Drum Tower

Strolling through the Ningbo Drum Tower, one feels a glimpse of millennia amidst the stained bricks and wood. The rammed earth of the Tang Dynasty city still lies dormant beneath the stone foundations. The Song Dynasty inscription "Mingzhou" weathers silently on the eaves. Moss grows thickly on the ceiling of the Ming Dynasty archway, and the claw marks of the stone lions hold the damp mists of Jiangnan. The wooden steps creak as one ascends. The midday sun penetrates the octagonal caisson, illuminating the sleeping beasts on the eaves. The eaves bells tinkle softly, but there's no wind. Only the digital clock displays remind one of the present time. Looking down from the railing, traffic buzzes along Zhongshan Road. Milk tea shops and used book stalls coexist at the base of the Wengcheng wall. The aroma of coffee entwines with the moisture of moss as it climbs the horse-head wall. Though the evening drum of the bell tower has been replaced by an electronic timekeeper, the melody of "Jasmine Flower" that rings every hour still blends the clamor of the city into a gentle melody. It's as if the six-hundred-year-old tower has transformed into a bronze key, gently unlocking layers of Ningbo's memories.

Not far from Tianyi Pavilion lies the only remaining remnant of Ningbo's ancient city tower—the Ningbo Drum Tower, built during the Tang Dynasty. It is the heart of the city, a landmark, and the birthplace of Ningbo. An old saying in Ningbo specifically describes the Drum Tower: "From Tianfeng Tower to the Drum Tower, you can travel east, west, and north." Visitors ascending the tower enjoy a panoramic view of Ningbo. Approaching the Bell and Drum Tower, the mottled walls bear the marks of time, while the dark blue bricks and black tiles reflect a tranquil, unvarnished presence. Only the chiming clock atop the tower rings with a resounding peal, echoing far and wide. Passing through the ancient city gate, a century-long street lined with distinctive neighborhoods such as the Antique Street and the Southeast Asian Style Street remains bustling.

Ningbo Drum Tower was built in the first year of the Changqing reign of the Tang Dynasty (821 AD). It is the only remaining ancient city tower site in Ningbo and one of the ancient buildings that are under national key cultural relic protection.

This six-story ancient building features a moon-shaped gate on the ground floor, boasting over 1,100 years of history. The three upper floors boast exquisitely designed eaves and angled corners. The bell tower, atop, boasts Ningbo's unique large chime clock. The mottled city walls, every brick and tile bear the marks of time. You can climb the walls and gaze out over Ningbo. Experience the atmosphere of the old city, and stay nearby.

The Drum Tower is a unique building with a bell tower on top, a fusion of Chinese and Western architecture. It won't take much time to visit the Drum Tower alone, but it would be even more rewarding if you also visit the snack street behind the Drum Tower to eat and browse.

The Drum Tower, the only ancient city relic and a must-see attraction in Ningbo

Ningbo, located on the southeast coast, midway along the mainland's coastline, is one of the world's top five ports and the eastern starting point of the Maritime Silk Road. Its name, inspired by its connection to the sea, was officially adopted in 1381 during the Ming Dynasty, meaning "the sea is peaceful and the waves are calm," a name that remains in use today. As a National Historical and Cultural City, its origins lie in the Xia Dynasty over 2,000 years ago, though its actual founding dates back to the first year of the Changqing reign of the Tang Dynasty (821).

The Drum Tower (Gulouyan), located at No. 2 Gongyuan Road, Haishu District, Ningbo, is a symbol of Ningbo's founding and the only remaining ancient city tower. In ancient times, the Drum Tower served not only as a timekeeper but also as a wartime reconnaissance and defense against foreign enemies. Today, it's a major hub for Ningbo's cultural activities. Its architecture embodies the traditional architecture of the Ningbo region and the characteristics of the Jiangnan water towns. Its two-story structure, with a double-sloped roof covered in green tiles, a fenghuo (fire-shaped) horse-head wall, and intricate exterior woodwork, bears a striking resemblance to renowned pedestrian streets like Guanqian Street in Suzhou and Confucius Temple in Nanjing. Its commercial street aesthetic is imbued with a strong sense of history and culture. Two ancient stone archways stand at the east and west ends, along with the remains of the city wall and stone tablets depicting the historical evolution of the inner city. Drum Tower Pedestrian Street, a vibrant blend of local culture, shopping, leisure, food, and entertainment, is a must-see for travelers in Ningbo.

