Gulou (Drum and Bell Tower Quarter)

The quarter around Beijing's Drum and Bell Towers — the city's medieval timekeepers — is where hutong life, dive bars, vinyl shops, and rooftop views collide. Climb the Drum Tower (CNY 20, combo with Bell Tower CNY 30) for the drum performance and axis views. Steep, ancient stairs are the only way up — no elevator.

Key facts

Frequently asked questions

Drum Tower or Bell Tower — which one if I only climb one?

Drum Tower. It's bigger, has the performance and the drum exhibits, and the south-facing view runs straight down the imperial axis. The Bell Tower is quieter and moodier — worth adding for CNY 10 more on the combo if your legs agree.

Is the climb hard?

It's one very steep, tall stone staircase — around 70 near-vertical steps with a handrail. Fine for most reasonably fit people, but genuinely not doable with strollers, wheelchairs, or bad knees. The view down the central axis to Jingshan is the reward.

Is there a drum performance and when?

Yes — short live drum performances run several times a day inside the Drum Tower, recreating the old timekeeping ritual. Check the schedule posted at the ticket office when you arrive and time your climb around one; it's brief but genuinely stirring in that dark old hall.

How much do Drum Tower and Bell Tower tickets cost?

Drum Tower is CNY 20, Bell Tower CNY 15, or a combo ticket for CNY 30 — one of the best-value climbs in Beijing. Book via the official WeChat mini-program on busy days; on-site tickets usually work on weekdays.

Where should I eat or drink around Gulou?

Gulou Dong Dajie and the hutongs off it hide everything from old Beijing zhajiangmian joints to craft-beer taprooms and hole-in-the-wall cocktail bars. The area skews young and local; wander until something looks busy with Chinese twenty-somethings and join them.

What are the Drum Tower's opening hours?

Roughly 9:30-17:30 in peak season (late April to late October) and 9:30-16:30 in winter, with last entry about 10 minutes before closing. During big holidays like Spring Festival and Golden Week everything shifts half an hour later.

What else is there to do around Gulou besides the towers?

This is one of Beijing's best hanging-out neighborhoods: record shops and vintage stores on Gulou Dong Dajie, cafes and small bars in the surrounding hutongs, and the square between the two towers where locals play jianzi and dance. Give it an evening, not just a climb.

Is Gulou walkable from Houhai or Nanluoguxiang?

Yes — it's the hinge between them. Houhai's lakes are 5-10 minutes west, Nanluoguxiang about 10-15 minutes southeast through pleasant hutongs. You can easily do all three as one long afternoon-into-evening loop on foot.

Nearby in Ask Beijing

• Nuage (Qingyun Lou)Restaurant0.37 km · 5 min walk
• Drum Tower and Bell TowerAttraction0.5 km · 6 min walk
• Prince Gong's MansionAttraction0.59 km · 7 min walk
• Shichahai and Houhai LakesNeighborhood0.61 km · 8 min walk
• The Orchid BarBar0.87 km · 11 min walk