Drum Tower, Ancient drum tower in Beizhen Subdistrict, China.
The Drum Tower is a two-story structure in central Beizhen featuring traditional Chinese architectural design with a distinctive wooden frame system. Inside, displays explain how drums were used to mark time and announce important events for the community.
This structure served as a timekeeping center during imperial periods, with drummers announcing key moments throughout the day and special events to the population. The building reflects how communities organized their activities around these regular sound signals.
The drums inside reflect the traditional Chinese calendar system and its connection to farming seasons and daily life. Today, visitors can observe how this building once helped regulate the rhythm of the community.
The tower can be entered from north and south gates, making access straightforward from most directions. Both floors are open to explore, and information about the building's purpose is available inside.
The wooden structure was built without metal nails, relying entirely on traditional Chinese carpentry techniques that locked pieces together. This construction method reveals how craftsmen solved structural challenges using only wood joinery.
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