Nanjing Bell Tower Pavilion

Nanjing Bell Tower Pavilion

Nanjing Bell Tower Pavilion

The Nanjing Bell Tower Park was built in the 15th year of the Hongwu reign during the Ming Dynasty (1382), located on the Drum Tower Hill in the city center of Nanjing. The architectural scale of the structure is rare in China. It consists of two levels: the lower level features an arched, beamless gateway resembling a city gate, while the upper level has a double-eaved hip-and-gable roof adorned with dragon and phoenix motifs, intricate carvings, and painted beams, creating a spectacular sight.

The upper floor was originally used during the Ming Dynasty to welcome royal family members and imperial edicts, as well as to announce the time. It originally housed two large ceremonial drums, twenty-four small drums, one cloud-shaped gong, one striking bell, four ivory batons, and a bronze water tank, along with other musical instruments. After the fall of the Ming Dynasty, these items were lost. The current base of the building dates back to the Ming Dynasty, while the upper structure was rebuilt in the late Qing Dynasty. In 1684, Emperor Kangxi visited the Drum Tower during his southern tour, and the following year a massive stele was erected on the tower, converting it into a stele pavilion. However, locals still commonly refer to it as the Drum Tower.

Not far to the northeast of the Drum Tower lies the Bell Tower Pavilion, which houses a magnificent bronze bell cast in the 21st year of the Hongwu reign (1388). This bell was originally hung in the Bell Tower inside the Jinjiang Gate. In the early years of the Kangxi reign during the Qing Dynasty, the bell fell by the roadside and was half-buried in the earth. It was later moved to this location in the late Qing Dynasty, where this hexagonal pavilion with iron beams and pillars was constructed to house it. The bell is exquisitely crafted and beautifully shaped, producing a loud and resonant sound. Its top is embossed with a ring of lotus petal patterns, while the handle is decorated with cloud motifs and wavy, curled corners. The bell also bears an inscription reading “Cast on an auspicious day in the 29th year of Hongwu.”