While the Bell Tower originally held a bell that was rung at dawn, the banging of a huge drum in the Drum Tower (鼓楼, Gǔlóu) marked nightfall. Standing at the foot of the smoky and uproarious street of Beiyuanmen, this tower also dates from the 14th century and was rebuilt in the 1700s.
Time your visit to the Drum Tower to coincide with traditional music performances that happen at 9.30am, 10.15am, 11am, 11.45am, then every hour on the hour from 2pm to 5pm. One ticket covers both the Drum Tower and Bell Tower.
