#Drum Tower Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Historical Sites
Historical Architectures
Address:
No.1, Beijing West Road, Gulou District, Nanjing (west of Gulou Subway Station)
Opening times:
Opens at 08:00-17:00Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
2 hour
Phone:
025-86635513,025-8663466
Drum Tower Square
🌌 The setting of the Bell and Drum Towers is said to have a history of over two thousand years. It was the place in ancient cities where officials observed the stars, reported the time, and announced disasters. Before the Song Dynasty, it was called the Qiao Tower, where ancient timekeeping tools such as bells, bronze pots, and water clocks were placed. Officials versed in Yin-Yang would be responsible for beating the drum to report the time, which, in conjunction with the familiar watchmen, became an important way for ancient people to know the time.
🌿 After the Yuan Dynasty made Beijing its capital (then called Dadu), independent bell and drum towers were set up in the central position. The old system of the Yuan Dynasty was followed in Nanjing city, and in the fifteenth year of the Hongwu era (1382 AD), the Bell and Drum Towers were built, which are what we refer to today as the Big Bell Pavilion and the Drum Tower. To ensure the sound of the bells and drums could spread throughout the city, the Bell and Drum Towers were generally located at higher positions. Nanjing's Bell and Drum Towers were situated on a hill in the center of the city, which is what we call Drum Tower Hill today. Due to Nanjing being the capital in the early Ming Dynasty, the scale of the Bell and Drum Towers was grand and unmatched, and the so-called 'morning bells and evening drums' became one of the 'Forty-eight Scenic Spots of Jinling'.
🌿 Now, the Nanjing Drum Tower is the absolute city center, where ancient timekeeping buildings such as the Drum Tower and the Big Bell Pavilion are located. The Drum Tower roundabout here is the intersection of five major traffic arteries of Nanjing (Central Road, North Zhongshan Road, West Beijing Road, Zhongshan Road, East Beijing Road). There is a citizens' square here—Drum Tower Square.
🌿 This is a rare large area in the center, surrounded by many tall buildings, including the once ninth tallest building in the world, Zifeng Square, as well as the Telecom Building, the Broadcasting Building, the Post Office Building, and so on.
✅ This is undoubtedly a place of tranquility amidst the hustle and bustle. There are green spaces, trees, and plant sculptures arranged by gardeners, as well as carefully planted flowers. Usually, this place is mainly for people exercising, and in the evening, there are many who dance in the square.
TranscontinentalJourneys
A comprehensive guide to enjoying the snow in Nanjing alone!
►Actually, Nanjing is more suitable for a solo deep tour citywalk
▪ I was chatting with a friend the other day about where to go for the Spring Festival, and he said he would bring his family to Nanjing for the holiday, but because the kids are young, they can't go to many places. He also mentioned that he must come to Nanjing alone next time for a proper deep tour!
▪ As a local Nanjinger, I totally agree. Nanjing is a city with profound cultural heritage. To truly understand the original appearance of a popular tourist spot, it often takes half a day. A quick visit and a few photos will be forgotten in a few days!
▪ If you have the time, I strongly recommend coming alone to walk through those historical sites. It would be even better if you encounter unique natural weather, such as a snowy day in winter!
►Once it snows, Nanjing turns into Jinling
▪ The historical depth of the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties and the capital of ten dynasties is particularly rich in the autumn and winter seasons
It's the traces of time on every brick and tile in the Zhongshan Scenic Area
It's the enduring incense of the thousand-year-old Confucius Temple on the banks of the Qinhuai River
It's the eastward flow of the Yangtze River from the Yuejiang Tower on Mufu Mountain
It's the succession of the old and new central axis of the Drum Tower
►Recommended snowscape walking tour
Starting from Nanjing Station, I recommend a route from east to south and then north. One can complete the journey alone by subway + bus or taxi!
① Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum Sifang Building
▪ Located at the north end of the central axis of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, the characters for 'Xiaoling' stand out especially in the heavy snow. The outer walls of the Sifang Building of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum are similar to the Great Wall, and the Ming Building is covered with yellow glazed tiles, which is one of the symbols of royal architecture! In addition to the Sifang Building, you can also walk around the Stone Statue Road, Weng Zhong Road, and Plum Blossom Hill of the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum.
