Baoding Bell Tower

Baoding Bell Tower

The Baoding Bell Tower is a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Also known as the Ancient Bell Tower of Chiming Frost, the Baoding Bell Tower is located on Yuhua Road in Baoding City, adjacent to the Great Mercy Pavilion and backed by the Bell Tower Commercial Building. Inside the tower is a bell, which stands 2.55 meters tall, has a diameter of 2 meters, and a lip thickness of 17 centimeters. It was cast in the 21st year of the Dading era of the Jin Dynasty (1181 AD). According to the *Chinese Scenic Spots Dictionary*, this bell predates the large bell in Xi'an’s Bell Tower by 203 years and the Bell King in Beijing’s Great Bell Temple by 552 years.

The bell features a solemn design, scientifically proportioned, and crafted from high-quality materials. Made of cast iron using China’s traditional lost-wax casting technique, it has withstood countless strikes and centuries of weathering yet remains intact, showcasing the exceptional metallurgical craftsmanship of ancient China.

The bell is suspended on the second floor, supported by two wooden pillars (also called “sky-bearing pillars”) each 8.5 meters high and 0.45 meters in diameter. At the top of the pillars, eight beams form a frame, with the bell hung from the uppermost double beams. This arrangement ensures even force distribution across each beam, reducing the load on the pillars while stabilizing the structure. Its earthquake-resistant design maintains the bell’s balance, demonstrating a highly scientific suspension method. A gentle touch can set the massive bell swaying, highlighting the ancient artisans’ masterful architectural skills and ingenious application of mechanical principles.

The bell’s knob depicts a dragon head (Pu Lao), which bites tightly onto the bell’s top. Legend says Pu Lao, the seventh son of the Dragon King—who loved music—was chosen as the knob so he could listen to the bell’s chime. The bell’s body is grand, adorned with three decorative bands, each featuring eight openwork windows. The first band bears the raised inscription “Long Live the Emperor, Long Live the Ministers,” in bold, powerful regular script. The second band records the names of Jin Dynasty officials and the bell’s casting date: First line: Military Strategist Observer Yu Dada Second line: Pacification Commissioner Wan Yan Hao Third line: Guardian General Shun Tian Jiedushi Fourth line: Imperial Son-in-law Tangku Gong Fifth line: Duke of Wu (partially illegible) Sixth line: 21st Year of Dading, Year of Xin Chou, Day of Chen Seventh line: On the day of Bing Zi, at the hour of Wu Zi, the bell was completed. The third band contains 32 seated Buddha statues. The lower part of the bell features Bagua (Eight Trigrams) patterns arranged directionally. The base is divided into eight segments by heavy arc patterns. In total, the bell includes 176 Buddha images, 136 nipple-like bosses, and other ornamental motifs, making it rich in cultural symbolism.

The top of the bell has eight holes, which prevented the bell from cracking during casting and also serve as resonance chambers. These enhance not only the pleasant tone but also the bell’s far-reaching and lingering sound. The magical bell emits different pitches from its top and bottom, producing distinct musical notes with undulating waves that resonate for up to five minutes. This demonstrates the advanced understanding of metallurgy and acoustics among ancient craftsmen. Such an iron bell is extremely rare both in China and abroad, holding significant artistic and scientific research value.

In May 2013, the Baoding Bell Tower was designated as part of the seventh group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units.

Further Reading:

· Second Group of Hebei Provincial Cultural Relics Protection Units

· Seventh Group of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units