[2024 Beijing Attraction] Travel Guide for Bell Tower (Updated Dec)
Historical Architectures
Address:
Zhonglouwan Hutong Linzi No.9
Opening times:
Opens at 09:30-16:30Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-2 hours
Phone:
010-84036706
Have you seen the inside of the buildings along the Central Axis of Beijing?
Beijing, China: The Central Axis of Beijing has been successfully inscribed on the World Heritage List. Many of the buildings along the axis are open to the public. You can climb the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. You can't enter the main halls of the Forbidden City, but you can enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple, which is very impressive. You can climb Tiananmen, but it's difficult to make a reservation. The Great Hall of the People, Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, and the National Museum of China in Tiananmen Square are all worth a visit, but you need to make a reservation in advance. You can see the inside of the Temple of Heaven from the entrance.
matilda_evelyn_rosewood
The Bell and Drum Towers in early winter.
Bell Tower Drum Tower Beijing, China
Today, the weather in Beijing is cold and gloomy, but the Bell and Drum Towers are bustling with activity. Foreign tourists, girls taking photos with sugar-coated haws, people showing off their shuttlecock skills, young people preparing to perform traditional shows, and local product promotion activities are all gathered in front of the Bell and Drum Towers. Cameras and phones are all focused on the Bell and Drum Towers.
The Bell and Drum Towers were the tallest buildings on the central axis of the ancient capital during the Ming and Qing dynasties for over 500 years. The two towers are arranged in a row, and are magnificent and spectacular. As the timekeeping center of the capital during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the Bell and Drum Towers are one of the landmark buildings of ancient Beijing. In the past, the ancient capital of Beijing would fall into a ceremonial slumber at dusk, accompanied by the sound of the bell and drum, until the bell and drum sounded again at dawn, and the city gradually woke up.
Today, the Bell and Drum Towers have become a symbol of ancient Beijing, a tourist attraction, and a place for old Beijingers to reminisce.
Hill Katherine Kath
Qinrenji huo, come to the Bell Tower to be the emperor, ho coffee, lo...
The treasure coffee shop near the Bell Tower ☕
You can sit indoors and outdoors
The photos are very beautiful 📷 The environment is very good
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The coffee is super delicious and has many flavors
The latte is particularly mellow, and the American style is also my favorite
If you can't drink too bitter
You can add a little sugar
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Ordered a twin coffee ☕️ set meal
There is a latte and an American style inside
The three-legged cup is super domineering, and it feels like 1️⃣ second through
The set meal also comes with a mini version of the three-legged cup and Qin style stickers
AmeliaAinsworth
Beijing's fireworks atmosphere "Bell and Drum Towers"
⛰【Travel Tips】
📍Detailed address: No. 9, Zhonglouwan Hutong, Dongcheng District, Beijing
🚗Transportation strategy:
Subway: Walk about 900 meters from Gulou Dajie Station of Line 2/8
🕙Opening hours: 9:30-17:30
💰Ticket price: Bell Tower 10 yuan/person, Drum Tower 20 yuan/person, Bell Tower + Drum Tower 30 yuan (half-price tickets available for college students, seniors over 60, and active military officers and soldiers)
🌟Highlights:
The Beijing Bell and Drum Towers are a group of ancient buildings located at the northern end of Beijing's central axis, at the north end of Di'anmen Outer Street in Dongcheng District, and served as the time-reporting center of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. In the history of the city's bell and drum tower system, Beijing's Bell and Drum Towers are the largest in scale and the highest in form, and are one of the iconic buildings of ancient Beijing.
The Drum Tower was originally built in the ninth year of Yuan Zhiyuan (1272), with a total height of 46.7 meters, a three-tiered Xieshan-style roof covered with grey tube tiles and green glazed tile edges, and is an ancient building mainly constructed of wood, sitting on a 4-meter-high brick and stone base.