▪ Time: Remember to enter the park before 6:30 am, it's free, and it takes about 2 hours to complete the above-mentioned attractions
▪ Transportation: Subway + taxi
② Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River
▪ The Wende Bridge at the Confucius Temple is the best spot for enjoying the snowscape. Besides the Qinhuai scenery, there is also the adjacent Great Hall of the Confucius Temple. The Qinhuai Lantern Festival during the Spring Festival is also not to be missed
▪ The night view of the Qinhuai River is also very beautiful. You can enjoy the night view of both banks on a cruise boat, where there will also be some performances and activities, experiencing the rich atmosphere of the water towns in the south of the Yangtze River
▪ Time: Visit once during the day and once at night. Arrive around 10 am after visiting the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and have a meal in the scenic area
▪ Transportation: Get off at the Confucius Temple Station on Subway Line 3
③ Drum Tower Park
▪ The core building of Drum Tower Park is the Drum Tower, one of the earliest existing drum tower buildings in China. The scenery of red walls and green trees inside Drum Tower Park is very beautiful. The white snow against the red walls is suitable for a solo stroll and taking photos. The peacock flower bed outside Drum Tower Park is also one of the most beautiful urban landscapes in Nanjing, recommended for a visit
▪ Time: Arrive around 2 pm, and it takes about 1 hour to visit
▪ Transportation: Get off at the Drum Tower Station on Subway Line 1
④ Yuejiang Tower
▪ As the name suggests, standing on Yuejiang Tower, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the Yangtze River. This place was rebuilt by later generations according to the planning of Zhu Yuanzhang in the Ming Dynasty. With its advantageous geographical location, in addition to the Yangtze River, you can also have an unobstructed view of the distant mountains and the city skyline from a high vantage point, feeling the unique charm of Nanjing!
▪ Time: Enjoy the snowy scenery before sunset
▪ Transportation: Taxi or city bus
After finishing all the itineraries, you can return to the Confucius Temple and Laomendong scenic area to enjoy the lanterns!
►Recommended tour: 1 to 2 days
Evelyn.Perry@73
Nanjing Travel Guide: Enjoy the Beautiful Scenery
Just back from Nanjing! To help everyone avoid trouble, I've put together this Nanjing travel guide, hoping to provide a reference for you all~
About Nanjing:
1⃣ Nanjing is beautiful all year round! Don't miss the Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum and the Confucius Temple to experience the charm of history and culture.
2⃣ Stroll through the streets at sunset to feel Nanjing's long history and cultural heritage.
3⃣ The cherry blossoms on Purple Mountain will definitely intoxicate you, experiencing the romantic atmosphere of Nanjing.
4⃣ There are many beautiful secrets in Nanjing waiting for you to discover!
Nanjing Transportation Guide:
✈ Plane: Lukou Airport metro goes directly to the city center.
🚅 High-speed train: Preferably choose Nanjing Station, adjacent to Xuanwu Lake, with convenient transportation.
🚇 Subway: Convenient and fast, remember to prepare a Nanjing subway electronic card.
🚌 Bus: You can use the Jinlingtong ride code, making travel more convenient.
Nanjing Accommodation Guide:
📍 Xinjiekou area: Convenient transportation, higher prices, suitable for shopping and playing.
📍 Confucius Temple Qinhuai River area: Rich folk cultural atmosphere, close to the Qinhuai River, with a unique flavor.
📍 Drum Tower, Xuanwu Lake surrounding area: Close to the train station, next to Xinjiekou, with a superior location, suitable for sightseeing tourists.
Nanjing Food Guide:
1⃣ Crab Sanbao · Crab Roe Fried Rice: Tasting the delicious crab roe fried rice is definitely a Nanjing specialty.
2⃣ Salted Duck: One of Nanjing's famous snacks, tender and not to be missed.
3⃣ Jinling Cakes: Traditional pastries, soft in texture, sweet but not greasy.
4⃣ Duck Blood Vermicelli Soup: Try a bowl of steaming duck blood vermicelli soup to warm both stomach and heart.
5⃣ Soup Dumplings: Nanjing's soup dumplings have a unique taste, delicious and memorable.
Don't step on the landmines in Nanjing anymore! Follow this guide, and you're sure to have a great time and satisfying eats!🌇🍜
SamuelMcKay40
Nanjing! Xuanwu Lake! Don't want to check out! Too comfortable!!
Nanjing! Xuanwu Lake! Don't want to check out! Too comfortable!!
This homestay next to Nanjing Drum Tower is full of ins style!! √Free parking √Walking distance to subway √Whole house smart √minbar free drinks
The cost performance is very high with an average of a little over one hundred per person, and it's super photogenic!
How to get there after getting off the train?
It's just a ten-minute taxi ride from Nanjing Station to the hotel, what attractions are nearby?
