Zhaoxing Dong Village

Zhaoxing Dong Village, a lively, traditional Dong Minority town with a remarkable total of five drum towers and beautiful bridges. It is known as No. 1 Dong Village in China and it is one of the largest Dong villages in Guizhou.

 

Driving southeast of Kaili, the road climbs into the hills before finally descending into a subtropical basin.  You will stay overnight at Rongjiang (Drive 153 KM for 5 hours on mountain road), then arrive Zhaoxing after another 5 hours for 170 KM.)

 

The nearby TangAn village is also worth to see.  For establishing a Dong ethnic eco-museum, cultural experts from China and Norway chose the village Tang’ an after their detailed analysis and research among a series of Dong villages.

 

Zhaoxing still boasts its traditional wooden structures, including a number of wind and rain bridges and theatre stages. Many of the town's inhabitants continue to wear traditional clothing and speak only their native Dong language. Surrounded by lush fields and hills, Zhaoxing is a small oasis and well worth a day's stopover.

 

In the early morning when the first rays of sunlight appear in the sky, the streets and lanes in Zhaoxing come to life. People of the Dong minority gather to begin their life for another day.

 

The morning market is very interesting. Here you can try the local snacks; the fried rice ball was my favourite. The peddler was a middle-aged woman who is always happy to talk with travellers.

 

Following the early breakfast meal, the small town becomes quiet again as most people go out to the fields with baskets and tools to work.

During the day, you can stroll around Zhaoxing without being disturbed by throngs of people.

 

Drum towers

The most famous buildings in Zhaoxing are the five drum towers. According to the tradition of the Dong people, each individual drum tower represents one group of local people.

 

The umbrella-shaped tower is also said to be an auspicious building that protects all Dong people. Individuals must take a drink of the water in the well in front of the tower before death...more details of drum towers

 

Flower bridges

Similar to the five towers, there are five bridges in Zhaoxing. Actually, the bridge is more of a building across the river, as most bridges are covered with pavilions.

 

The bridges have earned the name "flower bridges" because of the exquisite sculptures that cover them. On a raining day, to sit in the bridge pavilion and chat with friends is one of the most pleasurable experiences....more details

 

Civilian house of Diaojiaolou

Diaojiaolou in Zhaoxing features a public passage on the ground floor. People live in the houses built along the passage. With these passages and the five pavilion bridges, people can walk from one end of the village to the other without ever being exposed to the elements on a rainy day.

In addition, there are several places near Zhaoxing worth visiting - Kaili, Liping, Zhenyuan and Huangping. Local buses are available to travel from place to place.

 

 

Must-see Villages in Guizhou and Guangxi
      Basha      Zhaoxing      Tang'An      Xijiang      Sanjiang      Longsheng     

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