⛲️Just across the road is Zhongshan Park, and nearby is Asia’s earliest private library - Tianyi Pavilion and the Moon Lake Scenic Area.

🚇Metro Line 2 Gulou Station

💰 Free commercial pedestrian street

⚠️ We recommend a 1-2 hour visit. The pedestrian street can be slippery on rainy days, and long-term parking is prohibited. This area is perfect for taking period photos. There are also some Ningbo specialty handicraft shops.

There are many small shops selling small handicrafts here, and even if it is not the peak tourist season, there are still locals visiting.

I walked by on my way to Zhuangyuanlou for dinner that day. Many cities have drum towers, and Ningbo is no exception. This one is a great blend of Chinese and Western styles.

The architectural style is neither fish nor fowl, and it is not a fusion of Chinese and Western styles. There are many places to eat in the back, and I had a vegetarian buffet.

The Drum Tower, also known as the Haishu Tower, was built during the Tang Dynasty and is the only remaining ancient city tower in Ningbo. Climbing the tower offers panoramic views of Ningbo. Atop the tower is a Roman-style bell tower, a unique blend of Eastern and Western styles. The nearby Park Road area is a hub for Ningbo's major cultural events, and the tower often hosts exhibitions of paintings, calligraphy, and photographs. Surrounding the Drum Tower is a pedestrian shopping area reminiscent of an antique, where Ningbo specialties like Youzanzi are worth trying.

Drum Tower

The transportation is very convenient and there is a subway station that can be reached directly

The snacks there are amazing, with a wide variety and affordable prices. 30 skewers of duck intestines or fresh meat for 10 yuan is simply amazing, right! ! Add a 18 yuan group buy of Luckin Coffee, and life can't get any better than this.

The Drum Tower is really just a building left, and next to it is the ruins of the Yongfengku, which also has only some foundation stones. It is a place to evoke nostalgia, but if you really want to see something, there is no need to go there.

It's very lively and has a great atmosphere. A dispensable antique pedestrian street

The only remaining ancient city tower ruins in Ningbo have been transformed into a commercial street with many shops and snacks. It's also crowded, and the night view is quite nice.

The Ningbo Drum Tower, built in the first year of the Changqing reign of the Tang Dynasty (821 AD), boasts a history of over 1,100 years. It symbolizes the official establishment of Ningbo as a prefecture and city. As the only remaining ancient city tower in Ningbo, it is a nationally protected cultural relic. Visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the city from the tower.

There are also many Ningbo specialty snacks and snacks from other places.

Ningbo Drum Tower is extremely unique. A Western clock was built on the Tang Dynasty style drum tower. This is the first time I have seen such a fusion.

Haishu Tower, now a landmark in downtown Ningbo, once served as a watchtower above the southern gate of Ningbo's inner city. The foundations of this drum tower were laid in the first year of the Changqing reign of Emperor Muzong of the Tang Dynasty (821 AD). The name Haishu Tower was adopted in the 13th year of the Wanli reign of the Ming Dynasty (1585 AD). Its current structure was established in the fifth year of the Xianfeng reign of the Qing Dynasty (1855 AD). This remains the only remaining ancient city tower in Ningbo.

The presence of a bell tower and a drum tower in an old city indicates that the city was at least a major city of prefecture-level in history. Ningbo, formerly known as Mingzhou, naturally had a bell and drum tower. Ningbo's Drum Tower dates back to the Tang Dynasty and has been rebuilt numerous times throughout history, bearing ties to many figures such as Wang Anshi. It still stands in the northern part of old Ningbo. The Drum Tower, also known as the "Haishu Tower," is the name given to Ningbo's Haishu District.



