Kaiping Diaolou

There was alot to celebrate this weekend!!!Different people with different cultures came together to celebrate the Mexican holiday “Dia de los muertos” (the day of the dead) and South Africa winning the Rugby World cup in Japan while England embraced taking second place. We also celebrated beautiful Kaiping in China. It was the perfect place to celebrate Halloween...pumpkin carving, skull painting and exploring old Diaolous (watch towers) and villages dating from as far back as 1920. Another trip for the memory bank! #HalloTrip #Halloween #trip.com #happydays

The only world cultural heritage in Guangdong Province - Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, is located in Kaiping City, Jiangmen City. Kaiping "No Diaolou, No Village", the existing 1833 Diaolou are distributed in various villages in Kaiping, and are concentrated in Tangkou Town, Chikan Town, Baihe Town, and Xiangang Town. Therefore, Kaiping is known as "the hometown of various types of buildings". Diaolou refers to the multi-storey tower-style residences used for defense and living, including reinforced concrete buildings, green brick buildings, mud buildings, and stone buildings. The existing Diaolou in Kaiping were mostly built by the people at the beginning, with the purpose of defending against thieves and avoiding floods. Generally, overseas Chinese would have someone design the Diaolou blueprint and bring it back to their hometown for construction. The architectural styles and styles of Diaolou are diverse, including both traditional Chinese hard-top style and hanging mountain style, as well as foreign Gothic style, Roman style, etc. The colonnades of ancient Greece, the arches and columns of ancient Rome, the leaf-shaped arches and iron carvings of Islam, the arches of the Gothic period, the mountain flowers of Baroque architecture, the decorative techniques of the new art movement, and the architectural art forms of the industrial school, etc., have all been integrated into the local architecture of Kaiping. To be precise, it is a combination of "fragments" of various architectural styles at home and abroad, and a product of the blending of various architectural types. The Kaiping Diaolou included in the World Cultural Heritage List includes: Yinglong Building and Sanmenli Village, Zili Village and Fang's Lantern Building, Majianglong Village Diaolou Group and Jinjiangli Village, a total of 20 Diaolou in four groups, representing more than 1,800 tower buildings in Kaiping, representing the peak of nearly five centuries of tower building, and also showing the still close connection between overseas Chinese scattered abroad and their homeland. From the perspective of use function, these buildings can be divided into three forms: the public buildings mainly used for temporary refuge built by everyone, with 473 existing; the residential buildings with defense and living functions built by wealthy families alone, with 1,149 existing; and the watchtowers used for joint defense and early warning, with 221 existing. From the perspective of building materials, there are stone buildings, rammed earth buildings, brick buildings and reinforced concrete buildings, and the latter two are the majority of what we see this time. From the perspective of construction time, the earliest Diaolou can be traced back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, and it reached its peak in the 1920s and 1930s, most of which were built by overseas Chinese returning home during the Republic of China. People analyze from the perspectives of historical culture and geographical environment, the period of the Republic of China was a period of social transformation when China's internal troubles and foreign troubles coexisted, domestic wars were frequent, and social security was extremely poor. Kaiping is located in the "four no-man's land" at the junction of Xinhui, Taishan, Enping, and Xinxing counties, where bandits are particularly rampant. In addition, it is a low-lying plain area, often suffering from floods and floods, and the initial intention of building Diaolou was mainly to prevent bandits and floods.

The only world cultural heritage in Guangdong, with a strong flavor of the Republic of China. Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Area is located in Kaiping City, southwest of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong Province, known as the hometown of overseas Chinese, architecture, art, and diaolou. The total area of this region is 1438 acres, mainly including important attractions such as the World Cultural Heritage Site Zili Village Diaolou. Diaolou is a major feature of Kaiping City, their unique architectural style and long history made it listed in the 'World Heritage List' in 2007. This is China's 35th World Heritage Site and the first World Heritage Site in China to apply with historical and cultural landscapes as the main body. This tourist area not only integrates natural beauty but also deeply imprints the mark of cultural heritage. With its unique diaolou architecture and rich historical background, it has become one of China's most important cultural heritages. Whether it is a history lover or a travel lover, you will find your fun here. Ticket: 78 yuan Opening hours: 9:10-17:50

