Bell and Drum Towers

Located at the northern end of Beijing’s north-south axis, the Bell and Drum Tower served as the time-keeping center of the capital during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. It is one of the landmarks of the ancient capital of Beijing and has a long history. The Bell and Drum Tower consists of two buildings, the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. The two are longitudinally placed one behind the other.

In ancient China, the Bell and Drum Tower originated in the Han Dynasty. In both the Drum and Bell Towers, visitors climb steep stairways to the top to have a panoramic look out over the city. Entry is 15 yuan for the Bell Tower; 20 yuan for the Drum Tower.

There are drum performances to watch every day, every morning and afternoon lasting about 1 hour, each with 3-4 repetitions, the drums are loud and majestic.

At night, the Bell and Drum Tower a beautifully lit making for a great photo op.

The Bell and Drum Tower are close to Shichahai area which includes many ancient sites, gardens, the scenic lake, and bar street.

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