The Drum Tower is the only remaining ancient city tower in Ningbo. Furthermore, Ningbo's Drum Tower is unique in appearance: during the Republican era, a Western-style self-ringing bell tower was added to the existing structure. The addition of a reinforced concrete Western-style bell tower to the brick-and-wood Chinese Drum Tower is a strange sight, but it's also a unique feature in China.



The Drum Tower was under renovation when we visited, so we didn't have the chance to climb it, which was a shame. I'll definitely come back to Ningbo to see it next time I have the chance.

It's not far from Tianyi Pavilion, and has a lot of food, but it's also very diverse. There's a lot of traffic, so it's a bit messy.

It was first built in the first year of the Changqing reign of the Tang Dynasty (821 AD) and has a history of over 1,100 years. It is the symbol of Ningbo's official establishment as a prefecture and city.

It is the only remaining ancient city tower site in Ningbo and is said to have been the South City Gate in the past.

Below the Drum Tower is the city gate. Looking at the stone passage inside the gate, it looks quite old and simple.

The drum is gone, but there is a clock on top, telling the time on time, first playing "The East is Red" and then telling the time.

There are two plaques on each side, the east side has Shengwen Yutian and Mingyuan Tower, and the west side has Siming Weiguan and Haishu Tower.

Of course, you can’t go up to the Drum Tower, you can only look up from below.

The base was built during the Ming Dynasty, the upper floors during the Qing Dynasty, and the bell tower during the Republic of China. Construction began in the first year of the Changqing reign of the Tang Dynasty (821 AD), and boasts a history of over 1,100 years. It serves as a symbol of Ningbo's official establishment as a prefecture and city.

The scenery is average, not worth going there specifically, and there are not many places to eat.

The fifth and final stop on my 2018 Spring Festival self-driving tour of Ningbo. The previous stops were: Chiang Kai-shek's Former Residence, Xuedou Mountain, the Old Bund (which barely counts as one stop), and Tianyi Pavilion. I walked here after visiting Tianyi Pavilion, and upon arriving, I couldn't believe this was the attraction reviewed on China-TravelNote. Underneath the Drum Tower is a passage leading to Jinbu Xingjie. A 30-second walk around the tower revealed nothing to see. No, there's a clock up there where you can check the time!

There are not many tourists going to the Drum Tower. It doesn't seem to be a popular tourist attraction.

It is a relatively early commercial street. Its main feature is the Drum Tower, which is a fusion of Chinese and Western styles. To be honest, this Drum Tower is a bit out of place, but it is also a feature. Next to the Drum Tower is the Yongfengku Ruins, which was a warehouse during the Song, Yuan and Ming dynasties.

It should be the drum tower of Ningbo Ancient City, but I don’t know when a modern clock-like building was built on the ancient city tower, which looks a bit out of place.

Gulou Pedestrian Street is a bustling street integrating commerce and culture. Transportation is very convenient, and Metro Lines 1 and 2 can be transferred here.

It is the pedestrian street and the Drum Tower, with Zhongshan Park behind it.

The Drum Tower is the only remaining ancient city tower site in Ningbo. Climbing the tower, you can get a general view of Ningbo City and see the intersection of history and modern times on this tower.

At night, I passed by a very busy food and commercial street. I took a picture outside because I was catching the train the next day.

The foundation of Ningbo Drum Tower should be ancient, and the building on the Drum Tower should be from the Republic of China period. Ningbo has risen again in modern times due to the relationship between President Jiang.

I just passed by and took a few photos. There was a food and commercial street inside, the kind that can be found in many places.

Very convenient, right near Tianyi Square. I think everyone in Ningbo would go to Tianyi Square, at least to find something to eat!!! This is nearby, with everything you need to eat and play, very similar to Shanghai City God Temple.

Why aren't there even any landscape lights when I go there at night? There are very few people in Ningbo at night. Is there no nightlife?

Gulou Youzanzi (dough cakes) and the art of making them are amazing. The Gulou under a drizzle has a unique flavor. Enjoy a snack while strolling through the commercial street.