☆ The Drum Tower, located at the center of the Yuan Dadu, was originally named "Qizheng Tower" symbolizing the seven elements of metal, wood, water, fire, earth, sun, and moon, but was later destroyed by fire;
☆ Rebuilt in the first year of Yuan Chengzong Dade (1297), it was again destroyed by fire;
☆ Rebuilt in the eighteenth year of Ming Yongle (1420) along with the reconstruction of the palace;
☆ Rebuilt after being struck by lightning and destroyed in the eighteenth year of Ming Jiajing (1539);
☆ Repaired on a large scale in the fifth year of Qing Jiaqing (1800), the twentieth year of Qing Guangxu (1894), and after the establishment of the People's Republic of China.
Bell Tower:
The Bell Tower was originally built in the ninth year of Yuan Zhiyuan (1272), with a total height of 47.9 meters, a double-eaved Xieshan-style roof covered with grey tube tiles and green glazed tile edges, and is a large monolithic ancient building with an all-brick and stone structure, which was later destroyed by fire;
☆ Rebuilt in the eighteenth year of Ming Yongle (1420), it was again destroyed by fire;
☆ Rebuilt by imperial decree in the tenth year of Qing Qianlong (1745), and completed two years later. To prevent fire, the entire building was constructed with a brick and stone arch structure (a "Qianlong Imperial Stele" stands in the center of the south gate of the Bell Tower, detailing the construction of the Bell Tower at that time).
☆ The large copper bell hanging in the Bell Tower, cast during the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty, is over 7 meters tall and weighs 63 tons. It is currently the earliest cast and heaviest time-reporting copper bell in China, known as the "King of Ancient Bells". When the bell rings, "within and beyond the capital, for more than ten miles, all listen attentively".
※Evening Drum and Morning Bell
As the time-reporting center, the Beijing Bell and Drum Towers struck the drum and bell with great regularity. During the Qianlong period of the Qing dynasty, the time-reporting method was only twice at night, every evening at the fixed watch (i.e., the first watch, 19:00-21:00) and the bright watch (i.e., the fifth watch, 3:00-5:00), with the Bell and Drum Towers signaling with lights, commonly known as "matching the lights", striking the drum before striking the bell, called "Evening Drum and Morning Bell". The method of striking the drum and bell was the same, commonly known as "tight eighteen, slow eighteen, neither tight nor slow another eighteen. Fast and slow in alternation, struck twice in total." In this way, twice in total, 108 times, representing a year, is the sum of the numbers of the 12 months, 24 solar terms, and 72 pentads of the year.
0l.v3r M@rt.n3z
Beijing Dragon Year Exhibition, super photogenic spots at the Drum Tower and Bell Tower
🎉 Recommended place to go after the New Year! 🎉
✨ The "Dragon Auspicious Central Axis Harmony between Heaven and Earth" dragon culture theme exhibition located inside the Beijing Bell and Drum Towers is a cultural feast you shouldn't miss during the Spring Festival! 🐲
📍 First floor of the Beijing Bell Tower
🕙 2024.2.10-2024.6.05 (Closed on Mondays)
🕙 Business hours: 9:30-16:30
The exhibition is free (tickets for visiting the Drum Tower and Bell Tower are 30 yuan)
🌈 The exhibition uses text, pictures, exhibits, interactive installations, and other forms to deeply showcase the infinite vitality and rich connotations of Beijing's central axis and dragon culture.
🔮 Six major thematic sections, including "How Much Do You Know About Chinese Dragons", "The Virtue of Auspicious Dragons", "Endless Life", etc., take you to fully understand the charm of dragon culture.
💖 The highlights of the exhibition are endless:
1️⃣ The "Neon Light Dragon" installation, colorful and dreamlike, as if traveling through the shadows of dragons. 🌈
2️⃣ The "See the Dragon's Head and Tail" art installation cleverly displays the full view of the dragon, lifelike. 🐉
3️⃣ The red "Moon Gate" exhibition hall entrance, full of classical garden charm, a holy place for photo check-ins! 📸
4️⃣ The "Bell Striking" blessing activity triggers magical effects, with the bell sound having strong penetrating power, adding a different kind of festivity to the New Year! 🎉
5️⃣ The dragon pattern display wall is colorful, showing various dragon pattern designs, accompanied by solar terms and poetry, both beautiful and culturally rich.
