Built atop the city wall during the Tang Dynasty in 821 in what is now Haishu district, Ningbo's Drum Tower (Gǔ Lóu, 鼓楼) has suffered through a rather tumultuous history. During the Yuan Dynasty, Mongol leaders had the tower demolished. It was later rebuilt only to be burned down again during the same dynasty. It was rebuilt once more in the Ming Dynasty in 1434 based on the ruins and in 1935, a clock tower was placed on top of the structure, which was repaired in 1989.

Visitors can revisit this history through photographs and exhibits featured in the Drum Tower itself. Going through the gate, a door on the back side of the gate leads up to the tower itself. While there are listed hours, they can be somewhat inconsistent in following those.

Through the gate is a sprawling pedestrian street full of tea shops, Chinese clubs and bars, hair salons, restaurants, video game arcades and various shops and stalls selling dishware, tea, jewelry, DVDs and other goods. The stalls lining the middle of the pedestrian street and some of the shops along the sides can be good places to pick up Chinese souvenirs, but when buying "antiques," jewelry or stones expect to encounter fakes.

Opposite the Drum Tower and to the west, antiques and art are on sale at the Ningbo Antique Market (Fan Residence Antique Market). Take a left off of Zhongshan Lu (Zhōngshān Lù, 中山路) past the Ningbo Antique Market, and Moon Lake is a short walk away. Just west on Zhongshan Lu is the easy to miss Xiantong Pagoda (Xiántōng Tǎ, 咸通塔), built in 863 during the Tang Dynasty as part of a now-demolished temple. Behind the pedestrian street, visitors can take a stroll in Zhongshan Park (Zhōngshān Gōngyuán, 中山公园).

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