The Bell Tower and Drum Tower is situated towards the north of Dianmenwai Street. These are a group of old buildings at the northern end of central axis from the south towards the north in the old capital of Beijing. The Bell Tower and Drum Tower bears a long history as a time-keeping Centre in the capital of the Ming, Yuan and Qing dynasties.
The Drum Tower was first constructed during the 9th year of Zhi Yuan Period of Ming Dynasty (1272), and was named Qi Zheng Tower, which means Orderly Administration. (These imply the seven administrations which are wood, gold, water, moon, earth, fire and sun). It was later burnt down by fire and again reconstructed during the first year of the Da De Period which was under the rule of Emperor Cheng Zong of the Yuan Dynasty (1297). The Drum Tower was reconstructed again in the 18th year of rule of Emperor Yong Le of the Ming Dynasty (1420) while the Imperial Palace was undergoing construction.
The height of the Drum Tower is 46.7 meters having a wooden arched structure with three layers of upturned eaves being covered with grey tube-shaped tiles and butted with green glazed tiles. Previously there were 24 drums, a Bronze Clepsydra and a main drum on the second floor. Today, you will get to see the presence of the drumhead only.
Situated towards the north of the Drum Tower was the Bell Tower which was built in the 9th year of rule of Zhi Yuan of the Yuan Dynasty (1272). It was also burnt down later and again was rebuilt in the 10th year of rule of the Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty (1745). The Bell Tower is 47.9 meters in height. It is one of the ancient domed, double-eaved towers made of bricks and stones and edged with green glazed tiles and embraced with black glazed tiles without any beam in the building. The Bell Tower weighs 63 tons and it is also the biggest ancient bell in China.
The Bell Tower and Drum Tower of Beijing were numbered among the first lot of cultural relics under the municipal protection in 1957 and also listed as a cultural relic under state-level protection in 1996. If you are visiting China then you way visit The Bell Tower and Drum Tower to get a look back at the ancient history of China.
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