6️⃣ A blessing for stamp collection enthusiasts, you can collect 4 solar term dragon pattern stamps on-site, remember to bring your stamp book! 💼
🏮 In addition, the outdoor area of the Drum Tower is also filled with the atmosphere of the Year of the Dragon, very suitable for New Year check-ins. 🐲
🍰 The Bell and Drum Tea Space offers special cakes and tea drinks, the window settings in the store are super photogenic, and there are cute little dragons to take pictures with~ 🐉
🎁 At the Bell and Drum Creation Society, you can buy a Time Passport to collect cultural creative stamps, and there are intangible cultural heritage handicrafts and creative products for you to choose from.
Come to the Beijing Bell and Drum Towers to experience the charm of dragon culture!
.s@b3ll@ K.ng
Beijing Bell Tower
The Beijing Bell and Drum Tower, originally named Qizheng Tower and Mingchi Tower, is located at the north end of Di'anmen Outer Street on the central axis of Beijing, with a height of 46.7 meters, a length of about 56 meters from east to west, and a width of about 33 meters from north to south. It was opened to the public during the Republic of China period and served as an ancient time-reporting station. It is a double-eaved three-tiered wooden structure pavilion building and a key cultural relic protection unit in China.
In ancient times, the Drum Tower had a regular schedule for beating drums, and the Bell Tower for striking the bell to tell the time. The night was divided into five 'watches,' with each watch lasting for the duration of one 'hour,' equivalent to two modern hours. The time-telling methods of the Yuan and Ming dynasties are no longer known, but during the Qing dynasty, the original time-reporting method was as follows: for the first and last watches, the drum was beaten before the bell was struck, while for the second to fourth watches, only the bell was struck without beating the drum. After the Qianlong period, the method was changed to report the time only twice at night, with the drum beaten before the bell was struck for both the first watch (19:00—21:00) and the last watch (03:00—05:00). When the bell rang at the first watch, the city gates were closed and traffic was stopped, a practice known as 'clearing the streets'; when the bell rang at the last watch, the city gates were opened, hence the saying 'morning bell and evening drum.' The method of beating the drum and striking the bell was the same, commonly described as: 'eighteen fast, eighteen slow, and eighteen neither fast nor slow. Repeat this twice for a total of 108 strikes.' The ancient people used 108 strikes to represent a year, with a year having 12 months, 24 solar terms, and 72 pentads (five days as one pentad, six pentads as one month, totaling 72 pentads in a year), which add up to 108.
In ancient times, time was measured with a water clock, and the drummers would beat the drum to signal the time after hearing the cymbals, while the Bell Tower would strike the bell after hearing the drum. This scientific method of measuring time with a water clock, setting the time with drums, and reporting the time with a bronze bell systematically provided an important time reference for the court attendance of civil and military officials and the daily work and living routines of the people. During the Qing dynasty, the time-measuring instrument was changed to incense clocks, which were strictly regulated spiral-shaped incense that burned evenly. Small balls were hung on precisely calculated scales and connected to a metal plate below. When the incense burned to that scale, the ball would drop into the plate to signal the time, reminding the drummer to beat the drum.
The Bell Tower has a total height of 47.9 meters, with a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof covered with black glazed tiles and green glazed tile edges, making it a large-scale ancient building with a full brick and stone structure. A small ticket gate opens at the northeast corner of the Bell Tower, and one can ascend 75 steps to the second floor. The entire building structure emphasizes the functions of resonance, sound amplification, and sound transmission, which is a unique design in the history of Chinese bell and drum tower architecture. The time-reporting bronze bell displayed on the second floor of the Bell Tower was made during the Yongle period of the Ming dynasty. The bronze bell hangs from an octagonal wooden frame, with a total height of 7.02 meters, a body height of 5.5 meters, a diameter at the bottom of 3.4 meters, a wall thickness of 12 to 24.5 centimeters, and a weight of 63 tons. It is the earliest cast and heaviest ancient bell still in existence in China, and is known as the 'King of Ancient Bells.' According to historical records, the bronze bell was cast using the traditional clay mold method, with a group of furnaces melting and casting in a pit. The bell body was entirely made of resonant bronze, producing a deep and prolonged sound when struck, as the saying goes, 'Within and beyond the capital, for more than ten miles, all listen in awe.' There is also a touching legend about the casting of this bronze bell. It is said that when the bell was long in the making and the deadline was approaching, the old coppersmith Huayan was extremely anxious. His daughter, Huaxian, jumped into the furnace, and the great bell was finally cast. To commemorate Huaxian, who sacrificed herself to save her father, the people built the 'Golden Furnace Holy Mother Bell Casting Temple' in Xiao Heihu Hutong, and its ruins can still be found today.
