The Bell and Drum Towers, located at the northernmost end of the Beijing Central Axis, were once used to toll the hour for the capital city during the Yuan (1271-1368), Ming and Qing Dynasties.
The Beijing Central Axis, a 7.8-kilometer-long north-to-south line stretching through the center of the city's historical neighborhood, boasts important memorial halls, ceremonial buildings and landmark architecture dating back to the 13th century.