[2025 Kaiping Attraction] Travel Guide for Ruishi Mansion (Updated May)

🌾 Kaiping | Discover century-old watchtowers and relive Lingnan's bygone era ——Here, time flows with coffee aromas under arcades and watchtower reflections in rice fields When the rainy season arrives in Lingnan, Dewdrops form on the wrought-iron window grilles of watchtowers, Like the homesick tears of that Nanyang craftsman, Forever embedded in the concrete a century ago. 🛤️ Are you ready to open this door to the past? 📅 Best travel seasons - Golden October (golden rice fields + cool weather) - March spring (sea of rapeseed flowers + watchtower reflections) - Avoid: Frequent rainstorms June-August, some rural roads prone to flooding 🚗 Transportation guide 1️⃣ Self-drive (recommended) - 1.5-2 hours from Guangzhou/Shenzhen - Navigation: Set to "Zilicun Visitor Center" first (parking ¥10/day) - Rural roads are narrow, recommended for experienced drivers 2️⃣ Public transport - High-speed rail to "Kaiping South Station", then taxi to scenic area (~¥30) - Shuttle bus route: Chikan Old Town ↔ Li Garden ↔ Zilicun (every 15 mins) 🎫 Tickets & itineraries ▫️ Must-buy combo ticket (valid 2 days) Zilicun + Li Garden + Majianglong + Jinjiangli = ¥180 (saves ¥60 vs separate tickets) ▫️ Classic one-day route Morning: Zilicun (watchtowers in morning mist) → Li Garden (overseas Chinese garden) Afternoon: Chikan Old Town (lunch under arcades) → Majianglong (bamboo forest watchtowers) Evening: Tangkou Cultural Zone (watchtower coffee + sunset) ▫️ In-depth two-day trip Day 2 additions: Jinjiangli (magnificent Ruishi Tower) → Xiangang Town (undeveloped watchtowers) → Stay in watchtower B&B 🏡 Unique accommodations 1️⃣ Diaomin Tribe (inside Zilicun) - Converted from real watchtowers, sleep within century-old concrete - ~¥400/night including breakfast 2️⃣ Chikan Meitang Hotel - Next to Situ Meitang's former residence, Republic-era style - Perfect for night exploration of old town 3️⃣ Tangkou Space Youth Hostel - Converted granary LOFT, ideal for backpackers - Beds ¥80/person 🍜 Local food guide 【Breakfast】 - Magang laifen (with pork liver & lean meat) → Try at "Magang Lianxing Restaurant" - Fried tofu pockets (best at Chikan old street stalls) 【Main meals】 - Eel claypot rice (firewood stove at Chikan's "Wanli Restaurant") - Kaiping dog meat (winter specialty, most authentic at "Longtang Dog Meat") 【Desserts】 - Tangerine peel red bean soup (using Xinhui 5-year-aged peel) - Watchtower ice cream (exclusive at Li Garden) 📸 Secret photo spots 1️⃣ Top floor of Mingshi Tower in Zilicun - Capture rice fields + watchtower panorama (additional ¥20 tower fee) 2️⃣ Reflection pool before Ruishi Tower in Jinjiangli - Magical reflections at 6-7am 3️⃣ Arched granary in Tangkou Town - Industrial architecture + watchtowers in one frame ❗ Tips to avoid pitfalls 1. Beware "free guide" villagers who may push purchases 2. Some Chikan Old Town areas charge (¥60), outer old streets are free 3. Non-combo watchtowers (like Nanlou) offer poor value, choose carefully 🌇 Sunset surprise When dusk paints Majianglong's watchtowers gold, Look for English initials carved in window frames— These are century-old messages from overseas Chinese, Etching their homesickness in concrete.

