Gulou and Zhonglou, Ancient drum and bell towers in Andingmen district, China
Gulou and Zhonglou are two ancient towers in the Andingmen district that served as the city's timekeeping system. The Drum Tower reaches approximately 47 m in height with wooden construction, while the Bell Tower stands about 33 m tall with gray walls and a green-tiled roof.
These towers originated in the Yuan Dynasty and continued to function through the Qing Dynasty as the city's primary timekeeping system. They were the center of urban life, with sounds marking hours and regulating the rhythm of daily activity.
The towers display traditional Chinese architecture through their multi-tiered wooden structures and symmetrical design. Visitors can watch drum performances today that bring the historical timekeeping function to life.
Visitors must climb steep stairs to reach the observation areas, as there are no elevators available. Drum performances happen at set times throughout the day, so it helps to plan your visit around these demonstrations.
The Drum Tower originally housed 25 drums played in intricate patterns to signal different times of day with great precision. This elaborate system was far more accurate than other timekeeping methods available and shaped the daily routine of every Beijing resident.
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