Yuping Bell and Drum Tower

Yuping Bell and Drum Tower

Address: At the central cross street in the county town of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province.

Located at the central cross street in the county town of Yuping Dong Autonomous County, Guizhou Province. The tower was first built during the Yongle era (1403–1424) of the Ming Dynasty, and underwent two renovations during the Shunzhi Gengyin and Kangxi Xinwei years of the Qing Dynasty. It is an iconic structure in the Dong ethnic region.

The Bell and Drum Tower, also known as Qiao Lou or Nanming Lou, stands 21 meters tall and has three stories. It features double eaves with upturned corners, glazed tile roofing, walls and pillars painted in reddish-brown, and a five-pointed hip-and-gable roof. Each story is adorned with four wing-like corners on the exterior, all shaped like dragons, phoenixes, or mythical fish. The upturned corners on each level are hung with bronze bells that tinkle melodiously in the wind. The interior of the tower—its doors, windows, railings, brackets, facades, and handrails—are all intricately carved with dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and birds, exquisitely crafted and lifelike. Climbing to the third floor offers a sweeping view of the majestic surrounding mountains and the surging Wushui River, with the beautiful scenery of Yuping’s Dong villages spread out before you. In 1936, during the Long March, the 5th Division of the 2nd Corps of the Chinese Workers' and Peasants' Red Army passed through Yuping and used this tower to promote the goals of the Long March to people of all ethnic groups. After the liberation, the government carried out multiple renovations. It was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution but has since been restored to an even more magnificent state.

Source: Tongren Municipal People's Government Website