Travel back in time and discover Kaiping Xian'gang Ancient Town In the southwest of Kaiping, Guangdong, lies a simple and quiet town—Xian'gang Ancient Town. Like a pearl forgotten by time, it exudes a unique charm, waiting for travelers to explore. Basic Information Xian'gang Ancient Town is located in the southwest of Kaiping City, 26 km away from Kaiping city center, with convenient transportation. The climate here is pleasant, with an average annual temperature of 7–18°C, so even those who are afraid of the cold can easily adapt 👌. Attraction Introduction - Ruishi Building: Known as the "King of Watchtowers," it is the most artistically valuable and tallest building among the Kaiping Watchtowers. It is located in the Jinjiangli Watchtower complex, surrounded by mountains and ancient village houses, showing a strong harmony between Chinese and Western styles. The building is exquisite and full of historical charm. Standing under the building, you can almost travel back to that turbulent era. - Zhongjian Building: With a history of more than 100 years, it is located opposite Xian'gang Market and is open to the public for free. The building is well preserved. Here, you can take photos with the word "Xian'gang." With few people and beautiful scenery, it is a paradise for photography enthusiasts. - Leaning Building: Built in 1903, the watchtower is tilted due to the sinking of the foundation. It has stood still for a century, with a tilt angle of 15 degrees. The center line of the building deviates by more than 2 meters, exceeding the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It is known as the "Oriental Leaning Tower of Pisa" in Kaiping. The unique tilted shape makes people marvel at the magic of architecture and the vicissitudes of time. - Xian'gang Centennial Ancient Market: Built in the Kangxi period, the shops in the market are set along the long embankment of the Xian'gang River, retaining the flavor of the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The arcade is a combination of Chinese and Western styles, with prominent lines. The original shop signs are still visible. Walking through it, you feel like you are in a market town in the early years of the Republic of China, full of historical atmosphere. Local Food - Claypot Rice: In Xian'gang, you must try the local claypot rice. It is made with firewood, and the aroma of rice and meat are perfectly integrated. There is also a layer of golden and crispy rice crust at the bottom. Take a bite and you will feel extremely happy. I recommend Wenji Claypot Rice. Although there may be a lot of people and you may have to wait for 1 hour, it is all worth it for this delicious food. - Luk Congee: This is a special breakfast in Xian'gang! In Xian'gang Market, you can buy your own ingredients such as preserved eggs, pork offal, and roasted bones, and then take them to the congee stall for processing. The congee base is dense, and the ingredients are fresh and cost-effective. Remember to go early, as the congee stall will close at 9 o'clock. - Pitaya Wine and Dried Pitaya Flowers: Local specialty agricultural products and processed foods. Pitaya wine has a mellow taste, and dried pitaya flowers can be used to make soup, which is delicious and nutritious. Surrounding Scenery - Jinjiang Village: The three watchtowers of Ruishi Building, Shengfeng Building, and Jinjiang Building, surrounded by bamboo forests, are arranged in a row, sitting behind the village, guarding the village. The tall buildings exposed at the end of the forest have become a beautiful landscape of the village. It is a typical overseas Chinese village in Kaiping, full of the charm of the overseas Chinese hometown. - Niuguotang Ancient Camphor Tree Park: The park has ancient camphor tree groups, Fengshui forests, pastoral landscapes, and bamboo forests. It is an ecological science, historical culture, and rural landscape corridor. There are 13 ancient trees over 100 years old in the park, 12 of which are camphor trees and one is a maple tree, all of which are third-class protected ancient trees. The houses in the village are well-arranged, with exquisite carvings, as well as distinctive buildings such as water towers and watchtowers (Shucan Building), adding unique charm to the park. - Rudong Longhou Village, Baihe Town: Not far from Xian'gang Ancient Town, there are antique watchtower buildings with the characteristics of overseas Chinese hometowns, and a sea of flowers in front of the village. Shuttle through the agricultural culture exhibition hall in the village, push stone mills, recognize hundreds of vegetables, and touch the temperature of the land; talk to simple villagers in the rural vegetable garden with birds and flowers, and feel the worldly fireworks of the characteristic overseas Chinese village. Precautions 1. When visiting the watchtowers, pay attention to protecting cultural relics and do not touch or damage them at will. 2. Remember to go to the market early to taste Luk Congee, so as not to miss the delicious food. 3. Tourists who drive by themselves should pay attention to the narrow roads in the ancient town and pay attention to safety when parking.

