Gai Zhou Bell and Drum Tower

Gai Zhou Bell and Drum Tower

The Gai Zhou Bell and Drum Tower is a cultural relic protection unit of Liaoning Province.

Gai Zhou Bell and Drum Tower

The Yingkou Gai Zhou Bell and Drum Tower is situated in Qianjin Community, Gulou Subdistrict Office, Gai Zhou City, Yingkou, located slightly south of the city center. It was built between the fifth and ninth years of the Hongwu reign in the Ming Dynasty (1372–1376) and was listed as a provincial-level key cultural relics protection unit in 1988. The second floor has been destroyed, with the central section being the Guanyin Pavilion, behind which are the Grand Mercy Hall and the Treasure Hall, each flanked by side halls.

The Gai Zhou Bell and Drum Tower has a rectangular layout, measuring 37 meters in length and 14 meters in width, consisting of a base and the structures built atop it. On the tower, there are bell and drum pavilions on the east and west sides, the Guanyin Pavilion in the middle, the Mahavira Hall behind it, and side halls on both sides. The central part of the base features an arched gate, serving as a major north-south thoroughfare within the city. In the northwest corner adjacent to the tower is a mountain gate facing east, with a stone-carved lion on each side of the entrance. These lions are finely proportioned and expertly carved, representing excellent examples of stone sculpture artistry. The mountain gate is the mandatory passage to access the upper levels of the tower—climbing the steps leads you into the Bell and Drum Tower. The interior is paved with blue bricks, encircled by parapets, and equipped with drainage scuppers that direct water outward.

The main hall, also called the Guanyin Pavilion, features a flush-gable roof style, with a front section resembling a rolled awning. It is covered with blue tiles and supported by bright red pillars. Beside the main hall are additional structures such as side halls, monks’ quarters, and the Dead Tree Hall. In front of the main hall, the bell and drum pavilions stand on either side, along with two steles recording renovations from the Tongzhi era of the Qing Dynasty. The entire architectural complex is quaint and elegant, as well as majestic in appearance.

In 1963, the Gaixian Bell and Drum Tower was designated as a county-level cultural relics protection unit. In 1984, the Yingkou Municipal People's Government declared it a municipal-level cultural relics protection unit, and in 1988, the People's Government of Liaoning Province (Liaozheng Fa [1988] No. 100) listed it as a provincial-level cultural relics protection unit.

Qianjin Community: Qianjin Community…… More details about Qianjin Community++

Further Reading:

· Fourth Batch of Cultural Relics Protection Units in Liaoning Province