🚩In order to provide everyone with a real travel experience, I specially recommend the ancient towns around Guangzhou with a strong New Year atmosphere, which are niche, good for shooting and fun🎊 ✨I really love the city of Kaiping, which is directly accessible by high-speed rail and only 1h+ away from Guangzhou🚝 🤩Kaiping Diaolou, as a World Cultural Heritage site and one of the representatives of Lingnan culture, every visitor will be shocked by the architectural complex here! Zili Village is a typical representative~ 🎈In addition to the Diaolou, I also highly recommend Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town! The retro arcade old street, dressed in national style, takes pictures with a strong sense of crossing the Republic of China📸 🧨If you can only go to one ancient town during the Spring Festival holiday, I would definitely recommend here! A 2-day and 1-night itinerary full of New Year's atmosphere🎊 Day①🎈 Guangzhou→Kaiping South→Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town→Check in at Meitang Hotel (The tourist service center can directly transport luggage to the hotel, which is super convenient)→Start to visit the scenic area 11:00 Rong'an Building🎇 The big spring couplets really have a New Year atmosphere 11:30 Station Square🎊 You can see the same intangible cultural heritage flower cards without going to Hong Kong! You can also encounter lively lion dance performances 12:00 Niuxi Road Snack Street🥘 Specialty charcoal pot rice, tofu corner and other delicious snacks are waiting for you to taste! In this century-old arcade, there are also New Year's big calendars, spring couplets, wealth walls and other New Year scenes, eat and stroll, enjoy leisurely slow time 14:00 Dragon Year Tram🚃 Riding a 30min tram through the century-old street, as if crossing to 'Blooming' in a second🎞

"Kaiping Diaolou and Villages" was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007. 🎬 The movie "Let the Bullets Fly" and the TVB drama "The Confidant" were filmed here! 📍 Address: Tangkou Town, Kaiping City, Jiangmen, Guangdong Province ✨ Features: ❶ The Kaiping Diaolou were built by overseas Chinese from Kaiping who sought to protect their families from floods and bandits over hundreds of years, especially in the early 19th century. These buildings served both defensive and residential purposes. ❷ Over a century ago, the Kaiping Diaolou incorporated Western architectural styles, using Roman columns for decoration, creating a miraculous fusion of architecture in the rural areas of Kaiping. Viewing the Diaolou is not only about appreciating their unique appearance and the contrasting beauty with the village scenery but also about understanding a piece of world history from a folk perspective of that time. ❸ There are 1,833 Diaolou remaining, among which the most quintessential ones have been preserved as the "Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Area," with main attractions including Zili Village, Liyuan, Majianglong, as well as Jinjiangli and Chikan Ancient Town. ❹【Zili Village】 Surrounded by paddy fields and ponds, the Diaolou cluster in Zili Village stands tall, reflecting off nature. The village has 15 Diaolou and villas with different styles, most of which were built in the 1920s and 1930s. The open Diaolou still preserve complete furniture and photographs of the owners, vividly displaying the life of overseas Chinese at that time. Not to be missed are the Yesheng Residence and Lansheng Residence, as well as the Mingshi Building where Huang Silang from "Let the Bullets Fly" stayed. This is also the most exquisite and tallest building in Zili Village, and you must climb to the top for a visit. ❺【Liyuan】 Liyuan was built in the early 20th century, modeled after the Grand View Garden depicted in "Dream of the Red Chamber," creating a garden landscape that blends European and American trends with Chinese classical style. This location was also a filming site for "The Grandmaster." The Panli Building is particularly recommended for a visit. ❻【Majianglong】 Majianglong was built during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China. Majianglong Village has been named the most beautiful village in Guangdong. The village has 13 distinctive and well-preserved Diaolou. Currently, only Linlou and Junlou are open to the public. ❼【Jinjiangli】 The village of Jinjiangli has three Diaolou open to the public: Ruishi Building, Shengfeng Building, and Jinjiang Building. Among them, the 9-story Ruishi Building is also the tallest and most beautiful Diaolou in Kaiping. 🍀 Tour Routes 1-day tour: Focus on visiting Zili Village and Liyuan, each area takes about 2-3 hours. 2-day tour: Visit Zili Village and Tangkou Town on the first day, and Liyuan, Majianglong, and Chikan Ancient Town on the second day. 🎫 Tickets: ❶ Zili Village 78 RMB/person, Liyuan 100 RMB/person, Majianglong 50 RMB/person, single attraction tickets valid for the day of purchase. ❷ Liyuan + Zili Village combo ticket 150 RMB/person; Diaolou Cultural Area combo ticket (including Liyuan, Zili Village, Majianglong, Jinjiangli) 180 RMB/person, valid for two days.

Kaiping Diaolou, located within the boundaries of Kaiping City in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, is a type of Cantonese architectural style and represents one of the cultural symbols of the Cantonese region. Kaiping Diaolou is a special type of rural architecture in China, a multi-storied tower building that combines defense, dwelling, and both Chinese and Western architectural arts. Its distinctive feature is the fusion of Chinese and Western styles in residential buildings, incorporating a variety of styles including ancient Greek, Roman, and Islamic. On June 25, 2001, it was approved by the State Council to be included in the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units. On June 28, 2007, the 'Kaiping Diaolou and Villages' application for the World Cultural Heritage was approved at the 31st World Heritage Committee meeting in New Zealand, officially entering the 'World Heritage List' as China's 35th World Heritage site, marking the birth of the first overseas Chinese cultural heritage project in China. It is a national 5A tourist attraction, mainly featuring the Zili Village towers, Majianglong towers, and the Liyuan tower complex.

