The drum tower is situated on the north and south axle. The ancient construction is imposing and grand. The bell drum tower served as Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty capital report center. It was built in the Yongle 18 years, Ming Dynasty (in 1420). The construction is palace like construction, constructed on high brick platform with the base as high as 4 meters.

There are 5 double-eave roofs wooden construction palace buildings on it; with the building height more than 46 meters. It has red wall and cinnabar cote and is a magnificently decorated building. The reporting time was originally set day and night during the Qing Dynasty. It was only after Qian Long made changes when the report was done at night, with two separate watchmen separately ascends the bell and drum tower. The first beats the drum and then strike the gong.

The night time calculation is divided into five times, each one represents two hours as of today's time. 7pm is the first, 9 pm as two, 11pm as three, 1 am as four, 3 am as five and 5 am as day break. The drum and gong at the bell drum tower was strike as a reminder for people to sleep. The drum and gong would be left alone between two and five to avoid waking up people from sleeping before dawn.

After daybreak, the drum is beaten as an indication as time to get up. The present bell drum tower lost this function, but you still get to hear the powerful sound of the bell and drum during the lunar New Year's season, and it has become a famous national scenery attraction.


Name:Beijing Drum Tower (Gulou)
City:Beijing
Address:Di-anmen Avenue, Dongcheng District
Admission:CNY20
Hours: 09:00 am-05:00 pm
Tel: 0086-10-64012674

This article was posted on 2007-08-21
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