An aerial view of the Bell Tower in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province. [Photo/IC]

As one of the city's landmark buildings, Xi'an Bell Tower was built in 1384 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), meaning it has a history of more than 600 years.

Alongside Xi'an Drum Tower, it is the largest and most well-preserved of the many bell towers left over from ancient China, and is still one of the most popular tourist attractions in Xi'an.

It has been nine years since its last repairs in 2011. Due to the long-term influence of wind and sun, rain and dust accumulation and other human factors, the roof of the Bell Tower has leaked rainwater from its tiles.

The rafters are partially damaged and decaying, with paint and colored drawings peeling off and mildew on the finish. In addition, the golden pillars outside the first floor are decaying.

With an emphasis on protection, the repairs will be led by academic research, monitoring and analysis, and value evaluation.

They will retain valuable historical features as much as possible, making the Bell Tower a better place to showcase the history and culture of Xi'an.