Importance of the Bell and Drum Towers in historic Chinese cities

Contrasts - Zhihua Temple and Galaxy SOHO (Bruce Connolly)

Imperial style door at Confucious Temple Guozijian Beijing (Bruce Connolly)

Passageway at Tai Miao Beijing (Bruce Connolly)

Qianmen Dajie Jianlou Tower Beijing (Bruce Connolly)

Restored bridge at  Dianmen  with historic stonework of Jade River (Bruce Connolly)

Silver Ingot Bridge at Shichahai (Bruce Connolly)

Gary Feuerstein is an American architectural engineer who has studied in detail Chinese historic architecture. In today's feature he starts by describing the role of the Drum and Bell Towers in the layout of China's historic cities such as Xian and Beijing. These were vital time pieces for the smooth running of urban life. In Beijing these structures were the only ones built higher than the walls of the Forbidden City - an indication of their historic importance.