(Photo/Chinapic.people.com.cn)

Located close to each other, Zhonglou, or the Bell Tower, and Gulou, or the Drum Tower, are collectively known as Zhonggulou in Beijing. Originally designed as official timekeepers in the Yuan Dynasty, they are now two signature buildings where much of the Old-Beijing style is preserved in the modern time. Together with nearby hutong alleys, houses, and residents, they help define a neighborhood where time seems to travel slower.

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