Kaiping Diaolou 开平碉楼 · 景区,古迹

Driving in from the Tangkou exit, it takes about fifteen minutes to reach the core protection area. The watchtowers here are especially concentrated, making this the most completely preserved rural area of its kind in China. The architecture and defensive design are quite representative of modern overseas Chinese histo

Went to take photos at the diaolou cluster. Most of these towers were funded by overseas Chinese in the past and served functions of residence, bandit defense, and flood control. The architecture uses traditional Lingnan craftsmanship and also incorporates some Western elements, like Roman arched windows and Gothic spi

I originally thought that ancient Lingnan architecture all looked like white walls and black tiles, but Beijing's historic sites follow imperial regulations and appear very solemn. It wasn't until I arrived in Kaiping that I discovered a type of architecture that embodies the love for home and country brought back from