Residents in east Beijing were woken Tuesday morning by ringing and drumming sounds and for once it wasn't just the noise from another construction site ringing in their ears. This time it was music and it came from Zhihua Temple. It's the only temple that has opened both its bell and drum towers to the public. The temple is also renowned throughout the city for its ancient Buddhist music.

Visitors seemed very happy to ring in the New Year with the resonant sound of a bronze bell cast nearly 600 years ago in the Ming Dynasty. The music was one more event to add to their holiday celebrations.

A visitor said: "As the New Year is around the corner, we are gathering here to do something special as part of the celebration. Hope the sound will bring us good luck." Drum beating was greeted as a popular way to start the festival off with a boom.

The drum in Zhihua Temple is very rare in terms of its huge size and traditional dragon design. Though usually used in religious events, the drum brought even more fun to secular people. Curator of Beijing Cultural Exchange Museum Prof. Wang Dan said: "The history of the bell and drum is clearly dated. We are proud to be the only temple in Beijing with towers holding two instruments with a high historical value."

Together with the bell, the drum in ancient China served to mark time and make music. Another of the Temple's attractions is its Buddhist music, which was brought to Chinese monasteries in the Ming Dynasty.

The New Year is just one days away. And it's hoped the ringing and drumming from Zhihua Temple will give firecrackers a run for their money.