| Drum
& Bell Towers (1272 originally, rebuilt 1420 onward)
other
sites in Beijing |
Beijing, China |
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Beijing's Drum and Bell Towers were originally built during the Yuan dynasty when the city was called Dadu, the Mongol capital. The drum tower was built in 1272 and rebuilt in 1297. When the third Ming emperor, Yongle, moved the capital back to Beijing in 1420, both towers were rebuilt. Though it has gone through several rounds of restoration, the basic form dates from 1420. The drum tower is 46.7 meters tall and once held 25 different drums, though only one of these was actually beaten to tell the hours
Like its partner to the south, the bell tower was originally built in 1272 and rebuilt in 1420. However it burned during the 18th century and was rebuilt yet again in 1745. It is slightly taller than the drum tower at 47.9 meters and still holds the original bell, though this bell is not rung anymore.
Bibliography:
All
images copyright 2001 Professor Kerk L. Phillips of Brigham Young University,
Utah, USA.
Visit
his webpage at www.pomosa.com