Atlas of China
Kaiping Diaolou and Villages 开平碉楼Kāipíng Diāolóu
Fortified tower houses rising above rice paddies, built with emigrants' money
- Best time
- Oct–Apr
- Time needed
- 1 day
- Days to budget
- 1 day
- Stay in
- Jiangmen
- Region
- Guangdong
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 5A scenic area, National heritage site, UNESCO World Heritage
Why go to Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
Kaiping's diaolou are fortified multi-storey tower houses, most built in the early 20th century with money sent home by emigrants in North America and elsewhere. They mix Chinese forms with Greek, Roman and Islamic-style ornament. Four village groups, Zili, Majianglong, Jinjiangli and Sanmenli, were inscribed by UNESCO in 2007 out of some 1,800 towers still standing, and the area is also a 5A scenic area.
The story
Kaiping sent so many people abroad that the towers became a kind of letter home: families and whole villages paid for them as refuges against bandits, and many also served as homes. Builders borrowed ideas from the places their relatives had seen, which is why a tower may carry a Roman dome beside a Chinese roof.
What to see at Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
- Zili Village 自力村: Nine towers stand among paddies and fishponds, the postcard view of Kaiping and the largest group of the four inscribed clusters. Several can be climbed to see the loopholes, rooftop turrets and ornate upper storeys.
- Li Garden 立园: A walled villa-garden built by a returned emigrant between 1926 and 1936, with a defensive tower, villas, pavilions, lotus ponds and mixed Chinese and Western buildings. It feels more like a private estate than a village.
- Majianglong Village Cluster 马降龙村落群: Towers scattered among five villages in bamboo groves and banyan trees, in Baihe township. It is the quietest of the four groups and the best for a slow walk.
- Jinjiangli and Ruishi Tower 锦江里: Home to Ruishi Tower, a nine-storey tower of 1921 with a Byzantine-style roof and a Roman dome, described as the tallest diaolou in Kaiping.
- Sanmenli Village 三门里: In Chikan township, Yinglong Tower, built in the 16th century, is the earliest surviving diaolou in Kaiping: a squat three-storey fortress quite unlike the later tall towers.
How to visit Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
Start at Zili for the paddy-field towers, then go on to Li Garden, which together make a good half day. Spend the afternoon at Majianglong or Jinjiangli if you have a full day; Sanmenli sits by Chikan old town, so it pairs well with lunch there. With only half a day, stick to Zili and Li Garden.
How to get to Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
High-speed trains from Guangzhou South reach Kaiping South in roughly 1.5 hours; the station is at Sanbu, the city centre, and Zili and Li Garden are about 12 km west in Tangkou, a taxi ride of around half an hour. Direct coaches from Guangzhou to Kaiping take around 2 hours.
Where to stay
Stay in Kaiping city (Sanbu) or the old riverfront town of Chikan, which has the best choice of food and is a short ride from the main village groups. A few guesthouses sit in the villages themselves.
What to eat
- Chikan claypot rice 赤坎煲仔饭: Rice cooked in a clay pot over a wood fire with cured sausage, eel or beef, finished with a crisp, smoky crust; Chikan is known for it.
- Magang goose 马冈鹅: A local goose breed named for Magang town in Kaiping, usually served braised or roasted.
- Fried tofu pockets 煎豆腐角: A street snack in Chikan: tender tofu pan-fried until golden, often stuffed with minced fish.
Tips for visiting Kaiping Diaolou and Villages
- The four village groups are spread over several townships, so a taxi or a hired car for the day saves a lot of waiting; Zili and Li Garden are close together, Majianglong and Jinjiangli are further out.
- Bring your passport for ticket checks, and look into a combined ticket if you plan to see several sites; the towers are in lived-in villages, so stay on the paths.
- Summer is hot and humid, with thunderstorms common; autumn to spring is more comfortable for walking between the towers.
Nearby
- Historic Centre of Macau 澳门历史城区 100 km
Portuguese tiled squares, baroque churches and Chinese temples, a short walk apart - Canton Tower & Pearl River 广州塔 110 km
A slim-waisted tower glowing over the Pearl River in China's Cantonese food capital
Also within 30 km: Former Residence of Situ Meitang 司徒美堂故居 (under 10 km), Kangqiao Hot Spring, Taishan 康桥温泉 (20 km), Jinshuitai Hot Spring Town 金水台温泉小镇 (30 km).
On the map
Open Kaiping Diaolou and Villages on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Kaiping Diaolou and Villages on the map