Drum Tower

We arrived at the Tianjin Eye at 4 o'clock. The queue was quite fast, but we could not choose the time period when buying tickets.

You really have to try the cooked pear cake once! Once! Because you will definitely not eat it a second time. Maybe it’s because the jam is not to your liking, it’s a bit sweet. But you still have to try it once.

The pancakes were thin and crispy and delicious. Maybe it was evening and the fried dough sticks were not too burnt.

Tea soup 85 points

The Drum Tower, located on Gulou East Street in Nankai District, Tianjin, is three stories high. The ground floor is a square brick platform, wide at the bottom and narrow at the top, with four arched doorways providing access to the four main streets. The tower's bell, 1.4 meters in diameter, 2.3 meters high, and weighing approximately 1,500 kilograms, is known as Tianjin's "King of Bells." The rebuilt Drum Tower bears the names of the four old city gates, inscribed by Tianjin calligrapher Hua Shikui on the four gates: Zhendong, Anxi, Dingnan, and Gongbei.

Jianbingguozi is a snack for people in Tianjin. It is made of mung bean flour pancakes, eggs, and fried dough sticks or thin crispy "biaobier". It is served with noodle sauce, chopped green onions, fermented bean curd, and chili sauce as condiments. It has a salty and fragrant taste.

This is my first time eating a pancake with fermented bean curd. It tastes good, but it's quite big.

Tianjin's Drum Tower has undergone numerous renovations over the centuries. The four sides are inscribed with the words "Dongzhen," "Xi'an," "Nanding," and "Beigong." It's quite impressive, and you should definitely check it out.

The Drum Tower and its surrounding area are the original site of Tianjin's founding. It should actually be called the Bell Tower. It has been rebuilt twice, most recently in 2001, and the current buildings are all newly constructed. The first and second floors of the Drum Tower currently house a museum, and the third floor houses the large bell.

Tianjin's iconic attractions, the birthplace of folk customs!!!

The Drum Tower is very tall, so you can only take pictures and eat delicious food.

Surrounding it is a commercial street called Gulou Commercial Street. Tianjin Gulou is located in an antique building in Nankai District, Tianjin.

Drum Tower (There are not many things to see near the river, so it is not recommended to go there specifically

On the Ancient Culture Street, went there in the evening~~~

The symbol of Tianjin's old city, with commercial streets on all four sides, you can get a ticket to go upstairs for free with your ID. This is also the Tianjin Drum Tower Museum.

There is nothing to see. I wanted to go to the Drum Tower, but it was closed.

The Drum Tower is a hub for crosstalk and folk art. You can listen to crosstalk in a nearby teahouse and experience Tianjin's unique crosstalk culture. The performers' expressive performances will add even more joy to your trip. There are also many local snacks nearby, such as ear-shaped fried cakes and cooked pear cakes, which you can enjoy while strolling.

From Jinwan Square to Ancient Culture Street, I first arrived at the Drum Tower. I spent a long time searching for the bus stop near the square, but ultimately decided to cycle one stop further. Around the Drum Tower were a few small vendors, including some who were selling things like ring tossing, and a lot of vendors selling cooked pear cakes. Across the street was a short, less busy Drum Tower pedestrian street. My reward was some ear-shaped fried cakes.

There are several market blankets in Gulou that have an old-fashioned feel and are very refreshing (this is a small shop for engraving seals, the prices are a bit expensive, 200 yuan per character, just take a look around).

It's just a drum tower, similar to those all over the country, nothing special.

It looked like it was rebuilt, so I didn't go up to see it.

Tickets: Free ticket exchange with ID card

Opening hours: April 1st to October 25th, 08:30-22:00, October 26th to March 31st, 08:30-17:00

Address: Center of Nankai District, Tianjin

Transportation: Walking

You can exchange your ID card for free tickets to enter the Drum Tower for a visit, and you can also go up to the Drum Tower to overlook the scenery of Tianjin.

Some people say that the current city of Tianjin was formed by expanding outwards with the Drum Tower as the center, so they claim that the "Drum Tower" is the birthplace of Tianjin.

Inside the Drum Tower is a museum introducing Tianjin.

After visiting the museum, you can climb up the Drum Tower floor by floor.

The bell tower on the top floor costs 10 yuan per ring.

During festivals, famous people would write the word "Fu" here and give it away.

The pedestrian street around the Drum Tower is fun, with all kinds of snacks. Although it is a bit expensive and mostly visited by people from other places, the atmosphere of the Spring Festival is also very strong. You can exchange your ID card for a ticket and go up to the Drum Tower to overlook the commercial street. Inside the Drum Tower is an exhibition of old objects.

The atmosphere during the Chinese New Year is still very rich and lively!

