Ancient Villages of Guangdong - Story

Guangdong is a coastal province in southern China, located on the shore of the South China Sea. The Kaiping Diaolou & Villages are an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourist Attraction, located in the Kaiping City in Guangdong Province, includes The Zili Village, the Majianglong Village and the Li Garden. Historic dwellings, surrounded by rice cultivation landscapes, comprise folk houses, cottage-style villas, ancient trees, scenic bridges, bamboo woods and lotus ponds. Kaiping Diaolou and Ancient Villages is a unique cultural destination, anchored a distance away in a peaceful countryside.

Guangdong

Guangdong is a coastal province in southern China, located on the shore of the South China Sea. The topography of Guangdong Province includes mountains, lakes and agricultural landscapes. Guangzhou, the capital of Guandong Province, is a multicultural city with diverse historic, cultural and religious sites. A collection of pedestrian walkways and tree-lined parks beautify the city. Guangdong’s countryside boasts beautiful scenery of rolling hills, rice fields and expansive farmlands. The ancient villages of Guangdong preserve the Chinese folk culture and reveal its rural tranquility.

Kaiping Diaolou & Ancient Villages

The Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourist Attraction, located in the Kaiping City in Guangdong Province, includes the Zili Village, the Majianglong Village and the Li Garden. The Zili Village includes three villages, combined after the founding of the new People’s Republic of China. The villages are a cluster of residences and watchtowers built by returning overseas Chinese. The wealth of returning Chinese increased the banditry, requiring the development of fortified residences. Kaiping Diaolou comprises residential towers, communal buildings and defensive watchtowers, built with stone, brick and reinforced concrete.

The traditional settlements celebrate the local culture and its natural landscapes. Surrounded by rice cultivation landscapes, the traditional dwellings comprise multi-stored residences, folk houses, cottage-style villas, ancient trees, bamboo woods, lotus ponds and bridges. Mingshilou Tower, a five-storied building built in concrete, served as the residential and defensive structure. Yunhuanlou, a five-storied building with courtyard, was built by Chinese compatriots returning from Malaysia. Yinglong Lou is the oldest building, constructed during the Jiajing period in the Ming Dynasty. A bamboo forest surrounds the Majianglong Village. The small village has narrow pathways in a forest, leading to historic houses and watchtowers.

Li Yuan or Li Garden, built in the beginning of the 20th century, combines a classic garden style and the cluster of upscale villas. Li Garden incorporates Chinese symbolism and European and American architectural styles. Li Garden features a collection of connected pavilions, gardens, artificial rivers and bridges. The decorative elements comprise sculptures and colorful murals. Kaiping Diaolou and Ancient Villages is a unique cultural destination, anchored a distance away in a peaceful countryside.