Gulou

Gulou, meaning “drum tower” in Chinese, can refer to the Drum Tower in Beijing and the surrounding historic area, or to a former administrative district that bore the same name. The Drum Tower and the adjacent Bell Tower form a landmark pair located near Beijing’s central axis in the northern part of the city center. The term Gulou is commonly used to describe the neighborhood around these towers, which is known for its hutongs, courtyards, and cultural sites.

The Drum Tower itself is a historic timekeeping structure first built in the late medieval period and subsequently rebuilt and preserved through later dynasties. It originally served as a clock and bell for signaling the hours of the day, with drums and bells playing a key role in daily urban life. Today the Drum Tower area remains a popular destination for visitors, combining traditional Beijing alleyways and courtyards with modern shops, cafes, and cultural venues. The nearby Bell Tower complements the complex, and the two towers are linked by streets that are part of the city’s historic core.

Historically, Gulou also referred to an administrative district that encompassed the Drum Tower precinct. As part of broader municipal reorganizations, the district was dissolved and its territory absorbed into surrounding central districts. In contemporary usage, Gulou is more often associated with the historic Drum Tower area and its cultural landscape than with a current administrative unit.

Overall, Gulou denotes a central Beijing locality rooted in imperial-era timekeeping and urban life, preserved today as a district of cultural tourism and traditional architecture within the modern city.