It's just so-so, there's an ear-shaped fried cake next to it.

There are some shopping places nearby, and the only tourist attraction is the Drum Tower. It is not recommended to visit here.

The cultural relics fair every Thursday starts early in the morning and ends at 2 p.m. Friends who like cultural relics and collecting old things must come and have a look. The most favorite area is the wood sales area, where you can find a lot of materials to DIY at home, or process them on site nearby.

It's right outside the Ancient Culture Street. Drum towers are similar in different places.

In 1404 (the second year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty), Tianjin established a garrison and built a city wall. In 1493, the original earthen wall was reinforced with brick and stone, and a Drum Tower was built at the crossroads in the city center. The Drum Tower was demolished in 1952 to facilitate the construction of a road. Following the reform and opening up policy, the cultural heritage of Tianjin was preserved, and the Drum Tower was rebuilt in 2001. The building itself is acceptable, but the surrounding streets are poorly maintained. It's not recommended to visit without visiting the Guangdong Guild Hall and the Old City Museum.

It's clean, rich in local customs, and boasts unique food, attractions, and ancient architecture. Representative foods include Goubuli steamed buns and Tianjin mahua (fried dough twists). Other attractions include the Gege Mansion and the Tianjin Drama Museum. The clay figurines and Peking Opera masks are also quite unique.

There are too many human factors, and it feels like there is nothing cultural in it. It is far from the ancient cultural street.

The Tianjin Drum Tower, a replica of an ancient building located in Tianjin's Nankai District, was rebuilt in 2001. The surrounding area is now a commercial district known as Drum Tower Commercial Street. The original Drum Tower is considered one of Tianjin's three treasures. The surrounding area is complemented by renowned attractions such as the Ancient Culture Street, Tianhou Temple, and Lü Zu Hall, creating a rich local cultural atmosphere.

It was dusk when I saw the Drum Tower. I walked around the four sides: east, south, west and north, but it turned out a little dark in the photos.

Tianjin Drum Tower is located in the center of Tianjin's old city. It is surrounded by North Road, East Road, South Road and West Road, forming today's northwest corner, northeast corner, southeast corner and southwest corner areas.

It is called Drum Tower, but it is actually a bell tower. Some people say that the current city of Tianjin was formed by expanding outward from the Drum Tower, so they claim that the Drum Tower is the birthplace of Tianjin.

Tianjin's Drum Tower, this photo tells a story. Because the reality doesn't look like this

The Drum Tower was completely dark, with no lights on. From a distance, I couldn't make out what it was, but luckily I had a map. My phone couldn't capture it, and even with a long exposure, my camera still looked blurry. I took several attempts to get a decent photo, but it still ended up looking crooked.

It is a modern reconstruction and has no historical flavor.

You can take a bus from the train station to Erduoyan Guildhall and Gege Mansion.

The building looks newly built, similar to the Ancient Culture Street, but there are shops selling antiques and collectibles near the Drum Tower. If you are interested, you can take a look and have a look.

Drum Tower, a landmark building in the old city of Tianjin. Clay figurine Zhang, Gege Mansion, painted portraits...

Tianjin's Five Avenues and both sides of the Haihe River have witnessed the humiliation and rise of modern China. History has shaped a unique culture. Come here to truly experience Tianjin culture.

The Drum Tower still bears traces of its time, but it's become overly commercialized. The Erduoyan Fried Cake Restaurant is worth a try. The hygiene wasn't particularly good, as there were a lot of plastic bags and other items on the floor when I visited.

Tianjin is home to three treasures: the Drum Tower, the Fort, and the Bell Tower. It's also a commercial street, and there's a guild hall where you can listen to crosstalk.

When we arrived, it was closed and under maintenance. From the outside, it looked like a very spectacular city wall.

There are four different plaques on the four sides, which is quite interesting.

The Drum Tower is quite nice. There is also a pedestrian street nearby that sells Tianjin specialties and antiques, which is worth browsing. It is also not far from the Ancient Culture Street.

It was not open during the Qingming Festival, and there were snacks on both sides.

It is said that the origin of Tianjin is located in the center of Tianjin. The Drum Tower culture is still very good.

Walk west from the Ancient Culture Street and you will find the Drum Tower not far away. Cross the Drum Tower East Street. There are not many people here, and there are many small shops along the way selling various souvenirs and antiques, just like any other antique town.



The Drum Tower faces four gates: Dongzhen, Xi'an, Nanding, and Beigong. Surrounded by a square, the Tianjin Drum Tower is larger and more impressive than the one in Xi'an. Inside is an exhibition hall, where visitors can visit and ascend the tower for free by exchanging their ID for a ticket.

