"Please remember that at the northernmost end of the central axis of Beijing, there stands the ancient Bell and Drum Tower. The Drum Tower is in front, with red walls and yellow tiles. The Bell Tower is in the back, with gray walls and green tiles. The Drum Tower is fat, and the Bell Tower is thin. . Although they no longer ring the evening drums and morning bells, when they are reflected in the eyes of a caring person, they still represent the passing of time." This is the famous writer Liu Xinwu in his classic novel "The Bell and Drum Tower". of text.

The Bell Tower and Drum Tower are about 100 meters apart, and there is a small leisure square between them.

The existing bell tower was built in the 10th year of Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (AD 1745). The building is 33 meters high and has a masonry structure.

The existing Drum Tower was built in the 18th year of Yongle (AD 1420). It is a single wooden structure building built on a high brick platform. The platform base is 4 meters high and the building is about 46 meters high.

When Beijing bells, drums, and drums tell the time, they always strike 108 times. The method is: eighteen times tightly, eighteen times slowly, eighteen times leisurely, and alternately fast and slow, and struck twice.

Ancient Chinese people used "108" to represent a year. A year has 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 seasons. The sum of the three is exactly 108.

The time in ancient times is actually the time clock

The first to fifth watch in ancient times are today’s respectively: First watch day: Xushi 19:00-21:00; Second watch day: Hai hour 21:00 - 23:00; third watch: Zi hour 23:00 - 01:00; fourth watch: Chou hour 01:00 - 03:00; fifth watch: Yin hour 03:00?-?05: 00. That is, there are five shifts from 19:00 in the evening to 5:00 the next morning.

The clock starts from the first watch, and the daily time starts from the "evening drum" and ends with the "morning bell".

In its more than 600 years of time-telling history, the Beijing Bell and Drum Tower has always used the "evening drum and morning bell" time-telling method.

Walking further south from the Drum Tower, there is an ancient alley, Baimi Xiejie, not far away.

Zhang Zhidong lived here when he was transferred back to Beijing in the 33rd year of Guangxu (1907 AD) and lived here for about two years.

The former residence is still relatively intact. The stone lion at the door is gone, but the screen wall is still there.

Baimi Xiejie has gone through many vicissitudes until today, and it can be said to be a place of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. Surrounded by the excitement around him, he was like an old man, still peaceful and peaceful.