Drum Tower & Old City
鼓楼·老城厢
The Drum Tower at the center of the crossroads in Tianjin’s old walled city. Nearby are the Guangdong Guild Hall (now the Tianjin Theatre Museum) and a traditional-style shopping street, the source of Tianjin’s cultural heritage.
The center of the Ming-dynasty Tianjin garrison city was the Drum Tower. The current tower was rebuilt in 2001 to match its original appearance. The archways on each of the four sides of the ground floor correspond to the four main streets of the old city. There is an exhibition inside the tower. On the southeast side is the Guangdong Guild Hall, built in 1907. It is a well-preserved Qing-dynasty guild hall that houses the Tianjin Theatre Museum, and its ancient opera stage is exquisite. Admission costs about 10 yuan. The nearby Drum Tower Commercial Street sells antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and Tianjin snacks. The site is about 1.5 kilometers from Ancient Culture Street, so it is ideal for a half-day walking tour.
Opening hours
Drum Tower 09:00–17:00; Guangdong Guild Hall closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Xibeijiao Breakfast Street
- Ancient Culture Street
- Tianjin Eye
- Wanghailou Church
- Dabeiyuan Temple
- Liang Qichao Memorial (Ice Drinker's Studio)
- Italian Style Town
- Jingyuan (Quiet Garden)