The Big Bell Temple, or the Great Bell Temple, located in the Haidian District of Beijing, was built in the year 1733 of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and initially bestowed with the name 'Juesheng Si'. 10 years later during the reign of another emperor, a big bell was moved into the temple, hence the name. Since then, it was often chosen by the emperors to pray for rain and blessings for the people.

The temple displays a number of many large buildings, such as the Mountain Gate, the Bell and Drum Tower, the Scripture Collection Pavilion, the Big Bell Tower and other halls. Among these, the Big Bell Tower is the main part, which is a circular shape on the top and square below according to the Chinese saying that 'the sky is circular and the earth is square'.

The Big Bell is hanging in the Big Bell Tower. Made in 1403, the first year of Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the bell was one of the three projects that he commanded after reestablishing Beijing as the capital. Another two were the famous Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven.

The bell weighs 46.5 tons (102, 514.95 pound), with a height of 6.94 m. (22.77 feet). It is inscribed with Buddhist Mantras all around both the inside and outside of the body, over 227,000 characters in all. Skillfully designed, it sounds crisp and sweet by ringing lightly, while it sends a deep and resounding tone from a forcible strike which can be carried 15 kilometers (9.32 miles) away. For these excellent and unique characteristics, it is called 'the King of Ancient Bells' by the people.

Then how was this heavy bell hung on the top of the building? After the bell was made, they waited until the winter came. Then they dug a well every 500 meters (1,640.42 feet) and ditches along the entire way to bring the water on the ground, which was able to turn into the ice soon. So they pushed the bell along the surface to the icy earth piles in the temple. Finally they started to construct the Bell Tower and hung the bell from the top. When the spring came the following year, the ice was dissolved and they began to remove the mounds of earth.

Address: North of  Lianxiang Bridge(联想桥）, Beisanhuan Road（北三环路），Haidian District.(海淀区）

Admission:10 RMB.

Bus:Take bus no.300 (快外), 323(快), 361, 367, 422, 425, 601, 604, 626, 658, 695, 718, 836, 967.

Opening Hours:9:00 to 16:30 from Tuesday to Sunday.