Kelan Bell and Drum Tower

Kelan Bell and Drum Tower

For the people of Kelan, the local Bell and Drum Tower is as significant as the Tiananmen Gate is to Beijing. Its importance is evident. The resounding morning bells and evening drums that “echo to the heavens” envelop Mount Lan, inspiring many locals.

There is a widely circulated folk tale in Kelan about the Bell and Drum Tower. It is said that during the Qianlong era, three merchants from Ying County, Hunyuan, and Kelan met at an inn in Taiyuan (now known as Taiyuan), coinciding with the Double Ninth Festival. Being fellow outsiders, they all felt homesick and gathered around a table to chat. During the conversation, each began boasting about the scenic spots in their hometowns, each praising their own place without reservation, leading to a heated argument. The innkeeper stepped in to mediate. After hearing their stories, he suggested that each man boast about their hometown’s attractions to determine who had the best. They agreed, wagering their room and board on the outcome. The man from Ying County spoke first: “Ying County has a Wooden Pagoda, just seven or eight zhang short of the sky.” The man from Hunyuan replied: “Hunyuan has the Hanging Temple, which grinds the sky until it squeaks.” When it was the turn of the man from Kelan, he took a hearty drink of wine and declared: “Kelan has a Bell and Drum Tower, half of which is stuck into the sky.” Everyone was convinced and awarded him the top spot. Although the story’s authenticity is uncertain, the majestic presence of the Bell and Drum Tower is beyond doubt.

The Bell and Drum Towers are actually sister structures. According to the county annals, the Bell Tower was originally built at Xiangning Temple. In the 14th year of the Zhengtong reign of the Ming Dynasty, Magistrate Wei Mai relocated it to the southern entrance of the official street. The tower's base is built of stone, with a flying eave and hip-and-gable roof, and features a purely wooden bracket structure. The three-story tower bears a plaque reading “Echoes to the Heavens.” A large bell hangs in the tower, cast in iron in the 11th year of the Dading reign during the Jin Dynasty, weighing 5,000 kilograms, with a sound that can be heard over a dozen li away. The Drum Tower was built in the 10th year of the Hongwu reign of the Ming Dynasty and renovated in the 9th year of the Wanli reign. It has a stone base and a brick arched entrance, with a two-story tower built atop the large archway. The structure is grand and magnificent, featuring a hip-and-gable roof style and a brick-and-wood construction, with a plaque that reads “Panoramic View of Rivers and Mountains.” From the tower, one can overlook the entire county town. Along with the Ning Ancient Great Wall, the Lotus Meadow, the Mao Zedong Residence Memorial, and the Satellite City, the Bell and Drum Tower will become a key highlight along this main tourist route. The Kelan Bell and Drum Tower has witnessed the region’s dramatic ups and downs in modern history. Now, with a brand-new look, it gazes toward Kelan’s future, beating the drums of progress for the area’s development, and stands as an eternal totem in the hearts of the Kelan people.

Local specialties: Red Kidney Beans, Eleutherococcus Senticosus bark, etc.

Address: Kelan County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province