Datong Drum Tower
大同鼓楼
A three-story Ming dynasty wooden drum tower at the crossroads of the old city. The surrounding streets are the liveliest area for food and shopping in the old city.
The Datong Drum Tower was built in the Ming dynasty. It is a wooden pavilion with three eaves and a cross-shaped hip-and-gable roof, about 20 meters high. It stands where Drum Tower East Street meets Drum Tower West Street, and it serves as the transport and commercial hub of the old city. At night the tower is lit up, and the nearby Drum Tower East Street and Huayan Street are lined with snack shops. Local dishes to try include knife-cut noodles, lamb offal soup, huang gao (a yellow sticky rice cake) and braised rabbit head. The exterior of the tower is free to view. Access to the upper levels depends on whether it is open that day. Huayan Temple, the Nine-Dragon Wall and Prince Dai's Mansion are all within walking distance.
Opening hours
Exterior viewable all day
Nearby sights
- Datong Ancient City Wall
- Nine-Dragon Wall
- Datong Guandi Temple
- Shanhua Temple
- Datong Confucian Temple
- Prince Dai's Mansion
- Huayan Temple
- Northern Wei Mingtang Site Park