About
The Drum Tower of Beijing is a historic tower in the city of Beijing, in China. It is a Ming Dynasty landmark, and its upper levels are a place to look out over the city's traditional hutong neighborhoods, the older lanes of low courtyard houses that have long shaped daily life in the capital.
What the visit offers
- Views of the hutongs: From the top, you look down across rooftops and narrow alleys, a different perspective from the wide avenues at street level.
- The ancient drums: The tower houses drums, which are part of its history and of what visitors come to see on the upper floors.
- A long-standing landmark: The tower is about 600 years old, so the visit is as much about the structure itself as about the view.
Planning your trip
Because the tower sits among the hutongs, it pairs well with a walk through the surrounding streets. Many visitors combine the climb with a stroll through the neighborhood and a stop at other sights nearby, which gives a fuller picture of old Beijing alongside the modern city.
The climb is steep, with narrow stairs in places, so allow time for the ascent and take care on the way up and down. If you are deciding whether to go, the appeal is simple: a historic tower, a clear view over traditional neighborhoods, and a chance to see how the old city sits beside the new.
