The Beijing Bell Tower

An architectural look at the ancient Beijing Bell Tower, featuring a personal travel narrative and exclusive fine art print downloads. Fine art photograph of the ancient Beijing Bell Tower under a moody, minimalist yellowish Gobi Desert sky framing modern organic tones.

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Helena C.

6/21/20263 min read

Fine art travel photograph of the ancient Beijing Bell Tower, captured during the historic Gobi Dese

"Originally constructed during the Yuan Dynasty, the Bell and Drum Towers in Beijing have been the time-telling center during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. These towers beautifully mirror each other, standing proudly at the northern tip of Beijing's central axis." - Beijing's Bell and Drum Towers, https://english.beijing.gov.cn/

Beijing Bell Tower, March 2018, Spring

It was no later than 8:00 in the morning when our tour van arrived at Zhuzhong Hutong. From there, our family of 10 was picked up by rickshaws, meant to tour us around the residential district.

Zhuzhong Hutong is deliberately "preserved" as an ancient town. Hence, the old structures and narrow alleys. Looking at the houses from inside the rickshaw, we wanted to just ask the driver to stop so we could walk around as our eyes wandered in amazement. However, because of the great communication barrier, we just went with whatever was scheduled.

After a few minutes, the rickshaws pulled over to a big door in a cul-de-sac. The tour guide politely talked to whoever was on the other side. This we could tell by his tone and his slightly bowed posture, even though we never understood a word.

When the door opened, we were stunned to find three connected houses with a courtyard in the middle. According to our tour guide, it is one of the oldest homes in the area. My dad was stomping on the big stones on the floor as he asked, "Old? Original?" The stone was shiny and uneven, looking as though it had been pounded over centuries.

After receiving the elders' hospitality, we were pointed toward the Bell Tower. We had no idea what they were saying, but they seemed proud and excited for us.

A few steps away from the Bell Tower, the smell of incense and charcoal that we had noticed since we arrived seemed to get stronger. The absence of other tourists allowed us to fully absorb what we were about to experience even before getting there.

Standing in front of the Bell Tower, all that my talkative self could utter was, "Oh, wow." Framed between leafless trees was a tower reaching for the sky. The wide base and narrow top floor, combined with the decor of the roof, made me feel like I was supposed to look up. The large openings on the higher floor made it look like it was looking down.

The Beijing Bell Tower gives off this "watcher" vibe. It watches over the world below as it reaches for the heavens. The yellowish skies, caused by the sands of the Gobi Desert, only made the place more ethereal. In my head, I was thinking, No way this is only meant to tell the time. It is so grand, you'd think it was meant for great announcements and defense.

As it turns out, my intuition wasn't far off. While the tower's official job for centuries was to strike the hours and regulate the heartbeat of the city, its scale speaks to something much deeper. It wasn't just a clock; it was a symbol of imperial authority, a towering sentinel ensuring order in the cosmos below.

Almost like a conductor on a pedestal, it kept the harmony and pacing of the surrounding villages with authority, grace, and precision. For centuries, it has maintained this rhythm. Fortuitous events—and disastrous ones—may have caused it to collapse over the ages, but the villages would always rebuild it. It is almost as if they voluntarily subject themselves to this beat, a collective pulse that has kept their community alive and well for centuries. Even for a tourist standing silently below, unable to speak the language, the rhythm was undeniable.

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