As in many cities or towns in China, there is a bell and drum tower in Zhangye to mark the center of this city. Also known as the Zhenyuan Tower or Jingyuan Tower, it is located at a crossroad of four main streets - East Street, South Street, West Street, and North Street - which stretch to four different directions respectively.
The bell and drum tower in Zhangye,drum tower in the Hexi Corridor of the silk road district, was built in 1507 during the Ming Dynasty. In 1648 during the Qing Dynasty, it was destroyed by war. In 1668, Zhang Yong, the superintendent of Gansu, rebuilt the bell and drum tower.
The Bell and Drum Towergreen tiles with more than 30 meters high, which is built on a high platform that is as high as 9 meters, and the basement of the platform is 32 meters wide. There is a parapetthe top of the platform with one meter high. As a matter of fact, it is a 3-storied wood-structured architecture with an arched gate in the south, north, west and east directions, and each of the gatesto one road in each direction properly, which can beby the visitors. On the top of the gate is the brick tablet in each direction. The pavilion on the Bell and Drum Tower has 2 stories with double-hipped eaves, and there are also one tablet on each side of the pavilion. In the southeast corner of the Bell and Drum Tower is a bell from the Tang Dynasty (618 AD-907 A.D.) with delicate patterns on it. Standing on the top of the Bell and Drum Tower, you will have a panorama of the whole city, and it is also the best place to appreciate the modernof the city in the night as well as a famous attraction combing sightseeing, entertainment and recreation as one, which is very wonderful and pleasant.