Bell and Drum Tower, Xiangyun

The Bell and Drum Tower in Xiangyun is a multi-story structure with stone foundations and wooden elements that sits at the heart of the old town. From ground level to upper floors, the building displays ancient instruments and opens to views across the town.

The tower was built to keep time for Xiangyun during imperial rule, with bell tolls and drum beats that shaped the daily rhythm of the town. This timekeeping role made it essential to how residents organized their lives.

The tower serves as a gathering place where residents and visitors hear the sounds of bells and drums that have marked time in this town for centuries. These sounds remain woven into how people experience and remember Xiangyun.

You can enter the tower from the ground floor and climb the stairs to explore the displays on each level. The upper levels offer a chance to rest and take in the full view of the town, best experienced during early morning or late afternoon light.

The tower holds a collection of bronze bells that are precisely tuned to produce different tonal patterns used in ancient Chinese music. These bells are rare survivors and show craftsmanship that is rarely practiced today.