ARIEL CARPENTER
Visit the Beijing Bell and Drum Towers, and see the dragon culture theme exhibition
📚 The Beijing Bell Tower is part of the central axis of Beijing, and from the tower, you can overlook the hutongs of the city. The dragon culture theme exhibition at the Bell Tower combines atmospheric scene design, text, pictures, intangible cultural heritage exhibits, artistic installations, 3D projections, and other forms to present the cultural imagery of the 'dragon' and the concepts of 'central' and 'harmony' through immersive artistic experiences and digital creative empowerment.
🌈 Upon entering the first floor, lanterns are hung on both sides of the door, conveying auspicious meanings of good fortune, wish-fulfillment, blessings, wealth, harmony, everlasting happiness, the four seasons, and peace. The exhibition features exquisite intangible cultural heritage items, dazzling neon light dragons, unique dragon-shaped artistic installations, fun rotating light boxes, a colorful array of seventy-two dragon patterns, beautifully crafted dragon paper-cut patterns, and more. As you wander through, you can enjoy taking photos and checking in.
🎏 Exhibition theme: 'Dragon Auspice on the Central Axis, Harmony between Heaven, Earth, and Humanity'
📆 Exhibition dates: February 10, 2024 - June 5, 2024
9:30-16:30 (Closed on Mondays)
📍 Location: First floor of the Beijing Bell Tower
🎫 Tickets: The exhibition is free, but there is a 10 yuan ticket to enter the Bell Tower
EmilyMcNeil40
Solo Trip to Beijing | The Bell Tower is So Beautiful After the Snowfall (With Tips)
Beijing, a city filled with historical ambiance. When wandering alone in Beijing, I encountered the Bell Tower after a snowfall, and it was truly stunning!
🌟 About the Bell Tower
The Bell and Drum Towers of Beijing are a group of ancient buildings located at the northern end of Beijing's central north-south axis, situated at the northern end of Di'anmen Outer Street in Dongcheng District, and are key national cultural relics under protection.
The two towers are aligned one behind the other, majestic and imposing, a spectacular sight that embodies the crystallization of the wisdom and strength of ancient Chinese laborers. The Bell and Drum Towers served as the time-telling center of the capital during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
In the history of urban bell and drum tower systems, Beijing's Bell and Drum Towers are the largest in scale and the tallest in form, making them one of the iconic buildings of ancient Beijing and an important structure that has witnessed nearly a century of Chinese history.
🌟 Solo Travel
How to enjoy Beijing alone? Here's my solo travel guide.
1️⃣ About accommodation: First, let's talk about accommodation. When traveling alone, I choose youth hostels, which are economical and a great way to meet new friends.
2️⃣ About food and drink: When eating alone, I mostly try snacks and taste Beijing's special delicacies.
3️⃣ About getting around: The most convenient way to travel in Beijing is by subway, which provides direct access to most attractions.
📷 About Photography
✅ Spot one: Bell and Drum Tower Square is the spot to capture the Bell Tower, where you can take panoramic shots as well as photos with people in the frame.
✅ Spot two: Located at the intersection leading to Gulou East Street, this is also a great spot for taking photos.
