Zhenhai Drum Tower

Zhenhai Drum Tower

The Zhenhai Drum Tower is a cultural heritage site protected at the district level in Zhenhai.

The Drum Tower, also known as Zhenhai Tower, is located in Zhaobao Mountain Subdistrict, Zhenhai District. To the east lies Zhenhai Middle School, to the south the ancient moat of Zhenhai, to the west Longsai Hospital of Zhenhai, and to the north Drum Tower Square. As part of the military architecture of the ancient county town, it was primarily used for lookout and timekeeping, and was one of the taller buildings in the city at that time.

The Drum Tower was first built during the Hongwu era of the Ming Dynasty. In the 20th year of Hongwu (1387), to defend against Japanese pirates and marauders, Marquis of Xin Guo, Tang He, expanded the Dinghai Guard. In the 29th year of Hongwu (1396), Liu Cheng, the commander of the Dinghai Guard, constructed the current Drum Tower to facilitate observation of military conditions. It was rebuilt in the 59th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1794).

The tower houses timekeeping and signaling devices such as a night watch drum, bronze bell, and water clock (an ancient timing device), striking the drum on schedule to announce the time, enabling soldiers and civilians inside and outside the city to discern day from night and regulate their activities. Seasonal notices were also posted on the tower.

Below the tower is an arched passageway, constructed with 2-meter-long curved slabs forming the arch, positioned 5 meters above the ground. Stone plaques are engraved on the north and south entrances of the passage, with “Ancient Relic of Morning Tribute” on the south and “Southeast Shield” on the north, commemorating the legend of Emperor Gaozong of the Song Dynasty holding court here during his southern crossing, as well as Zhenhai’s significant military role in coastal defense.

The base platform is 5.9 meters high, with a stone foundation covering 500 square meters, accessed by stone steps. The platform is over 6 meters wide, featuring a double-eave hip-and-gable roof. The four corners of the rooftop extend with eight hip rafters, each adorned with a coiled dragon sculpture, depicted as crouching and resting, poised to take flight. The ridge ends are decorated with chi dragons, their mouths open as if biting the flying ridge. There are also vertical and diagonal ridges, and the roof tiles are of the grand style, using blue cylindrical tiles. The building atop the platform has five rooms, with a construction area of 200 square meters, 8 meters high, 19.5 meters wide, and 6.9 meters deep. It includes a central hall and surrounding corridors, with painted beams and upturned eaves, making for a majestic and imposing sight. A plaque inscribed with “Zhenhai Tower” hangs on the front façade to the south. In 1987, the Zhenhai District People’s Government funded and Mr. Chen Zhiyue, a Hong Kong compatriot, donated to carry out a complete renovation, preserving the architectural style of the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty.

It was designated as a county-level cultural heritage site in July 1981.