Drum Tower & Bell Tower
钟鼓楼
Timekeeping buildings from the Yuan and Ming dynasties at the northern end of the central axis. The Drum Tower holds scheduled drum performances, and the surrounding hutongs are everyday life areas of old Beijing.
The Bell Tower and the Drum Tower face each other at the northern end of Beijing's central axis. They served as the timekeeping centers of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, and they were added to the World Heritage List along with the central axis in 2024. The Drum Tower displays a replica of the night drum and a surviving main drum, with several drum performances every day. Inside the Bell Tower hangs the Yongle Bell, which weighs about 63 tons. The stairs in both towers are very steep, but the summits offer views of Shichahai and the hutong rooftops. A combined ticket for both towers costs about 30 yuan. The small squares around them have many cafes, and you can connect your visit to Shichahai and Nanluoguxiang. Take Metro Line 8 to Shichahai Station.
Opening hours
09:30–17:30 (last entry 16:40)
Nearby sights
- Shichahai
- Nanluoguxiang Hutongs
- Prince Gong's Mansion
- Jingshan Park
- Beihai Park
- Temple of Confucius & Imperial Academy
- Yonghe Temple (Lama Temple)
- Temple of Earth (Ditan Park)