Main functions of Beijing Bell and Drum Tower

The main function of Beijing Bell and Drum Tower is to tell the time.

Beijing Gulou Bell Tower, also known as "Beijing Bell and Drum Tower", is located at No.9 Linzi, Zhonglou Bay, Dongcheng District, Beijing. It was the time center of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It was built in the 9th year of Yuan Dynasty (1272), rebuilt in the 18th year of Yongle in Ming Dynasty (1420) and rebuilt in the 18th year of Jiajing in Ming Dynasty (158).

Time-telling function: The original function of the bell tower and drum tower is to tell time, which is used to tell time and night respectively. Every bell can let the residents in the city know the current time. The drum tower tells the time with a big drum. Whenever night falls, drums sound to remind people that it is time to have a rest. The bell and drum tower is also an alarm for the city, reminding residents to escape or prepare for defense.

The Bell and Drum Tower is also an important place for ancient cultural activities. Every important festival or celebration, various cultural performances, games and competitions will be held in front of the Bell and Drum Tower, attracting a large number of audiences and tourists. In ancient China, the Bell and Drum Tower was also a symbol of local political power. They are usually built in the center of the city, symbolizing the power center of the city.

In ancient times, they were also important official places in cities, where various political ceremonies and celebrations were held. Beijing Drum Tower and Bell Tower are part of Beijing's central axis, including two ancient buildings, Beijing Drum Tower and Beijing Bell Tower. The Drum Tower in Beijing is red, with two floors and a height of 46.7 meters. It faces south and covers an area of about 7000 square meters.

Movable building of bell and drum tower

On the second floor of Beijing Gulou, an antique drum performance will be held every once in a while. There are 25 drums left in the Drum Tower, with the big drum in the middle representing 1 year and the remaining 24 small drums representing 24 solar terms. In the 600-year-old history of striking time, the bell and drum tower has always followed the mode of beating the drum first and then ringing the bell, resulting in the "twilight drum and morning bell".

At dusk, the bell tower knocks 18, the drum tower knocks 18, and * * * knocks 108 three times, which counts as one hour. The clock in the bell tower is made of brass. During the performance of drum music, three drummers dressed in national costumes will come to the main drum on time and start beating the drum surface. The drums are sonorous. Drum performance of Drum Tower, there are different drums in four seasons.