I don't know why the Ningbo Drum Tower (just call it Ningbo Drum Tower) looks this way. According to online descriptions, the existing Drum Tower was rebuilt in the fifth year of Emperor Xianfeng's reign in the Qing Dynasty, when the tower was converted into a three-story wooden structure. In 1930, a reinforced concrete watchtower and alarm bell tower were constructed on top of the Qing Dynasty tower, along with a mechanical alarm clock. While the lower portion of the Drum Tower is a typical traditional Chinese tower, the upper portion features a Roman-style Western bell tower.

The Drum Tower is the only remaining ancient city tower in Ningbo. It is said that you can get a panoramic view of the city by climbing the tower. However, with the high-rise buildings and excessive commercial development, it has lost some of its cultural charm. However, it is still worth visiting as a night view and snack street.

The Drum Tower is not as good as those in Taiyuan and Xi'an, mainly because it is not large enough and lacks grandeur.

After a walk around, I found that the chicken wing rice wraps at Chenghuang Temple were 8 yuan each, and there seemed to be only one place in Gulou, 10 yuan. The foot wraps that sell for 3.5 yuan in Shanghai were 13 yuan here. The key point was that she took a lot of effort to make them and they even broke.

I came out after dinner at around 6 o'clock, and the only light on the top clock of the Drum Tower was.

Built in the first year of the Changqing reign of the Tang Dynasty (821 AD), Ningbo's Drum Tower, over 1,100 years old, is the only remaining ancient city tower in Ningbo and a key national cultural relic. Drum Tower Pedestrian Street is bustling at night, as many shops are closed during the day. You can also climb the tower.

The Drum Tower itself doesn't have much to see, but it's free and there's a small park. Tianyi Square and Tianxing Lake Park are not far away. There's also a Drum Tower along the street where you can go shopping and eat snacks.

There is a commercial street behind the Drum Tower, which is the kind that is common in various scenic spots. Eat, drink and shop.

Ningbo's old buildings are free to visit.

Also called Haishu Tower, it is a strange building with a Western-style clock tower on top of a Chinese-style city gate tower.

A Western-style clock tower is built on top of this city wall building. Whether it is beautiful or not is not discussed here. The key point is that it is quite distinctive. Unfortunately, there is no explanation and its meaning is unclear.

Every ancient city has a drum tower, either old or new.

Yay! As a landmark of Ningbo, it's nice to walk around!!! ;)

I can only say it's very average, noisy and chaotic feeling

At night, it is a snack street, which has been renovated. It is average.

There is a pedestrian street behind the Drum Tower, with a variety of snacks that are quite attractive. It is also good to live next to the pedestrian street, not noisy.

The Drum Tower itself was nowhere to be found, and the shops inside were relatively deserted, with only half open. The shop right at the entrance, a long-established and truly prestigious one, closed at 6:30. Even when I went to buy something she clearly had, they were sold out. It's like most tourist spots.

I had the rare opportunity to climb to the top of the Drum Tower, drink a cup of tea from the owner, and take some beautiful photos.

I think it’s good too, mainly because there is a commercial snack street inside the Drum Tower.

From a distance, the clock on the Drum Tower shines like a bright moon, recording the vicissitudes of Ningbo's history. After returning, I looked up the Ningbo Drum Tower, which gave me an ancient and vicissitudes of life story.

