Drum and Bell Towers

Directly north from the Forbidden City sits the ancient Drum and Bell Towers which once told the time to citizens. Known as Gulou in Chinese the Drum Tower was first built in 1272 but has since undergone a series of reconstructions in following centuries. Today, tourists can climb Gulou for a spectacular view over the capital’s remaining hutongs and the quaint tiled roofs of the courtyard houses below. The central square between the two towers is filled with tourist buses by day; but in warm summer nights, after the tourists leave, old Beijingers come out in droves to play mahjong, chew the fat, or dance. After visiting the Towers make sure to spend time exploring the maze of hutongs that surround them which provide a slice of local life. They may not be around for much longer; in 2012 the government announced plans to knock down the old houses around the square before rebuilding them in a faux 18th century Qing Dynasty style to cater to domestic tourists. For now plans have apparently being stalled; yet the fate of the Drum and Bell Tower area remains uncertain.