Walking west from Ancient Culture Street, the Drum Tower is not far away. Crossing Drum Tower East Street, it's not crowded here, and there are many small shops along the way selling a variety of souvenirs and antiques, just like any other antique market. The Drum Tower faces four gates: Dongzhen, Xi'an, Nanding, and Beigong. Surrounded by a square, the Tianjin Drum Tower is larger and more impressive than its counterpart in Xi'an. Inside is an exhibition hall, where you can enter and ascend the tower for free with your ID card. South of the Drum Tower lies Nanshi Food Street, enclosed by a gray wall several feet high, resembling a city. It's not as bustling as you might expect. The most famous food street stalls are the "Three Wonders of Tianjin": Erduoyan Fried Cakes, Shibajie Guifaxiang Mahua (Fried Dough Dough Sticks), and Goubuli Steamed Buns. However, there's a mix of counterfeit and counterfeit goods here, with similar items sold and prices often significantly higher than outside. So, just try a few of the authentic, time-honored brands.

The Drum Tower and the Old City Museum are in the same area, where you can clearly see the folk customs of Tianjin.

The Drum Tower is the heart of Tianjin's old city. If you enjoy crosstalk and the playful charm of Tianjin residents, this is the place to go. Compared to the Ancient Culture Street, the Drum Tower has a less commercial atmosphere. Nearby are numerous museums, including the Opera Museum, the Old Town Museum, and the Quyi Museum. However, since I visited in winter before the Spring Festival, most of them were closed. I plan to return in the summer.

Some old Tianjin people said that the Drum Tower is the birthplace of Tianjin, and the current Tianjin was expanded around the Drum Tower.

The Drum Tower, one of Tianjin's "Three Treasures" in ancient times, is located in the heart of old Tianjin, adjacent to the Guangdong Guild Hall. Surrounded by renowned attractions such as the Ancient Cultural Street, Tianhou Temple, and Lü Zu Hall, it fosters a rich local cultural atmosphere. The Drum Tower, now undergoing major restoration, frequently hosts exhibitions, including those on the city's dangerous building renovations and the history of Tianjin's residential development. These exhibitions chart the evolution of Tianjin's residential landscape through the Jin, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, modern times, and pre-liberation periods. Other exhibits include exhibitions on Tianjin's landscapes and famous residences, showcasing over 70 representative buildings and residences.

Tianjin Drum Tower is located in the center of Tianjin City. It is surrounded by North Road, East Road, South Road and West Road, forming today's northwest corner, northeast corner, southeast corner and southwest corner areas. Drum Tower Commercial Street is worth a visit. North Street is the Antique City and Golden Pavilion Art Market, East Street is a shopping street, and South Street is the Oriental City that Never Sleeps, which focuses on Tianjin's traditional folk culture, commerce and catering.

There is an Erduoyan fried cake main store next to the Drum Tower, awesome!

It is divided into four directions. This area is an antique market distribution center. The streets are full of stalls, and they are probably all fake goods.

It looked like it had been restored later. The building was beautiful, but the surroundings were rather untidy. We arrived around 4:00 PM, and a lot of vendors had already set up shop, creating a chaotic atmosphere. Around the Drum Tower, some artisans were working on something, and there were quite a few people watching. It seemed like you could go inside, but we didn't, deciding to just look outside.

The symbol of Tianjin Wei, although it is a reconstruction, the workmanship is still very delicate and meticulous. Upstairs is a photo exhibition of the renovation of dilapidated houses in Tianjin. I feel that it is better to look at it from below, and there is not much surprise when you go up.

It's a newly built attraction. There was no one there when I went there. It felt average.

I recall your childhood with you, walking near your childhood, having the illusion that I’ve always been by your side. Slowly walking by, there’s always a moment when I walk away, and I know I wasn’t there, never was. . .

It is similar to the Drum Tower in Beijing, both are ancient buildings with red walls, green tiles and attic style. The difference is that there are many famous Tianjin snacks nearby, such as blowing clay figurines, fried dough twists, ear-shaped fried cakes, and Goubuli steamed buns.

It's very close to the Ancient Culture Street, but it's also very small, so I don't think there's much to do.

Compared with the Ancient Culture Street, Drum Tower has fewer attractions and fewer special foods. Most of them are the four treasures of the study and antiques. If you are a traveler who prefers food, it is recommended to go to the Ancient Culture Street to drink a bowl of authentic big bowl tea. Ear-shaped fried cakes and rice crust dishes are all good choices.

The cultural relics market here is really huge. It’s really informative for people from the village.

The popularity of the Drum Tower is not as high as that of Tianjin Ancient Culture Street, but the two are close to each other, less than 2 miles away. As a Tianjin specialty, you can go shopping together. I had a cooked pear cake here for 10 yuan, and the taste was very average.

