The Watchtower (Bell-Drum Tower), County-level Protected Cultural Relic of Linying County

Also known as the Bell-Drum Tower, the Watchtower was first built in 1370 (the 3rd year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty) and reconstructed in the 2nd year of the Jingtai reign of the Ming Dynasty. Standing in front of the ancient county government office, it covers an area of 140 square meters and is a brick-built terrace-style structure.

The stone terrace rises 6 meters high, measuring 14.7 meters from east to west and 9.5 meters from north to south. The central arched passageway is 3.5 meters wide, 4 meters tall and 9.5 meters deep. The wooden tower atop the terrace stands five zhang high. A bronze bell weighing 2,000 jin was cast for the tower, alongside a giant drum with a circumference of ten arm spans, bringing great convenience for townsfolk to arrange their daily work and rest. As the only surviving landmark embodying ancient culture among all neighboring counties and cities, it boasts remarkable historical value and was designated a Key County-level Protected Cultural Relic in 1973.

Its terrace is laid with blue bricks. Carved on a horizontal bluestone plaque above the south archway are two Chinese characters "Watchtower", shining brightly under sunlight. Directly below it lies another indented stone tablet inscribed with "Ancient Prefecture of Yingchuan". The Watchtower is accessed via bluestone steps enclosed by bluestone railings. Resting on the terrace is a wooden palace-style two-story pavilion with upturned double eaves. Wind chimes hang from iron ornaments at each of its four corners, and ten exposed wooden pillars support the entire roof structure.

Liu Hang, Magistrate of Linying during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, once composed a poem depicting the tower:

These verses paint a vivid authentic portrait of the ancient Watchtower.

Describing it merely as "beautiful" falls far short of its charm. In olden times, merchants flocked here in endless streams of carriages and pedestrians, making the area as bustling as today’s Traffic Road and China Market.

Years of neglect and man-made damage took a heavy toll: the wooden pavilion, bell house and drum chamber on the terrace vanished long ago. Wild vines and miscellaneous trees overran the platform, some trunks reaching a circumference of 1.5 meters. Centuries of wind and rain erosion pushed the surrounding brick walls outward, cracking them in numerous places and leaving the edifice on the verge of collapse. Emergency restoration became an urgent priority.

Thanks to strong attention from the CPC Linying County Committee, the county government, cultural authorities, and joint efforts from all sectors of society, renovation work on the Watchtower kicked off on July 1 last year with an investment of 450,000 RMB. The five-month-long project was successfully completed.

Today, the Watchtower shines with striking red and green decorative hues, solemn and magnificent, restored to its original grandeur. Gazing upon it, one can almost picture the bygone prosperity: "Climb the tower on hot summer days to feel cool breezes sweep by; lean on railings to overlook the whole county. Below stretches a thoroughfare thronged with travelers, bustling merchants, carriages and crowds without end."