What was the original purpose of the Drum Tower?

The tower was originally built for musical reasons before being utilized as an official city timekeeping structure.

Where is the complex located?

The complex stands at the northern end of the central axis of the Inner City, just north of Di'anmen Street.

What was the Drum Tower named during the Yuan dynasty?

During the Yuan dynasty, when the city was known as Khanbaliq, the building was called the Tower of Orderly Administration.

What is located on the upper story of the Drum Tower?

The upper level serves as the People's Cultural Hall of the Dongcheng District and houses exhibition space.

How did the towers become a museum?

After traditional timekeeping was replaced by modern methods, historical artifacts were placed on display inside the buildings, converting them into museum spaces.

Beijing · China

Gulou and Zhonglou: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

Tenants settling in the hutong courtyards around the towers trade car access and modern plumbing for direct immersion in ancient imperial axis life.

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Now in the cityGulou and Zhongloulocal time on site Around here7

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Within two hours

Temple of Heaven≈ 30 min St. Joseph's Church, Beijing≈ 40 min Tiananmen Square≈ 50 min

About the place

Ancient civic timekeeping defined daily rhythms across the capital from these monumental towers.

The Drum Tower anchors the northern terminus of the historic central axis north of Di'anmen Street. Established during the Yuan dynasty when the capital was Khanbaliq, the original structure bore the name of the Tower of Orderly Administration, symbolizing cosmic elements from fire and water to the sun and moon. The complex was later rebuilt under the Yongle Emperor and maintained through major Qing dynasty repairs.

Read on

Official timekeeping ceased following the Beijing Coup, when general Feng Yuxiang introduced Western time methods and renamed the site the Tower of Clarifying Shame. The monument then became an exhibition hall displaying artifacts from foreign military invasions and municipal unrest. Today the upper level functions as the local district cultural center, welcoming long-term residents and visitors into the historic core.

Associations

Imperial timekeepingCivic drums and bells marked official hours for centuries across the capital.
Central axisThe complex anchors the northern boundary of the historic city layout.
Dongcheng Cultural HallThe upper floor hosts community programs for surrounding neighborhood residents.
Congested courtyardsHeavy tourist foot traffic fills the central plazas and narrow access lanes.

Facts

The Drum Tower was established during the Yuan dynasty when the city was known as Khanbaliq.
Official timekeeping ended after the Beijing Coup when Western methods replaced the historical bells and drums.
The upper level of the Drum Tower accommodates the local Dongcheng District cultural hall.
The structure marks the northern terminus of the historic central axis north of Di'anmen Street.

Updated September 21, 2026Source: Wikipedia

Gulou and Zhonglou: what's nearby, how to get there and when to go · 2026

What is around7

Ancient civic timekeeping defined daily rhythms across the capital from these monumental towers.

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