The Drum Tower was built in the Ming Dynasty. At that time, bandits were rampant and citizens were often robbed. Shops are often closed during the day, and there are only a few vendors in the downtown area. It's always okay during the day, but when night falls, bandits become more rampant. In the dead of night, it's often the time when bandits are most active.
The Datong Prefecture received an order from Li Chongtong, the governor of the state, requiring local governments to implement strict anti-theft measures to calm the people and punish the bandit leaders. According to the order, the government officials mobilized troops and soon built a huge cowhide drum in the south of Datong City.
A hundred skilled craftsmen were selected, and after three months of careful construction and painting decoration, a magnificent building was built - a square and ventilated wooden structure sentry attic. , once a thief attacks, the drum beat changes are used to alert the police.
There was a strongman's sneak attack at night, and the two young men keeping watch at the Drum Tower whistle were already fast asleep. The leader is said to be a market scoundrel named Wang Long. He teamed up with more than ten thieves dressed in black night knight uniforms and quietly attacked citizens' homes. When the thieves approached the gate of the Drum Tower.
Suddenly, tongues of fire were seen coming from all directions, and an astonishing fire dragon crawled out of the pavilion with flames spitting from its mouth. Wang Long, who was walking in front, was immediately swallowed by the dragon's mouth, followed by two others. One of them was seriously injured by the tongue of fire and screamed in agony. All the other strongmen were so frightened that they fled for their lives.
The screams woke up the two guards who were sleeping soundly. They saw the dragon, whose whole body was red and looked like a wheel of fire, swallowed Wang Long alive and then dived into the ground of the pavilion. Following a golden light, it emerged from the pavilion. The sky passed by, and Datong Mansion returned to tranquility in the night, as if nothing had happened.
Extended information:
The Drum Tower has unique architecture, beautiful shape and ingenious layout, which is breathtaking. It is elegant and simple, exquisite and delicate, making people forget to leave. In 1978, it was comprehensively reinforced, repaired and repainted. It is a provincial key cultural relic protection unit.
The floor is three rooms wide and three deep, 18.33 meters long from east to west, 14 meters wide from north to south, and about 20 meters high. The four corners of the ground floor are made of bluestone, with a cross-through door opening in the middle. The upper two floors are of brick and wood structure, and a large drum is placed on the top floor. It was used in ancient times for the "Sravaka Four" to report the watch at night, hence the name "Drum Tower". The Drum Tower was built to match the Bell Tower (which has been demolished). In April 1966, it was designated as a municipal cultural relic protection unit.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Drum Tower
Datong Evening News official website-The Legend of Drum Tower