Atlas of China
Drum Tower of Nanjing 南京鼓楼Nánjīng Gǔlóu
National heritage site · Nanjing, Jiangsu
- Time needed
- About 1 hour
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Nanjing
- Region
- Jiangsu
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site
About Drum Tower of Nanjing
Built in 1382 on a rise at the centre of the Ming capital, where drums sounded the hours and ceremonies were held, the tower keeps its original brick base, shaped like a city gate with three arched passages on each side. The two-storey timber hall on top was rebuilt in 1684 around a stele recording the Kangxi Emperor's instructions to local officials on his southern tour, so it is also known as the Stele Tower. The surrounding Drum Tower Park, opened in 1923, reopened after renovation on 1 October 2025.
How to get to Drum Tower of Nanjing
At the Drum Tower roundabout in Gulou District, beside Gulou station on Metro Lines 1 and 4.
Nearby
- Fuzimiao and the Qinhuai River 夫子庙—秦淮风光带 under 10 km
Nanjing's lantern-lit Confucius Temple quarter, beside painted boats on the Qinhuai - City Wall of Nanjing 南京城墙 under 10 km
The Ming capital's brick ramparts, anchored by the vast fortress of Zhonghua Gate - Purple Mountain & Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum 南京钟山风景区 under 10 km
A forested mountain on Nanjing's edge, crowned by a blue-roofed hilltop tomb
Also within 20 km: University of Nanking Campus 金陵大学旧址 (under 10 km), Former Macklin Hospital 马林医院旧址 (under 10 km), Former Nanjing Office of the Eighth Route Army 八路军驻京办事处旧址 (under 10 km), Former Beijige Meteorological Observatory 北极阁气象台旧址 (under 10 km), John Rabe House 拉贝故居 (under 10 km), Former National Central University 中央大学旧址 (under 10 km).
On the map
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