🌟 Basic Tips
🎫 Ticket price: 10 RMB per person
⏰ Opening hours: 09:30—17:30 (peak season) 09:30—16:30 (off-peak season)
🚌 Transportation tips: Take Beijing Subway Line 2 or Line 8, get off at Gulou Dajie Station, exit from Exit G, walk south for about 700 meters to reach the Bell Tower, and walk south for about 800 meters to reach the Drum Tower.
feralia_6275
Of course, in the Year of the Dragon, we should visit the Dragon Culture themed exhibition | Celebrate the New Year on the central axis
🍭Name: "Dragon Auspicious Central Axis Harmony" Dragon Culture Themed Exhibition🍭
🍬Location: First floor of Beijing Bell Tower🍬
📆Date: 2024.2.10-2024.6.05 (Closed on Mondays)
🕰️Time: 09:30-16:30
🎟️From February 11th to 14th, and 24th to 25th, there will be a market in the Drum Tower courtyard where you can get a stamp card with four styles, and choose 4 stamps
🎫Tickets: The exhibition itself is free, but you need a 10 yuan ticket for the Bell Tower tour, and a 30 yuan joint ticket for the Drum Tower + Bell Tower tour
📍Recommendation Reasons:
✔️1. Of course, in the Year of the Dragon, you should see a 🐉 related exhibition. Celebrate the New Year on the central axis, full of cultural heritage, limited to the Year of the Dragon, rich in New Year's flavor
✔️2. You can visit the Bell Tower and Drum Tower at once, they are very close, and you can also climb up to see Beijing city
✔️3. The combination of ancient and modern, historical buildings with modern technology design, various light shows, game experiences, etc. deeply touch people's hearts❤️, sighing the passage of time, we need to cherish the present more, and admire the ancient construction technology and modern technology more
✔️4. What surprised me the most is the cultural creativity. There is a Bell and Drum Creation Society in the Drum Tower, which specializes in selling cultural and creative products, various exquisite refrigerator stickers, keychains, canvas bags, hats, label stickers and other products, which make people can't help but chop hands. The lollipop 🍭 on the Bell Tower display stand is super exquisite and beautiful, and you can also get a stamp paper that includes spring, summer, autumn and winter
✔️5. The cultural and creative beverage shop in the Drum Tower, the Bell and Drum Drinking Time, is too photogenic, very well decorated, and provides various photo props. The dessert Drum Wind is simply too lovely, super exquisite, and the warm red drink in the Drum Tower is very comfortable
Beijing Shop Exploration | Food Shop Exploration | Good Places to Go on Weekends | Recommended Places for Walking Babies | Beijing Coffee Shop Exploration
WorldlyJourneyer
Great places to take a walk in Tianjin | It's like stepping into a fairy tale world
The weather has been so comfortable these days
Of course, it's time to take the baby out for fun
Heard from a friend that the Pocket Park in Beichen is particularly beautiful
Rushed to check in this weekend
Sure enough, the autumn in Jin City will not disappoint
The small park is so beautiful
It's like stepping into a fairy tale world!
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🍂Autumn play method
1⃣️Camping picnic
There is a large area of lawn in the center of the park
It's especially suitable for picnics and camping
You can also bring your own tent～
It's very quiet, you can play with your baby with confidence
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2⃣️Park photo
📷Share a few particularly good photo spots:
🔻Rose arch
🔻The path where you can see the bell tower
🔻Viewing pavilion
🔻Large lawn
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The rest area of the sales center is full of industrial style💯
Children can rest here when they are tired
🉑️Provide drinking water
NAOMI WISE
Experience the winter atmosphere in Beijing, a summary of excellent photo spots around the Drum Tower
🍡The Drum Tower in winter is full of life
🏮Crowded and bustling
⛸The Shichahai ice rink is also packed with people
☀️The afternoon sun in winter combined with the atmosphere of the Drum Tower is perfect
📷The best time to take photos is from 2pm to 4pm
‼️Since there are always a lot of people, here are 4️⃣ recommended photo spots and tips
💯Few people, good light, and a great atmosphere
1️⃣The front angle of the Drum Tower, between the Huali Jie video game store and Changying Three Brothers, is the best spot. You can capture a complete view of the Drum Tower and avoid other people
🌷Also, if you're taking photos on the sidewalk, try to stay close to the flower beds by the curb, take half-body shots, slightly upward, and zoom in 2-3 times on your phone
📮Tip: Sometimes when there are fewer people and cars, you can take photos in the bike lane. It's relatively safe because there are parked cars in front, and both full-body and half-body shots work well
2️⃣The front spot of the Drum Tower, the street sign of Drum Tower West Street and the zebra crossing
This is a great spot, but it's usually crowded. If you come on a weekday, definitely take a shot! If it's crowded, it's better to give up
3️⃣The second spot is on the left side of the Drum Tower, where you can capture the entire side of the Drum Tower and another super photogenic zebra crossing. Plus, there are no cars constantly driving by, so it's safe. The sunlight here at 3pm is also great!
