The Yinchuan Drum Tower (银川鼓楼), also known as the “Cross Drum Tower” or “Four-Cornered Drum Tower,” is a historic structure located in Yinchuan, Ningxia. The tower stands 36 meters tall and covers an area of 576 square meters. Its base was originally built in 1821 during the reign of Emperor Daoguang in the Qing Dynasty, under the supervision of Zhao Yixuan, the local governor of Ningxia. In 1908, local merchants contributed funds to construct the tower’s three-story structure, though construction was paused due to financial issues. It was finally completed in 1917 by Yudiming, the county magistrate, who added arched roofs at the four corners.
The Yinchuan Drum Tower is made up of a square brick-and-stone platform, with each side measuring 24 meters in length and 8.5 meters in height. At the center, a three-story pavilion with a cross-shaped double-eaved roof is constructed. The tower’s base features arched doorways on all four sides, allowing access to Yinchuan’s east-west Liberation Street and north-south Drum Tower Street. Each doorway has stone inscriptions: “迎恩 Ying’en” to the east, “来薰 Lai Xun” to the south, “挹爽 Yi Shuang” to the west, and “拱极 Gongji” to the north. Visitors can ascend to the top via a hidden stone staircase in the northern arched passage, leading to a pavilion with surrounding balconies offering a panoramic view of Yinchuan.
The Drum Tower also holds historical and revolutionary significance. In 1926, it housed the first Communist Party organization in Ningxia and the Kuomintang county office. After Ningxia’s liberation on September 23, 1949, the tower served as the location for a military review by the People’s Liberation Army. The government has carried out multiple restorations, and today, the tower is surrounded by a circular garden and features a Party history exhibition hall inside.
Basic Information
| Estimated Length of Tour | 30 minutes |
| Ticket Price | Free |
| Opening Hours | 9.00 – 18.00 |
Location and Transportation
Yinchuan Drum Tower is located in the heart of Yinchuan, the capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China. Specifically, it can be found at the intersection of Liberation East-West Street and Drum Tower South-North Street. To get there, you can take bus 1, 11, 12, 29, or 34 and get off at Drum Tower Stop (鼓楼站).