Time: 2023.12.24 Sunday 20:00 Venue: Jiangmen Performing Arts Center Qiaodu Grand Theater Zeng Bit with his explosive curly hair is coming to Jiangmen! Really want to experience the live performance of 'First Love'! Friends coming to Jiangmen, let's check in at the watchtowers together and feel the different scenery! 1. Kaiping Watchtowers The Kaiping Watchtowers Cultural Tourism Area is located in the southwest of the Pearl River Delta in Guangdong Province, in Kaiping City - the hometown of overseas Chinese, architecture, art, and watchtowers. It mainly includes: the world cultural heritage site Zili Village Watchtower Complex, Majianglong Ancient Village, and the unique Li Garden of Chinese overseas Chinese gardens. Here, there are ancient buildings such as villages, watchtowers, western-style houses, residential houses, gardens, and villas, as well as natural landscapes like rivers, hills, fields, lotus ponds, bamboo forests, and trees; a dazzling array of cultural relics and ancient trees, idyllic scenery with small bridges and flowing water, and picturesque dwellings, making it a place with rich tourism resources. 2. Xiachuan Island Wangfuzhou Xiachuan Island Wangfuzhou Tourist Resort has pure seaside scenery, coconut breeze and sea charm, and is a great place for playing in the waves, frolicking in the sand, and enjoying the seaside sunrise and sunset. Of course, fresh seafood is also the main theme here. After disembarking from the pier and going ashore, you need to take a shuttle bus to the scenic area. There is a coconut grove stretching over a thousand meters along the seaside, where you can enjoy a leisurely stroll under the coconut trees with the sea breeze. 3. Jiangmen Gula Water Town The national 4A-level tourist attraction - Jiangmen Gula Water Town Tourism Area is located in Heshan, Jiangmen. It includes 'Cross-sea Dream' cruise ships, Gula Weibin Waterfront Commercial Street, Happy Water Town, Agricultural Park, Barefoot Park, Wetland Park, Health and Wellness Thirteen Workshops, Pure Water Bank, Eco Hotel, and ten major holiday theme scenes, as well as 'a museum without walls' composed of the Agricultural Cultural Heritage Activation Area and the Wing Chun Cultural Heritage Activation Area.

🌈Historical Background: Kaiping Diaolou is a special type of Chinese vernacular architecture, a multi-storey tower-style building that combines defense, living and Chinese and Western architectural art. Its characteristic is the combination of Chinese and Western residences, with various styles such as ancient Greece, ancient Rome and Islam. 🚗Highlights: China's four characteristic buildings: earth buildings, diaolou, bamboo buildings, stilt buildings. Kaiping Diaolou has a very strong historical feature and is one of the representatives of Guangfu culture. The 'Gold Mountain guests' at that time brought back a lot of wealth, but they were afraid of being robbed by bandits, so they built diaolou that integrated life and defense. 🎫Ticket Information: Li Garden 100, Zili Village 78, Jinjiangli 50, there is a shuttle bus for purchasing joint tickets ✨Travel Suggestions: Diaolou is mainly scattered in three places, including Li Garden, Zili Village, and Jinjiangli. They are all quite far away, it is best to drive by yourself. The Ming Shi Lou is in Zili Village, and the Rui Shi Lou, known as the King of Diaolou, is in Jinjiangli, but it is also the farthest from Kaiping City. But it is also the most worth seeing.

Jinjiangli was established by the Huang family during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. There are a total of 3 diaolous in the village, namely Ruishi Lou, Shengfeng Lou, and Jinjiang Lou. Among them, Ruishi Lou and Jinjiang Lou are inhabitable, while Shengfeng Lou is only used for defense. The most famous one is the so-called 'Number One Lou of Kaiping,' Ruishi Lou, which is the tallest and most beautiful existing diaolou in Kaiping. These three diaolous were built during the Republic of China period and feature a special blend of Chinese and Western styles. They are quite beautiful, and since there are few people around, it's quite suitable for a peaceful stroll. Majianglong was built during the late Qing Dynasty and the early Republic of China and has been praised by United Nations experts as one of the 'world's most beautiful villages.' Majianglong was constructed due to rampant banditry and frequent flooding at the time. There are currently 7 diaolous and 8 villas, among which only Lin Villa and Jun Villa are open to the public. A distinctive feature of the Majianglong diaolous is their location by the mountains and water, with both the diaolous and residential houses nestled in bamboo groves, blending seamlessly with the natural environment, resembling a paradise on earth.

