Beijing Bell and Drum Towers

The majestic Drum Tower and Bell Tower are inseparable symbols of Beijing. Until roughly a hundred years ago, they served as the city's official timekeepers, announcing curfew and coordinating night watch patrols. Today you can climb both towers to see old-world views, listen to the hourly drum performance, and admire China's largest bell. The Drum Tower was originally built as far back as 1272 for musical purposes and is now a tourist attraction after ceasing to be the city's timekeeper. The nearby Bell Tower houses the largest and heaviest bell in China, weighing a full 63 tons (a.k.a. my weight after eating dumplings). I grouped the Bell and Drum Towers together, as they are located very close to each other, so you can easily visit both.