Kaiping Diaolou and Villages

In 2007,Kaiping Diaolou and Villages was inscribed on the list of World Heritage by UNESCO.
Kaiping Diaolou and Villages, located in the west of Guangdong Province, are multi-storeyed defensive village houses in Kaiping. They combined the flamboyant fusion of Chinese and Western structural and decorative forms. They reflect the significant role of émigré Kaiping people in the development of several countries in South Asia, Australasia and North America, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. There are four groups of Diaolou and twenty of the most symbolic ones are inscribed on the List. These buildings take three forms: communal towers built by several families and used as temporary refuge, residential towers built by individual rich families and used as fortified residences, and watch towers. Built of stone, pise , brick or concrete, these buildings represent a complex and confident fusion between Chinese and Western architectural styles. Retaining a harmonious relationship with the surrounding landscape, the Diaolou testify to the final flowering of local building traditions that started in the Ming period in response to local banditry.

What to see?
Route 1: Urban area Zili Village ( Fangshi deng lou ) in TankouTownship -- LiyuanGarden Majianglong Village in Baihe Township -- Shilu( lime-sand-clay tower) in Baihe Township -- Yanping lou in Baihe township -- Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli, Xiangang Township -- Yinglong Tower in Sanmenli Canada Village in Chikan Township -- The ancient town: ChikanFengcai Shrine in urban area -- Shopping in the pedestrian street in the urban area

Route 2: Fengcai Shrine in urban area -- The ancient town: Chikan Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli, Xiangang Township -- Shilu ( lime-sand-clay tower) in Baihe Township -- Yanping lou in Baihe township -- Majianglong Village in Baihe Township -- Zili Village( Fangshi Deng Lou ) in Tankou Township -- Liyuan Guarden Canada Village in Chikan Township -- Yinglong Tower in Sanmenli Village, ChikanTownship -- Shopping in the pedestrian street in the urban area.

Route 3: Ruishi Lou in Jinjiangli, Xiangang Township -- Shilu ( lime-sand-clay tower) in Baihe Township -- Majianglong Village in Baihe Township -- The ancient town: Chikan Zili Village( Fangshi Deng Lou ) in Tankou Township -- Liyuan Guarden Canada Village in Chikan Township -- Yinglong Tower in Sanmenli Village, Chikan Township -- Fengcai Shrine in urban area -- Shopping in the pedestrian street in the urban area