The Ningbo Drum Tower, built in the first year of the Changqing reign of the Tang Dynasty (821 AD), boasts a history of over 1,100 years. It symbolizes the official establishment of Ningbo as a prefecture and city. The Drum Tower is the only remaining ancient city tower in Ningbo and is a nationally protected cultural relic. Visitors once enjoyed a panoramic view of Ningbo from the tower. Today, the Drum Tower and the surrounding Park Road area have become a major hub for cultural activities in Ningbo, and the architecture of the area fully embodies the characteristics of Ningbo's Jiangnan water town. Shops lining the area emulate traditional Ningbo architectural styles, featuring double-sloped roofs with small green tiles, horse-head walls, and intricate exterior wood carvings. The area embodies the charm of Ningbo's traditional commercial streets while retaining a strong sense of historical and cultural heritage. Restored features include the Zhejiang Provincial Supervisor's Office, two ancient stone archways at the east and west entrances, the remains of the city wall, and stone tablets documenting the historical evolution of the inner city. Two newly constructed stone archways symbolize the honor bestowed upon the ancestors by successful candidates in the imperial examinations during the Ming and Qing dynasties, embodying both cultural and historical significance. Drum Tower Pedestrian Street integrates culture and commerce, and combines shopping and leisure, and has become one of the tourist attractions in Ningbo.

Ningbo's oldest city gate has now become a bustling pedestrian street with a bustling atmosphere and a variety of delicious food. Opposite is the main gate of Zhongshan Park, a building from the Republic of China period.

I always thought there would be a lot of drums inside the Drum Tower, but I didn't expect it to be full of food and entertainment. I don't know. I'm not sure. I've been to many similar attractions. There were quite a lot of people. It was lively and bustling, but I was completely confused and didn't know what I was visiting. Hahaha, except for the Drum Tower, there were modern buildings outside, which just formed a contrast.

The Drum Tower, one of Ningbo's best-preserved ancient buildings, has become a pedestrian street in the city center. The most famous place is Auntie Wang's Youzanzi (Fried Dried Pork Belly with Fried Rice Noodles), where waiting for an hour is common on busy days. The Old Ningbo restaurant next door is also quite good, though I feel the two offer similar flavors.

The transportation is very convenient, and Metro Line 1 and Line 2 can be transferred at this station.

Every time I go there, it's not crowded. It's close to Zhongshan Park, so you can take your children for a walk in the park in the morning and have some snacks at the Drum Tower at noon. There are many Ningbo-style snacks here, which is very pleasant. The only downside is that the Drum Tower is too small.

The place we ate at was closed at noon, which was a shame because we were on a road trip during the Spring Festival. We then realized we were actually quite close to the Drum Tower. We found a street full of delicious snacks and chose the red oil stir-fried hand-fried dumplings. They're in the alley off the main road. Their signature dry-mixed red oil stir-fried hand-fried dumplings are excellent. There's also a Ningbo seafood place on the second floor, which you should definitely check out. We also ordered Xiao Yang's sheng jian (a type of fried dumpling). I was surprised to see so many sheng jian restaurants in Shanghai. Aunt Wang's Wenchang You Zanzi is right next to the red oil stir-fried hand-fried dumplings, so we also ordered some. They were delicious when hot, but not so good when cold. We also didn't try the fried squid because the line was so long.

Many cities have drum towers, but each seems to have its own unique charm. Ningbo also has a drum tower, with a Western-style top and a more traditional Chinese-style bottom. Plants, such as moss, grow on the ancient walls. There's a pedestrian street nearby.

This is the first day of the first month of 2016, and also the first time in my life that I will travel alone. I am full of anticipation. As for why I chose Ningbo, there are many reasons, I won’t elaborate. Now that I have started, let’s go~

The Drum Tower was the first place I visited when I arrived in Ningbo. I walked there from where I was staying, as it wasn't too far away, and I wanted to explore the city, so I walked from Daqingqiao Station (I was staying at the newly built Rujia Hotel in Daqingqiao, which was pretty good value, aside from the noise from the traffic outside!). The Drum Tower impressed me a lot like Nanjing's Confucius Temple. Perhaps most commercial streets like this are similar. Below are photos from inside the Drum Tower. My phone isn't very convenient for typing pictures, so here's what you can do: Pictures 1 and 2 show two streets: one bustling, the other a bit quieter. Picture 3: Youzanzi. I have to mention that in my hometown, Changde, Hunan, we call this "mahua." I ate it all the time as a kid! The green ones are fresh, though, and I've never tried them before. I bought some to try. Do they taste different from back home? I tried one, and it tasted just like mahua. Hahaha~ The fourth picture is a mango macchiato I bought at Auntie Henmang. It was okay, with a slightly sour taste. I'd definitely give it a try. Then, while walking around, I stumbled upon a parent-child market being held on a certain website in Ningbo. The babies parading around were quite adorable. For lunch, I went to a seafood noodle shop near the Drum Tower. I forgot what it was called. The shop was simply decorated but neat, with a large fish mural. I ordered a bowl of the specialty seafood noodles, which was quite good.

