The Bell and Drum Towers are located at the northern end of the north-south central axis of Beijing. As the timekeeping center of the capital city in the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, it is one of the landmark buildings of the ancient capital Beijing and has a long history. The Bell and Drum Towers include two buildings, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. The two buildings are arranged longitudinally before and after, with majestic momentum and lofty and spectacular.
The ancient Chinese Bell and Drum Towers originated in the Han Dynasty. According to historical records, in the Han Dynasty, there was already a morning drum and evening bell system of “beating drums at dawn to urge people to get up and ringing bells at night to urge people to rest”. The Bell and Drum Towers in Beijing were built in the Yuan Dynasty. In the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, as the timekeeping center at that time, drums were placed in the Drum Tower and bells were hung in the Bell Tower. The “morning bell and evening drum” followed the rhythm. Until now, there are still drum beating performances that can be watched here every day. In the morning and afternoon, there are 3-4 performances every about 1 hour. The sound of drums is deafening and majestic. At night, the lights of the Bell and Drum Towers in the night are lit up, making it even more antique and beautiful. Opening hours: Open from 09:30 to 17:30 from April 26 to October 25; open from 09:30 to 16:30 from October 26 to December 31; open from 09:30 to 16:30 from January 1 to April 25. The exhibition hall on the first floor of the Drum Tower is closed every Monday, except for legal holidays. Preferential policies: Minors: under 18 years old (excluding), free; Active soldiers: with valid documents, free; Disabled people: with valid documents, free; Elderly people: over 60 years old (including), discounted; Active officers and active sergeants: with valid documents, discounted; Students: full-time college students over 18 years old (including) (excluding adult education and graduate students), discounted. Must-see tips: 1. After visiting the Bell and Drum Towers, you can stroll around the nearby Yandai Xiejie and taste Beijing’s special snacks at Shichahai. 2. The Bell Tower is temporarily closed for renovation.Bell and Drum Towers
The Bell and Drum Towers are located at the northern end of the north-south central axis of Beijing.[...]
