The Drum Tower (鼓楼), officially known as the Qiaolou, is one of the landmark buildings in the old city area of Luoyang. It was initially constructed in the forty-second year of the Ming Dynasty’s Wanli era (1614 AD) and was originally located in front of the Fu Wang Mansion on Fucheng Street (now Zhongzhou Road in front of the Youth Palace Square). Due to the construction of the Fu Wang Mansion, it was later relocated to Dongdajie Street. It underwent two major renovations during the Shunzhi and Qianlong periods of the Qing Dynasty, boasting a history of over 350 years. Unlike the separate Drum and Bell Towers in Xi’an, Luoyang’s tower combines both functions into one structure.
The Drum Tower features a high platform made of blue bricks and archway-style doorways, showcasing a simple and elegant architectural style. The platform’s base is constructed with large blue stones and has doorways for pedestrians and vehicles to pass through. Stairs on the north and south sides of the platform lead to the second floor. At the eastern and western ends of the doorways, there are stone plaques inscribed with the characters “就日” (Sunrise) and “瞻云” (Cloud Gazing) respectively. These plaques, carved during the Jin Dynasty, are precious cultural relics that add unique cultural value to the building.
Inside the tower, there is a large bell. In the thirty-fourth year of the Jiajing reign of the Ming Dynasty (1555 AD), this bell was cast alongside the bell at the White Horse Temple. Due to the identical parameters of the casting, they resonate together, forming one of Luoyang’s Eight Sights known as the “Bell of the White Horse Temple.” When either bell is struck, the other responds with its own sound.
In contrast to the bustling atmosphere of the Lijing Gate on West Street, the surroundings of the Drum Tower still maintain a relatively tranquil atmosphere, with mostly residential buildings. The adjacent houses are much lower than the tower, with some rooftops covered in moss, weeds, and small trees, adding a sense of age to the tower. In the morning sunlight, the voices of vendors pass through the archways of the Drum Tower as the people of old Luoyang begin their busy day under its watchful gaze. As the last rays of sunlight illuminate the characters “Drum Tower” at the end of the day, the day of the old Luoyang residents draws to a close, and lights begin to flicker along Dongdajie Street, enveloping the Drum Tower in a mysterious and solemn atmosphere.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 30 minutes |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 18.00 |
Location and Transportation
The Drum Tower is located at the intersection of Dongdajie Street and Daozun Street in the old city area of Luoyang, Henan Province, China. To get there, you can choose one of the following ways:
Bus: Take bus 4, 5, 9, 18, 20, 22, 41, 42, 56, 58, 74, 86, get off at Qingniangong Stop (青年宫), and walk about 350 meters to the southeast to reach the Drum Tower.
Metro: The cloest metro station to the Drum Tower is Luoyi Ancient City (洛邑古城) on line 1. After getting out of station from Exit A1, walk about 200 meters to the south to reach the attraction.
