29. A Journey Through China: The Ancient Bell and Drum Towers

Throughout Beijing’s long history, there existed a unique way of keeping time. There were no wristwatches, mobile phones, or the digital city clocks we see today. To know when the sun would rise, when the city gates would close, or when to begin the day’s activities, the people of old Beijing often relied on a specific sound: the tolling of bells and the beating of drums. At the northern end of Beijing’s Central Axis stand two structures that once bore the vital responsibility of announcing the time to the entire city—the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower. One housed a massive bell; the other, a colossal drum. Standing apart yet echoing one another, they have marked not only the passage of time but also the urban order of this ancient capital for centuries. Today, let us travel northward along the Central Axis to visit these towers. We will explore the history behind these ancient structures and seek out that "Beijing Time"—a rhythm of life that has long since faded amidst the clamor of the modern city.