I visited the Drum Tower on both of my trips to Ningbo, and it was, as expected, just average. The setting is similar to Qibao Old Street in Shanghai, but the sights and attractions are noticeably less impressive. The Drum Tower itself is worth a look, and its only remaining feature is probably the large stage. The rest of the area bears the marks of modern commercial encroachment, so there's not much to see. Besides the numerous milk tea shops and chicken chop shops, there are also a few restaurants, teahouses, and clothing and shoe stores, as well as a McDonald's. There are also a few bridges and some handicraft stalls. It feels a bit like the City God Temple.

There is a very good business and cultural pedestrian street where you can spend most of the day or even the whole day.

The Drum Tower is located on the Drum Tower Pedestrian Street in the middle section of Zhongshan Road. It is located within the scope of the Ningbo inner city of the Tang and Song dynasties. The Drum Tower was originally the south gate of the inner city of the Tang and Song dynasties.

From the main entrance of Tianyi Pavilion (it started to get crowded as we were leaving), it's a 20-minute walk to the Drum Tower. It feels similar to Shanghai's City God Temple, a place for eating and shopping. It's worth a stroll if you're passing by, but there's no need to make a special trip; it's not very meaningful.

The Drum Tower was renovated a few years ago and has a strong modern commercial atmosphere. However, if you come to Ningbo, it is still nice to walk around and have a look. There is a ruins right next to it!

Drum Tower Pedestrian Street is not very long, and history and modernity coexist. The steak I had there at noon was so ordinary that I won’t mention its name.

It's pretty average. Basically all the shops are closed at 10pm. There's nothing special about it. Just pass by and enjoy it.

The Drum Tower seems to be impossible to go up, with a sense of antiquity. Commercial Street, some small ornaments or something. I like those on the wall

The commercial street is basically for snacks and souvenirs, which is similar to most commercial streets. The Drum Tower is still very beautiful at night, especially when it is not completely dark, you can take good photos.

It's okay to not go here, it's not very interesting and too commercial

In fact, the commercialization here is even more intense than Lijiang. I don’t really like it, so I just wandered around to kill time.

There are many delicious foods here. The drum towers in each city are similar and they are quite good.

Gulou was also a potential stop, as our return high-speed train was still three hours away. We'd originally planned to eat there until we got back to Shanghai, but once we got there, we couldn't resist. Youzanzi, stinky tofu, and other delicious food were all on the menu. Anything we smelled caught our fancy, and we both followed the scent to find our destination.

It seems that in the past, the Drum Tower could offer a view of Ningbo's cityscape. However, with the increasing number of high-rise buildings, the Drum Tower no longer seems that high, and you can't see much from it. However, it's nice to see this old city wall-like structure preserved in the city.

Located in the center of Ningbo, the surrounding commercial streets are well built and have a great atmosphere, but there is nothing much to see in the Drum Tower itself.

Next to the Yongfengku Ruins is the Drum Tower. There is nothing interesting about the Drum Tower itself, but it seems that there are always some exhibitions here, so there are always tourists and citizens coming here.

Then we went to the Drum Tower. It was like a pedestrian street. There were so many delicious foods! I couldn’t stop eating!

The first thing I want to recommend is the Lao Ningbo Youzanzi~~~ There are salty and sweet~~ I prefer the sweet~~

Next, I want to recommend the Shorty’s Pie. Since they were closed that day, I bought some next door. It tasted really good too!

The Drum Tower at night. When I was there before, the Drum Tower was under renovation. This time when I went back, it was all finished. There are many delicious things to find here.