The food street is right downstairs, within walking distance to Wuyue Plaza and other shopping districts, it's very convenient for eating, drinking, and playing; not far from Xuanwu Lake and Drum Tower, and the nearby subway stations are line 1 and line 4
The ins style decoration, super photogenic for photos, with a
laundry room and gym that are very clean; there's also an outdoor terrace, great for chatting and barbecuing
The rooms are clean and tidy, and the whole house is smart, with comfortable bedding; earplugs and eye masks are provided for a good rest; equipped with a mini-fridge and Bluetooth speaker, and the snacks and drinks inside are free
3 The bathrooms are separated dry and wet, with LED mirrors, the bathrobes and towels are very soft, and the toothbrushes are ultra-fine; the smart toilet is also very practical! Children's toiletries can also be provided, so it's reassuring to bring babies
4 The service is also great, with free parking P and butler service, any problems can be promptly replied to and resolved! There are also small items like curling irons, contact lens solution, etc.; breakfast can be provided, and there are many places to eat late-night snacks around
zarethia_2841
The drum tower, which is over 600 years old, houses the treasure of the garden/Winter tour guide
📍 Gulou Park is a niche attraction in the center of Nanjing. Together with the nearby Dazhong Pavilion, the combination of 'evening drum and morning bell' is one of the new forty-eight scenes of Jinling and a national key cultural relics protection unit.
📍 The Drum Tower was built in the 15th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1382), and Gulou Park was established in 1923 with the Drum Tower as the main body. This was once the temporary office of the Central Astronomical Research Institute, and later the observatory moved to Zijinshan Observatory.
📍 On sunny days, you can take pictures of the Zifeng Building from Gulou Park. The top of the building also has the 'prohibition stele' of Kangxi's southern tour and a pair of dragon and phoenix pavilions on both sides, which are the treasures of the garden, simple and elegant, and worth a careful look.
📍 The park is open for free all year round, and it is just at the exit 6 of Gulou Station on Metro Lines 1 and 4.
ASPEN NORRIS
Only locals in Nanjing know about the offbeat routes, and my social circle is bombarded with questions
A 30-year local resident has compiled an offbeat citywalk route for enjoying autumn! The 600-year-old Drum Tower, the 300-year-old ginkgo tree, the artistic streets behind Nanjing University, the classic view of Zifeng Tower at Xiqiao, and the recently popular Yihe Road.
'Route'
(Exit from Drum Tower Station Exit 6)
Drum Tower Park -→ Jin Yin Street -→ Xiqiao -→ Yihe Road
'Mileage'
The whole journey is 2-3km, a comfortable and non-tiring citywalk route
'Highlights'
Drum Tower Park:
No admission fee, free park, over 600 years of history, over 300 years old ginkgo tree, and a spot where the old and the new coexist! Great for both portrait and landscape photography!
The ginkgo tree is expected to be at its most beautiful from late November to mid-December
Opening hours: 8 am to 5 pm
Jin Yin Street:
A successful example of old street renovation in Nanjing, and it's right behind Nanjing University, so it's very stylish, with many small and medium-sized coffee shops where you can sit and relax.
Xiqiao:
The spot in front of Ninghai Middle School has now become a popular spot for internet celebrities, and it's usually crowded in the afternoon!
It's indeed a great spot for portrait photography! The Zifeng Tower in the background is very impressive!
Yihe Road:
Internet celebrity tree spot: Now you have to queue up to take pictures! But it's indeed very photogenic!
The Yihe Road sign landmark, be sure to take a photo to record it
Pioneer Bookstore, the architectural light and shadow in the sun are absolutely amazing!
OPAL MORRIS
A gloomy afternoon at the Drum Tower
The Chinese name is 鼓楼公园 (Gulou Gongyuan)
Getting There - I took a DiDi from my hotel to get here, but you can take the metro if that is more convenient for you. Nanjing Metro Line 1 Gulou station is right next to this attraction. It’s best to get out from exit 6 and walk a short 2-3 minutes to the entrance.
Attractions - It’s a beautiful attraction and you can easily spend hours here in favorable 😏 weather. You can climb to the top to get beautiful views but be careful because the stairs are not only steep but a bit uneven.
Hotels - Xuanwu Lakeview Hotel is my go to
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#falltrip #historicallandmarks
falltrip
historicallandmarks
Keshrill
wollace 🐔🐔🐔
Best budget friendly burger and fried chicken place in the town.
With lots of offers and juicy crispy big chunks of chicken 🍗 for a very reasonable price.
You can bring it to your door step via meituan.
Check out this fast food restaurant.#fastfood #Wollace #burger #friedchicken #Nanjing