Photos of Drum Tower

Kaifeng Drum Tower is located at the southern end of Bookstore Street and was built in the 12th year of Ming Hongwu (1379). The Drum Tower is symmetrical from east to west, in a line, very majestic and neat. In the late Ming Dynasty, the governor of Henan at that time believed that the bell and the drum tower had destroyed the feng shui of the yamen, so he ordered the positions of the bell and the drum tower to be exchanged. Therefore, the location of the Bell Tower and Drum Tower in Kaifeng is opposite to that of the ancient system. But at the end of Ming Dynasty, the bell tower at the mouth of the Yellow River was flooded. In the tenth year of Kangxi, the governor of Henan demolished the destroyed bell tower. Since then, Kaifeng has lost the bell tower, only the drum tower. The Kaifeng Drum Tower has been preserved since it was built in the Ming Dynasty. It was destroyed by war when Kaifeng was liberated in 1948, and only one abutment was left. In 1976, even the base was removed. The Drum Tower seen today was rebuilt in 2013. The square in front of the Drum Tower is the location of Kaifeng's night market, and it is also a must-see for tourists traveling to and from Kaifeng. When night falls, food trucks of uniform specifications are neatly arranged in the eating area on both sides of the square. The loud shouts, the melodious chanting and the slamming of tableware have become a highlight of Kaifeng. Here, you can taste the jelly, xiaolongbao, and snacks from all over the country.