When I went there, it felt very shabby. Many shops were closed and no one was cleaning them up. The stalls were all

The Drum Tower is located at the end of the Drum Tower Commercial Street. It is just a gatehouse. I didn't go up to see it, and I don't know if I can go up. I feel that it is enough to look at it from below. There is nothing special.

This is also a landmark building in Tianjin. It was originally the center of the entire city. Today's Tianjin is based on this and continues to expand and develop around it.

There is only one city wall, no good scenery. If you like taking pictures, just take one from a distance.

Most shops close at 7pm, and it's hard to find a place to eat.

What’s not so pleasant about visiting Drum Tower is that it’s too commercialized and messy. All kinds of cars, motorcycles, electric bikes are parked everywhere, and all kinds of mops, cleaning tools, and other messy things can be seen everywhere, so much so that when I take pictures, I always take pictures of them...

The three treasures of Tianjin are the Drum Tower, the Fort, and the Bell Tower, which shows the status of the Drum Tower in the hearts of Tianjin people.



Located in the heart of the city, the Tianjin Drum Tower was built during the city's establishment as a garrison. This makes it nearly 500 years old. While named "Drum Tower," it's actually a bell tower. Some say that the current city of Tianjin expanded outward from the Drum Tower, thus claiming the Drum Tower is the birthplace of Tianjin.

Tianjin Drum Tower Features:

The Drum Tower's large bell, 1.4 meters in diameter, 2.3 meters high, and weighing approximately 1,500 kilograms, is known as Tianjin's "King of Bells." Cast from iron, it boasts exquisite craftsmanship and a simple, ancient form. The bell's body is entirely relief-cast, and the bell knob is cast in a double-threaded pattern. The scales clearly reveal the two heads and four legs of the double-threaded bell, which connect to the bell's body. The remaining four legs grasp each other, arching as if ready to roar. This large bell now rests on a cement base in the corridor of Suiyuan Garden. Although it cannot be struck, it remains a beautifully crafted work of art, a place for people to admire and contemplate.

Opening Hours:



Monday to Sunday 9:00-16:00

The Gulou area is catching up with the Food Culture Festival, it's so lively

The Gulou area was bustling with activity during the Food and Culture Festival. Yuan Shikai's former residence on the east bank of the Haihe River is quite unique, and nearby is Liang Qichao's former residence and the bustling Italian-style district.

It happened to be a food festival, but the food was pretty much the same. You can go to the crosstalk house here to listen to crosstalk.

We went to the nearby Drum Tower again, but were sorely disappointed... The Drum Tower itself was completely empty, with children's rides everywhere, including inflatable trampolines, and the "Happy Yangyang" and "Bald Qiang" characters. I was left in a state of confusion... There was also a food festival, which was a mess.

Construction on the Tianjin Drum Tower began on November 25, 2000. Measuring 27 meters square and 27 meters high, it exudes grandeur and elegance, boasting blue brick walls, white jade railings, flying eaves and brackets, emerald tiles and red pillars, painted walls, and carved beams and painted buildings. It evokes a sense of antiquity without being bound by convention, appealing to both the refined and the vulgar. The design was chosen as a multiple of 9, as it is an extremely yang number and carries auspicious connotations.

The Drum Tower is a steel-concrete structure with a brick nave and a wooden tower, resting on a Sumeru base. The wooden tower's exterior follows the style of Ming and Qing Dynasty wooden structures, featuring brackets and flying eaves, a palace-style spiral painted pattern, and a double-eaved hip roof. The roof is covered in gray tiles, with green glazed edging, white marble railings, and flying eaves and animal figures on the ridge. The brick nave is surrounded by Ming-style seven-vault, seven-fold pot-bottom arches with through-the-center doorways. Above the four arches, the white marble gate stones have been restored, still inscribed with the inscriptions Zhendong, Anxi, Dingnan, and Gongbei.

The commercial street near the Drum Tower boasts shops like Erduoyan fried cakes, Gubaozhai, Yuguitang, Erduoyan Guild Hall, Yunhezhai, and traditional Tianjin snacks. Today, the Drum Tower Commercial Street is shaped like a cross, stretching from Chengxiang East Road in the east to Chengxiang Middle Road in the west, and from Chengxiang Middle Road in the north to Chengxiang Middle Road in the south. It resembles the majestic spread of a roc's wings. The street is dominated by Ming and Qing dynasty-style blue brick and tile buildings, most of which are two to four stories high, staggered in height, like a rhythmic movement. It is a beautiful landscape and a new tourist destination in Tianjin.

The four gates of the Drum Tower are "Zhendong", "Dingnan", "Anxi" and "Gongbei".

You can go up to the Drum Tower~~

Method: Use your ID card to exchange for a free ticket, and then use the ticket to go up the building.