A hidden gem during the Spring Festival | Avoid the crowds and experience the Diaolou time in Kaiping
|Avoid the crowds and experience Kaiping’s Diaolou time. My dears, do you want to avoid the crowds and take a special trip during the Spring Festival? Then I must recommend you this unpopular small city in Guangdong - Kaiping! It has a unique Kaiping Diaolou complex and is the only World Heritage town in Guangdong. It is full of treasures✨
🚶 Here is a great route for a one-day tour in Kaiping:
📍Xianfeng Tianxia Granary Bookstore→Zuzhai Village→Cangdong Village→Liandeng Tower→Zhongjian Tower
⛪️Must-visit beautiful attractions:
1️⃣ Cangdong Village🎫Free
During my trip to Kaiping this time, my favorite Diaolou is in Cangdong Village. This village has a long history of more than 700 years. The Bingwen Xie Gong Temple, Houcheng Xie Gong Temple and Huanye Tower at the entrance of the village are all meticulously crafted and full of the charm of time. The watchtowers were built by overseas Chinese to resist foreign enemies. Look at the marks on the brick walls, they are all witnesses of history. The best shooting spot is right in front of the pond at the entrance of the village, where you can capture the beautiful reflection of the tower in the water, and you can make a blockbuster movie in minutes📸
2️⃣ Zuzhai Village🎫Free
Compared to Zili Village, I prefer Zuzhai Village. There are very few tourists here. The manor with terraced buildings, also known as "Diaozhuang", is particularly spectacular and has a history of hundreds of years. The murals, wood carvings, stone carvings and other craftsmanship are super exquisite. There is also a 3A-level Internet celebrity toilet nearby, which is also worth visiting~
3️⃣ Zhongjian Building + Liandeng Building🎫Free
These two towers can be reached in less than ten minutes on foot. There is no trace of commercialization at all and they are very well preserved. Zhongjian Building was built in the seventh year of the Republic of China. It is a 5-story Gothic building with a unique appearance. Liandeng Building also has a history of 100 years. Its Byzantine-style dome is full of artistic sense🎨
4️⃣ Pioneer Tianxia Granary Bookstore🎫Free
This branch of Pioneer Bookstore is known as one of the most beautiful bookstores in China! The five granary-style buildings cleverly integrate the local characteristics of Kaiping. The interior design of the bookstore is amazing, with minimalist aesthetics and a full sense of space. You must not miss it when you come here~
🚗Transportation Guide:
If it is convenient, it is recommended to drive yourself🚗 You can easily visit these watchtowers and ancient villages in one day, and you can also encounter watchtowers scattered in different villages along the way. The scenery along the way is super beautiful. If you choose public transportation, you can take the high-speed rail to Kaiping South Station, and then take a ride to reach the various Diaolou~
After visiting these Diaolou in Kaiping, I deeply understood why it can become a world cultural heritage. These old buildings and the history behind them are really an irresistible reason to travel🥰