Bell Tower is located about 100 meters north to the Drum Tower, at the Central Axis of Beijing, Dongcheng District. Belland Drum Tower are the ultimate in scale and shape and one of landmarks of the ancient capital as well as the witness to historical development of China in recent 100 years.
Bell Tower is 47.9m high and designed with double eaves and hip-and-gable roof. The materials used to build the large and individual building are brick and stone covered by gray tiles and green glazed tiles on the edge. The tower is installed with an archway with 75 steps leading to the second floor in the northeastern corner. The inner part of the tower is built with a structure that enhanced the transmission and propagation of sound so the building resonates with the sound of the bell, which is a triton of the minnows in the architectural history of Chinese bell tower.
Copper bell for announcing the time displayed on the second floor of the Bell Towerwas manufactured during the reign of Emperor Yongle of the Ming Dynasty. The copper bell is hang from wooden support shaped in octagon, 7.02m in overall height and 5.5m in height of bell body, 3.4m in diameter at the bottom, 12cm to 24.5cm in thickness and 63 tons in weight. It is the oldest and heaviest ancient bell in China, known as the “King of the Ancient Bells”.
According to ancient Chinese document, this bell was casted in pit-type furnace by adopting traditional mud molding process. Made of bell metal, bell body can generate powerful and lingering sound, like the records stating that the bell could be heard by people inside and outside the capital as far as 5 kilometers away.
Belland Drum Tower were originally built in 1272 during the reign of Kublai Khan of the Yuan Dynasty, at which time they stood at the very heart of the Dadu (Beijing nowadays), capital of the Yuan Dynasty. After being destroyed by fire, these towers were rebuilt in 1297 during the reign of Temür Khan (Emperor Chengzong) of the Yuan Dynasty and then were burnt down. In 1420 (the 18th year during the reign of the Yongle Emperor of the Ming Dynasty), they were reconstructed, with their site established as the northern end of the central axis of the Inner City. However, they suffered from fire in succession.Bell Towerwas reconstructed in the 10th year (1745) of the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. After being renovated for several times in the Qing Dynasty, existing Bell Towerwas built in the Qing Dynasty.
As a significant component of landscapes of ancient capital together with nearby hutongs, alleys formed by lines of siheyuan, traditional courtyard residences, these towers are epitome of massive historical and cultural heritages and embody the characteristics of folk culture for an era and distinctive humanistic value. Although the “evening drum and morning bell” has become the memory of Beijing citizens, Zhonglou and Gulou have been an epitome of “Old Beijing” in their deep hearts.
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