Gulou and Zhonglou, Ancient drum and bell towers in Andingmen district, China
The Drum Tower reaches 47 meters in height with wooden construction, while the Bell Tower stands 33 meters tall with gray walls and green roof.
The towers functioned as Beijing's primary timekeeping system from the Yuan Dynasty through the Qing Dynasty, marking hours with resonating sounds across the city.
The towers demonstrate traditional Chinese architectural elements through their multi-tiered wooden structures, ornate carvings, and symmetrical design principles.
Visitors need to climb steep stairs to reach the observation areas, where they can view performances of drum demonstrations at scheduled times.
The main tower contains one central drum and formerly held 24 smaller drums used in complex time-marking sequences throughout imperial periods.
Location: Andingmen Subdistrict
GPS coordinates: 39.94019,116.38964
Latest update: October 1, 2025 21:00
Beijing combines ancient palaces with modern architecture. The city offers photographers a mix of Ming Dynasty buildings, Buddhist temples, Olympic venues, and contemporary art galleries. From the Great Wall to the Bird's Nest stadium, numerous subjects await the camera.
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