Beijing Drum Tower, Drum tower in Andingmen Subdistrict, China
The Beijing Drum Tower is a 47 meter tall wooden structure with gray walls and traditional Chinese architectural details throughout. A large drum sits at the upper level and visitors can observe it from various vantage points inside.
Built in 1272 during the Yuan Dynasty, it served as Beijing's main timekeeping instrument for the city. Drum beats marked the hours until the early 1900s when this practice gradually came to an end.
The tower reflects how drumming shaped daily life and timekeeping for residents across centuries. Performances here demonstrate the rhythmic patterns that once organized the city's working hours and spiritual practices.
Steep stairs lead up to the upper level where visitors explore the interior and watch drum demonstrations. Comfortable shoes are helpful since climbing requires some effort and the performances happen several times daily.
An ancient water clock system once guided the drummers here to keep precise time for the entire city. This working timepiece predated mechanical clocks by centuries and represents an early engineering achievement.
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