The Bell and Drum towers are located in the old city center, near the intersection of main roads leading from the four old city gates. In the Bell Tower, the ringing of a large bell, now replaced by a recording, signaled the beginning of each day when the city would be opened for business. The original Bell Tower was built in 1384 (Ming dynasty); it has been restored, rebuilt, and moved two blocks (in 1582) since then. Its appearance today stems from a Qing-dynasty restoration of 1739 during the reign of emperor Qianlong.