4️⃣Don't just take photos of the Drum Tower, the grey Bell Tower at the back is also very beautiful!
🍃Use the small alley as the main scene, with the Bell Tower as the background, combined with the sunlight and trees, it's also very beautiful, and there are very few people here!
🧡These are the four free, less crowded, and super photogenic spots I've recently found
🍭🍢🍬Experience the winter atmosphere in Beijing, with the sweet smell of candied hawthorns filling the air
Drum Tower
Samuel_Morgan.34
Kapok Bell Tower of Conghua Ancient Village
Conghua District·Guangzhou Kapok Village Bell Tower Ancient Village
Drive south from Conghua Street along G105 National Road, when you reach Shenqi Highway, the rain is slanting and the bauhinia flowers are all over the ground, which is quite amazing.
There are several ancestral halls on the left side of the road, and you can't find your way around. Turn back, this is Kapok Village. Two ponds are sandwiched by a narrow long path, park the car in a corner, carry the camera in the rain, next to the beam wood alley, there is a tall gray brick wall with white ash joints, called Wenzhi Public Book House, which is a place for Xie's descendants to study.
Next to it is the Yushanxi Public Ancestral Hall, where rainwater gathers into a stream from the eaves and falls on the bluestone slabs in the courtyard. The hall is dark, the rain is fine, the exquisite gray sculptures on the archway have been damaged, and the colored paintings under the eaves can still be seen.
There is also the Wuyue Temple, with dozens of blessing wooden plaques hanging on the wall, the color is dark, showing the prosperity of incense in the past.
There is a huge litchi tree at the entrance of the village, which is said to have been planted in the middle of the Ming Dynasty. The canopy is like an umbrella, and the green is bright in the rain.
After a few miles, it is the Bell Tower Ancient Village, built by the Ouyang clan in the Qing Dynasty. There is a Fongde Hall in the public ancestral hall, with brick and tile earthen houses on both sides, bluestone paths in the alley, the walls are in disrepair, the horse bells are growing wildly in the collapsed walls, and the stone general is holding an umbrella in his right hand, walking alone in the rain in a green robe.
There is a green brick tower in the village, the door is locked and cannot be entered, the wind and rain in the alley are colder, thinking of the old Li's whole sheep feast in Guangzhou, the soup is rich and warm, and the delicious temptation temporarily puts away the heart of exploring the ancient and goes straight to Baiyun.
🏡Location: Taiping Town Kapok Village + Bell Tower Ancient Village. Both are on County Road 285 in Conghua District, about 2.8 kilometers away
🚙Transportation: About 60 kilometers from Guangzhou City and about 12 kilometers from Conghua District Street
👣Tour: Kapok Village is a thousand-year-old village, currently the largest village in Conghua District, most of the buildings in the village are from the Song Dynasty, Liuxi River passes by the village, the ancient pier still exists, there are hundreds of houses, currently there are Xie's Grand Ancestral Hall, Rongxi Public Ancestral Hall, Yushanxi Public Ancestral Hall and other ancestral halls. There is also the Wuyue Temple, which is full of ancient charm. Most of the buildings in the village are in ruins, and most of the residents have moved out. The maintenance of the old house is a long way to go.
The Bell Tower Ancient Village not far away may be due to the descendants of Ouyang, it is currently well preserved and has been maintained several times, with a new look. The main building in the village is the Ouyang Renshan Public Ancestral Hall, which is currently the largest ancestral hall in Conghua, most of the houses are well preserved, the alleys are clean, and some old houses have been turned into art studios.
🧸Suggestion: The two ancient villages are very close and can be visited together. In addition, there are many delicious foods in Conghua, such as Liuxi fish feast, mountain pit fish snails, Lvtian tofu, chicken goose bamboo shoots are all local delicacies.