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 under Kublai Khan at the centre of the Yuan capital Khanbalik, it was first called Qizhenglou, the "Tower of Regular Government". Fire destroyed it soon after and it was rebuilt in 1297; in 1420 the Yongle Emperor had it moved east and rebuilt, with further works in 1539 and 1800. For five and a half centuries it and the Bell Tower were Beijing's two tallest buildings.

The tower's name, Gulou, simply means "drum tower". A great drum on the upper floor was struck 108 times to announce the New Year until the end of the monarchy; the custom was revived on 1 January 2001 and the drum sounds again every year. The ground floor now houses a cultural institution, while the upper floor holds an exhibition hall.

The tower stands on a rectangular base 55.6 by 30 metres and 4 metres high, with three arched entrances at the front and back and one on each side. The upper floor holds the great drum and an exhibition hall, while the ground floor houses a cultural institution. The roof is covered with green tiles.

Four bronze clepsydras once stood alongside the great drum and its 24 smaller drums, timing the hours struck for the city. None of these water clocks survive today; only one of the original drums remains, the rest having been remade.