🏯 In the densely populated Pearl River Delta, finding a true countryside might not be easy. But the Kaiping Diaolou and villages may compensate for this regret. 🏯 They stand quietly in the long river of history, just to lay out a rural scene from a hundred years ago for us today—the egrets in the morning, the water buffaloes returning at dusk, the farmers with their bamboo hats, the village pond in front of the ancient houses reflecting... 🏯 This painting is not only fresh with the Lingnan pastoral style but also interspersed with a rich European atmosphere—Ionic capitals, Baroque brick carvings, Gothic domes, and even a hint of Arabian flair... ​ 🏯​ Walking among them, one feels as if traveling through time and space, marveling at the evening in a world of wonders! 🏯 Historic Site Name: Kaiping Diaolou 📌 Address: Kaiping Diaolou Cultural Tourism Area, Jiangmen City, Guangdong Province 🏛 Conservation Level: 5th batch of national protection in 2001, World Cultural Heritage 🎫 Admission Fee: Liyuan 100 yuan, Zilicun 78 yuan, Majianglong 60 yuan, Jinjiangli 50 yuan, 180 yuan joint ticket allows visiting five scenic areas TIPS: There is a shuttle bus connecting each scenic area, with one departure every hour, and self-driving is recommended.

Kaiping Li Garden is located in Genghua Village, Tangkou Town, Kaiping City, Jiangmen, Guangdong Province. It is the private garden of Xie Weili, an overseas Chinese from Tangkou Town who lived in America. The name of Li Garden comes from the owner's name, carrying the meaning of 'establishing trees and establishing people'. Construction of Li Garden began in 1926 and was preliminarily completed in 1936, covering an area of about 19,600 square meters. It combines traditional gardening, Western architecture, and the characteristics of Jiangnan water towns, creating a unique architectural style in Chinese gardens. It stands out as one of the more complete gardens in China that integrates Chinese and Western elements. What touches people about Li Garden, besides its distinctive architecture that blends Chinese and Western styles, is the poignant love story of the male owner and his four women. Li Garden was built in the 1930s by Xie Weili, an overseas Chinese who lived in America. Born in Kaiping in 1893, Xie left home at the age of 6 to study in the United States. After graduating from university, he went into business and founded Weili Company in 1919, dealing in clothing, handicrafts, and medicinal herbs. In 1926, he returned to his hometown to build Li Garden, following his father's instructions. It took 10 years and cost 40,000 silver dollars. Like many overseas Chinese of that era, Xie Weili was polygamous, with four wives and 21 children. The stories of the women of Li Garden are mostly tragic, like those of the female protagonists in 'Dream of the Red Chamber'—'ill-fated and full of hardships'. Among the four wives, one went mad, one died, one remarried, and their life paths were filled with sorrow and melancholy. Only the third wife was fortunate and had a good fate. The specific touching stories await visitors to explore in detail during their travels. It is recommended to spend 2 hours for the visit.

🏮The Spring Festival holiday is approaching Have you all planned where to go? 👉🏻Kaiping Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town has prepared many Spring Festival programs for this Spring Festival, waiting for you to have fun in the New Year‼️ · 📍Chikan Overseas Chinese Ancient Town ▫️The ancient town is a cultural treasure of overseas Chinese, with a total construction area of 280,000 square meters, and it also has a history of building fortresses for 370+ years The total number of century-old arcades in the entire ancient town is 680+! The continuity of the arcade group is also relatively intact～ ▫️Experience the local characteristic retro tram and rowing boat, as well as the music fountain light show and national tide lion dance 🚃The tram route can basically cover the ancient town: Chikan Town Station-Queen's Bar Station-Kaiping Guild Hall Station-Paris Hotel Station-San Francisco Station ▪️ Scenic area travel guide: 👉🏻Breakfast can go to the dim sum guest on Niuwei Road Snack Street After breakfast, you can go to the Yijian Pottery and Flower God Bakery near the hotel There are also many check-in spots in the ancient town, Hexin Bridge, Siyuan River Scenery, Lingtong Telephone Company's old site, narrow staircase check-in, Peace Square··· 🍃Walking on the old street, you can see the beautiful scenery of Siyuan River not far from your feet, and the slight breeze sweeping over the water surface is very interesting! Remember to go to the Rongan Building of Kaiping Diaolou to wear special clothes to check in, it's very photogenic‼️ ▫️Couples and girlfriends can choose to stay in the Meitang Hotel, the room is equipped with a Hermes five-piece set! ▫️Multi-person families can choose the Nesting Parent-child Hotel, the family room can accommodate 4 people, and the entertainment facilities on the first floor are complete. Bubble pool, slide and children's constant temperature water play pool can be a one-stop stroll, liberating parents' hands～