Early in the year 1983, the majestic view on the Drum Tower (gǔ lóu 鼓楼) was selected to be "the top 40 sceneries in the new Jinling (jīn líng 金陵)" Once again 20 years later, while the selection of the "newly top 55 sceneries of Nanjing" was carrying out like a raging fire, the Drum Tower became a hot candidate to win the selection as one of the symbolic buildings of Nanjing.

Built in 1382(the 15th year of the emperor Hongwu in Ming dynasty (míng hóng wǔ shí wǔ nián 明洪武十五年), the imposing Drum Tower lies roughly in the center of Nanjing and covers an area of a grand scale. It is praised as the symbol of the capital city ever since Ming dynasty as it is not only a place for drum beaten which gives the correct time day and night for all of the people in the city but also celebrates grand events. Until Qing dynasty, only the building of the drum tower remained. It was not until when the emperor Kangxi (kāng xī huáng dì 康熙皇帝) arrived there and climbed for a view that the local officers set up stone tablet on the foundation of the building and rebuilt it again. That’s the reason why it is called “drum in Ming and stone tablet in Qing” (míng gǔ qīng bēi 明鼓清碑).

The drum tower occupies an area of 9,100 square metres and is situated on Beijing Xi Lu (běi jīng xī lù 北京西路) in the Drum Tower district (gǔ lóu qū 鼓楼区). It is adjacent to a large traffic circle that the Beijing Dong Lu (běi jīng dōng lù 北京东路), Beijing Xi Lu, Central Road (zhōng yāng lù 中央路), Zhongshan Bei Lu (zhōng shān běi lù 中山北路) and Zhongshan Lu (zhōng shān lù 中山路) all merged into one junction. It is also within walking distance of the Gulou subway station (gǔ lóu dì tiě zhàn 鼓楼地铁站).

The drum tower has two storeys while the lower storey reaches 9m high. Red wall towers mighty and upturned eaves face the breeze. The three doors opened in the centre thread the back and front part of the room together with a horizontal tablet  read “Chang Guan Ge” (chàng guān gé 畅观阁) hanging on the door. Early in 1923, the drum tower was renovated to be a park and a famous scenic spot in which people ascend a height to enjoy a distant view as well as appreciate the style and features of the ancient city.

In the daytime, fresh air and a delicate fragrance of flowers and plants blows on your face. Strolling in the place where trees make a pleasant shadow on above, a path paved with oval stone and the song of birds and flowing of water lingers in your ears, you will sure that it’s a place with spring all year around. At night, with briliant lights of a riot of colours blazing, the long-standing drum tower looks more magnificent.