💥Hey everyone, today I'm going to give you a proper introduction to Kaiping Diaolou 😎 🎈【Types of Diaolou】 Kaiping Diaolou were originally fortress-like homes built with money brought back by overseas Chinese who had gone abroad to seek their fortunes. They were constructed to protect families from bandits and floods - these are called residential towers. Less wealthy people pooled their resources (contributing money if they had it, or labor if they didn't) to build communal towers. According to documentaries, these communal towers couldn't accommodate many people, with women and the elderly often excluded from protection. There's also a simpler type called watchtowers - I thought the name referred to "renewal," but locals explained it actually means "night watchman," which makes their purpose quite obvious. 📍【Scenic Area Distribution】 Almost every village in Kaiping has diaolou, but the most concentrated ones have been developed into five major tourist areas: Zili Village, Li Garden, Jinjiangli, Majianglong, and Chikan. The attractions are quite far from each other, and taxis take a long time to arrive, though there are shuttle buses connecting them that you can ride for free with your admission ticket. Still, I recommend self-driving or cycling, as the roads are smooth and easy to navigate. 🌟【Majianglong Experience】 Compared to the other four sites, Majianglong has the fewest visitors. The day we visited was hot and stuffy - we couldn't bear standing around in Zili Village and my friend was eager to finish the tour quickly, but in Majianglong we could stroll leisurely. It felt cool and refreshing there, making us reluctant to leave. 🏠【Diaolou Features】 The more elegantly constructed diaolou are called "lu." Majianglong has Jun Lu and Lin Lu open for visitors, with tickets priced at 50 yuan. The open diaolou are either entrusted to the government by descendants of the original owners or directly donated (like Lin Lu). Unopened ones, such as the tallest diaolou in Jinjiangli called Ruishi Tower (the iconic representative of Kaiping Diaolou), are maintained by descendants, though most diaolou have been abandoned. 💡【Travel Tips】 Before visiting, I recommend watching documentaries on Bilibili to understand the historical background, which will make your tour more meaningful. Also, there's hardly any food available in Majianglong, so remember to bring your own snacks, and definitely don't eat at the restaurants there - the food is terrible 😣.

Ruishi Tower is one of the most exquisite diaolou in Kaiping and is known as "Kaiping's First Tower". Built in 1923, the tower is 9 stories high (about 35 meters) and combines Chinese and Western architectural styles, featuring elements such as Greek domes, Roman arches, and Baroque carvings. It is a microcosm of modern Chinese culture. [Experience] Ruishi Tower is part of the "Jinjiangli Diaolou Cluster", which consists of 3 diaolou. Tickets are CNY 50 per person. Ruishi Tower is definitely a highlight of Kaiping diaolou. As it is a private building, it is recommended to spend CNY 20 to climb the tower (the owner will also explain the history of the diaolou in detail). In addition to climbing to the top for photos, there is a small green hill behind the parking lot at the entrance of the scenic area. You can climb up to take photos of the "First Tower" from a higher vantage point 😄; finally, there is the alley leading to Ruishi Tower (Figures 5-6). [Kaiping Diaolou] ① Zili Village Diaolou Cluster & Li Garden: Filming location of "Let the Bullets Fly", a must-see diaolou ② Majianglong Diaolou Cluster: Diaolou located in a bamboo forest ③ Jinjiangli Diaolou Cluster: Ruishi Tower, Shengfeng Tower, Jinjiang Tower ④ Chikan Ancient Town: Century-old arcade streets and diaolou [1-day itinerary] Kaiping Zili Village Diaolou Cluster - 3.6 km - Li Garden - 14 km - Majianglong Diaolou Cluster - 9.5 km - Jinjiangli Diaolou Cluster [2-day itinerary] Day 1: Kaiping Zili Village Diaolou Cluster - 3.6 km - Li Garden - 3.5 km - Chikan Ancient Town (stay in the ancient town) Day 2: Chikan Ancient Town - 9 km - Majianglong Diaolou Cluster - 9.5 km - Jinjiangli Diaolou Cluster [Ticket information]: Tickets for each scenic area can be purchased separately or as a package (single attraction tickets are valid for the day, package tickets are valid for 2 days; except for Ruishi Tower in Jinjiangli, the others have shuttle buses) Zili Village Diaolou Cluster: CNY 78 per person Li Garden: CNY 100 per person Majianglong Diaolou Cluster: CNY 50 per person Jinjiangli Ruishi Tower: CNY 50 per person (CNY 20 per person to climb the tower) Li Garden + Zili Village package: CNY 150 per person Diaolou Cultural Area package: CNY 180 per person (4 diaolou clusters)